go

by nick nelson

illustrations by roy dismas

the window

by nick nelson

illustrated by palomine studios

the window was open. the dog ran down the street. standing at the window, ada watched the dog run down the street. eventually, she thought, the dog will come back up the street. and when he sees the open window, he might wish to jump into it. one never knows what a dog will do, especially one running wild in the street. hurriedly, she closed the window. ada turned to where her husband, bartley, had been sitting in his favorite chair, smoking his pipe and reading the newspaper. suddenly she realized her mistake. for bartley had been transformed into a hungry lion. ada attempted to open the window again so that she could jump out of it. but it was no use. bartley was upon her and quickly devoured her. later, the doorbell rang. who can that be? bartley wondered. as he had devoured ada, he had to answer the door himself. it was corliss, an old friend whom he had not seen for some time. corliss! this a surprise, bartley exclaimed. please come in. corliss entered, and began taking off his hat and coat. i’ll take those, bartley offered politely. thank you, corliss replied absently. corliss entered the neatly furnished drawing room and looked around. he gazed with a strange air of curiosity at the empty fireplace and at the closed window. ada not at home? corliss enquired when bartley returned from the cloak room. no, she stepped out. oh? it’s a bit late, isn’t it? yes, to visit her grandmother. her grandmother! exclaimed corliss. she must be quite an elderly lady. yes she is, bartley agreed. none of us are getting any younger, corliss observed. time is passing by. how true, bartley assented. corliss sat down on the green divan, the one reserved for guests. i am being a poor host, said bartley. can i get you a drink? thank you. a scotch and soda will do nicely. easy on the soda. coming right up. corliss relaxed on the divan. a bit stuffy in here, isn’t it? he stated, with just a touch of emphasis. i will open the window, bartley replied. bartley opened the window. the sounds of the night drifted in.

billy and al

by nick nelson

illustrated by palomine studios

billy! billy jones! billy turned around. it was al rogers! that lying bastard al rogers! billy kept his emotions in check. how are you al, billy inquired smoothly . pretty good billy, pretty good, al answered agreeably. it’s been a real long time, billy said pointedly. a long time since you stabbed me in the back. come on, don’t be that way, al laughed good-naturedly, don’t forget - don’t forget what?, billy replied, his cold blue eyes narrowing to slits. don’t forget the way you fucked my girl friend, said al, most amiably. yes, i thought i fucked her pretty good, said billy with a knowing wink. you think you own the world, don’t you billy, al responded a bit more heatedly. aw come on al, don’t think everything so goddamned seriously, you know the score, billy chuckled. but inwardly billy was seething because who was this fucking asshole who couldn’t take a friendly joke. but al was even angrier because he had always been jealous of billy’s good looks and conspicuous wealth. and now here the son of a bitch was rubbing his nose in his inferiority and helplessness and poverty. something exploded in al’s brain and he resolved to destroy billy and the whole rotten system that produced his ilk. on his side billy just wanted to get away from al and proceed on his merry way to the tennis club. it was great seeing you again al, billy announced with an unmistakable air of finality as he turned swiftly on his heel. al could only seethe in mortified outrage as he watched his adversary saunter away with the supremely disdainful air of an eternal conqueror. oh what kind of world is this, al thought with burning mortification, and how much longer can things go on in this intolerable fashion? if billy had known what he was going on in al’s mind he might have been mildly amused or again he might not. in any case it is not known if al and billy ever met again or if al’s bitter resolve ever led to any kind of action. ***

doors

by nick nelson

illustrated by palomine studios

donald did not like doors. he was always afraid of being trapped behind them. he was afraid that the locks or doorknobs would not function and that no one would hear his cries for help. doors in rooms with windows he did not mind so much because he felt he could break them or shout for help. he did not like being alone behind the doors in rooms on the higher floors of tall buildings because he thought no one would see or hear his wavings or entreaties if he were trapped. he did not like the rooms in modern buildings like the one he worked in because the windows could not be opened or broken. he did not like doors in rooms without windows - like bathrooms or large closets or storerooms - even in his own house, and he always left them slightly ajar without completely closing them. when his mother was alive she tolerated this, along with donald’s numerous other eccentricities. when his mother died donald purchased a mail order bride from a foreign country. the new wife quickly took charge of him and treated him with contempt. when she realized his aversion to closed doors she was highly amused. and took every opportunity to lock him in the bathroom or one of the large closets. donald’s pathetic cries and poundings were met with loud laughter on her part. the neighbors either never heard anything, or minded their own business.

walter and his enemies, or nightmare at noon

by nick nelson

illustrated by palomine studios

walter walked down the street he was on his way to meet zorine a woman he had contacted online he hoped the meeting would go better than the last similar encounter he had had and was resolved to make a better effort to not pontificate about his obsessions at least in the initial stages of conversation and before they ordered lunch. suddenly walter realized he was being followed by his two worst enemies, morris and jardine they were half a block behind and making no effort to conceal themselves when walter looked back a second time morris waved at him! it was obvious they meant business well, walter meant business too there was a police station on the next cross street and he resolved to enter it even if it meant being late for his date with zorine which in any case was not a matter of life and death without giving morris and jardine the satisfaction of looking behind him he turned left on main street and walked up the wide steps of the police headquarters although he expected to be greeted with indifference if not outright contempt he in fact received the most courteous attention from the young sergeant at the front desk. when he explained his predicament she picked up a phone and after a few words which walter could not make out told him “please enter the fourth door on your left, sir, and a couple of technicians will be with you shortly.” although walter was slightly nonplussed by the term “technician” rather than “officer” or “detective” the young woman’s manner was so pleasant and winning that he followed her instructions without demur. two persons were waiting for him when he entered the room. a slender young woman with a bald head and a husky young man with a walrus mustache. the young woman smiled at walter. “would you like something to drink?” she asked. “yes, i would, thank you, very much,” walter answered. the young woman pointed to a small refrigerator in the corner. “help yourself.” “thank you,” walter answered. he opened the door of the small refrigerator. cold air flowed out from it. after some consideration walter selected a bottle of perrier water with condensation forming on it. when he turned around the young woman and the young man were gone! the door to the room started to open. and who should enter but morris and jardine! ***