“Shappa, come back.” Hotah followed quickly behind his girlfriend as she took tiny steps across the ground, dragging her feet because her deerskin dress was too tight for larger movements. Shappa was discouraged. She had worn the same dress at last year’s Native Dakota Festival, it fit perfectly then. 

She stopped on the stone bridge created many moons ago by their people. Turning to face Hotah, she tugged at her skirt for leeway, then lifted her shoe. “Look at this, Hotah! My moccasins are destroyed! Thanks!” She fumed.

Hotah, confused by Shappa’s anger, removed his war bonnet, a feather floated to the ground, landing next to Shappa’s foot. The couple had spent the morning performing traditional Dakota war dances for those attending this year’s jamboree. “I believe you’re taking this dance seriously.” He laughed, reaching for her hand.

She wiggled away from him, then loosened her costume so she could sit restfully on a surface rock.

“No.” Hotah encouraged her to stand.

He bent down pretending to retrieve the feather he lost. Balancing himself on one knee, he looked lovingly at the woman he had dreamt of marrying since he was a boy. “Marry me, Shappa.” He said, placing a diamond ring upon her finger.  

Shappa began to cry, paint washed down her face, staining her beloved dress. “I will marry you! Yes!” She spoke through her emotions. “Now look what you’ve done. You’ve ruined my dress and shoes.”

Hotah laughed. “I don’t believe that will be all I ruin.” He placed his hand gently on her stomach. “I intend to spoil our little Wakanjeja.” He smiled. 

“How’d you know?” She asked. 

“The pale faced shaman charging twenty dollars for psychic readings told me.” He pulled Shappa close. “I’m joking. I know you better than I know myself. Tecinhinda, Shappa.”

 

“Oh Sally! Lovely setup!” Brenda and Scarlett were Sally’s best friends. They entered Sally’s home to attend her daughter’s seventh birthday party.

The entry way was draped in blue to mimic the ocean’s vibrance.

“Follow me, ladies.” Sally led them towards the dining room. “Mermaids this way.” She quoted the sign on the wall. 

“You’ve always had the cutest ideas for these celebrations.” Brenda leaned towards Scarlett and whispered. “Crazy.” 

Scarlett tapped Brenda’s hand, quietly asking her to stop with the mockery. 

Pink ballons hung from the light fixture above the kitchen table. The cake, iced in turquoise, sat centered on a mermaid tablecloth. The candle shaped like a number seven was already lit. There were four place settings, each with a triangular party hat. Scarlett placed hers upon her head and then screeched as the rubber band string snapped underneath her chin. That’s when she realized she and Brenda had been encouraging Sally’s nonsense far too long.

“Honey, we must talk.” Scarlett wrapped her arms around Sally’s neck, hugged her tightly and then stepped back to make eye contact with her. “We do this because we love you but, sweetie, little Katie passed away four years ago, throwing these birthday parties cannot be healthy for you. You’ve got to move on.” 

Sally, speechless, shook her head. “No, it’s different this year.” 

The home’s foundation began to shake, the light’s dimmed and a horrid smell swam through the air, violating the ladies’ noses. The candle’s flame flickered once more before extinguishing. 

“Mommy.” Katie’s raspy voice echoed throughout the room. “Don’t I get my wish?” A dirt covered child with eyes of fire stood crying out.

“I prayed you’d come back.” Sally embraced the child.

Katie’s rotten teeth were exposed as deep laughter exited her body. She was no longer Katie.

Monroe and the kids …

“Oh look!” Timothy tried to catch a tiny blueish-gray lizard sliding quickly across a tree stump. It disappeared through a mirror that eight-year-old Regina was using to apply the red lipstick she had stolen from her sister. She smacked Timothy’s hand when the mirror fell and shattered. A piece of dry scaly skin broke causing him to bleed. “You need lotion!” Regina hissed.

 ————————————————

Monroe, naked in front of her mirror, removed a glass shard from her foot then tossed it into an empty box. She’d hadn’t been gone long but missed the damp, humid safety of home. 

The door shook. She threw on her robe.

“Let me in, Monroe!” Clint pleaded.

She raised the door.

“The cops questioned me; said you were missing.” Angrily, he paced. 

“Not my fault! You solicited me, begging me to lay your eggs. How was I supposed to know the owner of this joint would say I’d been abducted?” Monroe paused. “We have one slight problem.”  Her nostrils flared.

“What?” Clint asked.

“So…….” She plopped a piece of gum in her mouth. “Lizard breath.” She laughed. “It’s unsafe for me to lay eggs here. I teleport to another location, drop those babies off and retrieve them later….” She raised her finger. “However, my teleportation device has shattered.”

Clint punched the wall. “I can’t believe I allowed myself to get involved with a half-human, half-lizard who spends thousands on the latest trends and lives in a storage unit because the climate’s more fitting.”

“Lucky for you……” She bobbed her head. “I’ve laid for some dead-beats. My other children will realize I can’t visit without a mirror. They’ll replace it and then I’ll bring your kids home.” She sighed. “It’s a shame what you full-blooded humans will do in order to have something no one else does.”

Monroe was a tall, slender blonde. Her taste for high-end fashion caused her many woes. 

Every opportunity she got, she danced around in her Louis Vuitton heels at the local nightclub. Her chance meeting with Clint, a short stocky construction company owner, might’ve been fate.

She pressed up against him on the dance floor, laid her head on his shoulder, and as the two swayed back and forth, Clint noticed her lizard-like tongue from the corner of his eye. She playfully licked beneath his jaw line, up and down his neck. Chills shot through his body. She twirled around, stopped and took him by the hand. “Come with me.” 

He tugged at his belt buckle, strutting behind her, they left. 

“You live here?” He asked. 

“So!” She skipped backwards looking in his direction. “Stay a few feet behind me.”

“It’s a storage unit.” He said.

“It’s free. My friend works here.” Stopping at one of the larger units, she bent down, unhooked the latch and sent the door rattling upwards. Once inside, she flipped the switch on a battery powered light, revealing the apartment like setup. 

“Amazing.” Clint wrapped his arms around her hips. The two locked lips, falling backwards onto her air mattress. And… it wasn’t long before Clint was on his way out the door. “Call me.” Placing his thumb to his ear, his pinky finger closer to his lips.

Monroe shrugged. “No phone.”

********

He slumped down in the chair, his hands cuffed behind him. “Take these off!” He pleaded. 

“You don’t get the luxury of comfort!” The detective placed his hands on the table, his coffee fueled breath caused a quick closure of Clint’s eyelids. “We have a missing girl and surveillance video of you following her!”

I try so hard to minimize the problems, the wrong people do. I watch from a distance and pretend these things aren’t happening, to keep myself safe. My safety is priority one because if I’m not safe then no one is. I’m not sure how many people understand that.

I don’t need what they have, I just want it. What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander. Isn’t that what they say? All men are created equally. Yeah, sure, but what about women? Oh, no, wait…. A woman shall only be as good as the men around her. What if she doesn’t recognize the men around her? Are they actually there?

Ready, set, go. “Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think.” Saying this out loud is how I go to sleep at night. “Shhhhh.” I quiet my need to rest. I need to think about it. Maybe it did happen, the facts line up. I woke up at seven o’clock, drove to work, went to lunch at two o’clock. I passed the car on the street. I’m sure that was the car. I made a u-turn, and followed it. He turned into the state park, I trailed behind. We drove all the way to the lake. We parked, I got out of my vehicle. Maybe I killed him, maybe I killed her. All I really wanted was to be his.

Wait… his side of the bed is empty. Are these my sheets? Is this my room? I’m not in any of these pictures, not even the wedding photo. That’s not me.

My reflection in the mirror, it looks kind of like the woman in the white gown with the bouquet.

My mind, I’m lost in it. He’s not here to tell me if the worms are back inside my brain. Maybe there’s a way for me to look.

Marvelous floored the gas on his pickup, stopping on the brink of the ridge. The reason they called him Marvelous, he’d somehow manage to nearly get you killed, then miraculously find a way to prevent your untimely death. Easily enough, the solution on this occasion was the brakes. “Marvelous.” he said, his burly laugh mismatched with his age.

“The best spot in town to watch New Years Eve fireworks.” he said.

Jill was tall and skinny, her physique allowed her to join Marvelous on his awkward excursions. “We won’t be able to see the show from here.” she ran towards the edge, slipped and fell over.

Halfway down, an arm covered in camouflage, reached out and grabbed her. “You can.” the foulest breath she’d ever smelled was a brutal attack upon her nostrils. The man pulled her onto a soil ledge, half covered by a tree, its roots exposed. He stumbled backwards, taking Jill with him. Reaching into his pocket, he offered her some moonshine.

“No thanks.” she wiped the mud from her clothing.

Marvelous stood safe above, unaware of the situation. “Close call, Jill.” he hollered.

The fireworks lit up the night sky. Jill was amazed at the magnificent shower of colors, even more so at the landscape that revealed itself with each burst of light. She almost forgot about her fall… and her rescuer, until his horrific howl filled the air. He fell to his knees. Thick dark hair flourished from his every pore. Claws replaced his hands.

The monster ripped through the unsuspecting woman’s flesh. Blood dripped down his beard, covering his uniform.

His mouth quivered as he scaled the earth’s wall. He reached the top and pulled himself up on all fours. “Marvelous.” he growled as he pounced upon his feast, keeping on track with his 2025 New Years resolution.

Rhett sat down on the couch, holding the remote, flipping through the channels. Margot paced in front of the television. The old wooden set held a framed photo of the two taking their vows. “I’m sorry, Rhett. I didn’t mean to throw your breakfast plate. It slipped. But I’m no fool.” Over-easy eggs formed a hardened, golden mess down the crème-colored wall.

She stopped, blocking his view of the screen. He moved his head from side-to-side with no chance of looking past her. He placed the remote down on the coffee table, leaned back, crossed his arms. He stared at the ceiling, then let out a sigh. “What aren’t you a fool about this time?” Rhett asked.

“I heard all the nasty names your mother referred to by when the two of you were on the phone last week. She’s loud, I heard everything!” Margot moved closer to Rhett. His face reddened with each step she took.

“For the last time, she didn’t! I wouldn’t lie to you! I’m sick of your delusional accusations!” He yelled.

“What’re you going to do?” She cried. She climbed onto his lap, forcing her lips against his.

“I’ll never leave you! Please stop!” He gently pushed back, begging her. Their tears mixed, the argument transformed into passion.

He looked at his peacefully sleeping wife. He slid from under the covers and hurried to make a phone call. “I don’t understand, doctor! You diagnosed her manic-depressive, now you call it bipolar! A new name should have a new treatment! You offer me nothing!” He yelled loudly, waking Margot.

“You’re telling your mother that I’m crazy?” I hate you!” Margot scratched at her own skin.

“Margot!” Rhett slammed the phone down.

“I’m sorry! Don’t leave me!” She pleaded.

The spacious formal living room allowed the guests to twirl to the sound of melodic Christmas music. Tall glasses of champagne glistened, reflecting the chandelier’s light. Laughter and chatter filled the room, it was impossible for an unjolly soul to be in attendance. 

The crowd ceased movement, gasping as a man in black tights and a jeweled mask slid down the spiral banister that led from the hosting families’ living quarters. He landed gracefully on his tiptoes before springing into a Grand Jete. 

“Bravo.” the party goers cheered at his skill and preciseness.  He performed for only a few moments. The last part of his act, a pirouette, was nothing less than amazing. He stood on one leg, the tips of his fingers touched slightly above his head. Everyone clapped loudly. He took his final bow then scurried towards the front door, stopping only to blow Mrs. Jones a kiss. She blushed towards her husband, quickly curtsying. She took her husband’s hand, the two moved in close for a slow dance. 

The shenanigans lasted way past midnight. Mrs. Jones bid her guests farewell before cautiously climbing the staircase to her room. Mr. Jones stayed inches behind her in case her tipsy wobble became a tumble.

She collapsed onto their bed then leaned back up to remove her panty hose. “Such a special treat, the ballet performer you hired.” she tiredly smiled towards her husband.

“I thought you booked him for the party!” an uneasy feeling sent him rushing towards their hidden safe. The door stood open. “Everything is gone! The cash, the jewels, everything!” he pulled at his hair. 

“You silly man. You believe we were robbed by a ballet burglar?” she got up and joined him at the safe.  “My grandmother’s diamond broach!” she roared before passing out cold.

“What experience do you have, Mrs. Blankenship? Have you ever cared for two small children and an elderly woman? Oh, lest I forget, I’m Francine Manson, the lady of the house.”

“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. I’ve kept many a child safe over the years and though not concurrent with an elderly individual, I have cared plenty for the old and feeble.”

“Feeble seems a bit harsh of a description don’t you think?”

“I suppose not, as I’m up in years, and at times, believe myself to be a bit feeble.”

“Ahhhh. Well, come with me, let me show you the children. Step quietly to the door, please. I don’t want them to know they’re being observed.”

“Understood.”

“The girl is Freala, she’s five and the boy, Sabin, he’s only three.”

“They’re adorable.”

“Yes…. They are precious…. The woman in the wheelchair by the window is their great grandmother, Winnie. She’s not spoken since the two were born. She remains their only living relative. She, along with myself as power of attorney, hold custody of the two hellions.”

“May I ask what happened to their parents?”

“No! ….. Let’s just say they lacked Winnie’s strength. There’s something special about the three beings you see here.”

“What ever do you mean?”

“The old woman is a bit age resistant, this is as old as she gets, the two youngsters carry her same genes.”

————-

“That’s enough children! Get down from great gran Winnie’s lap and remember that whatever you take from her, she will take double the portion back from your tiny veins.”

————

“Do you think you can start tonight? They cannot go another minute without proper supervision…… Ma’am….?? Ma’am….. ?? ………….. Did anyone see in which direction Mrs. Blankenship made her escape???”

The elevator door closed behind Benjamin. His young mind couldn’t fathom what was happening. People of all sorts, some in costume, were packed in, struggling to move. Benjamin looked up at the man wearing clown makeup as he pressed the number three, the button lit up and with a jerk, the metal box began to move.

Benjamin’s bottom lip extended when he realized his dad was not in the elevator with him. He held back his tears as he made eye contact with another five-year-old holding tightly to his mother’s hand. The little boy stuck his tongue out at Benjamin and crossed his eyes.

Benjamin turned away from the bully.

The elevator dinged, the doors opened, everyone exited. Benjamin stood confused and alone. He felt a slight touch on the shoulder. “Wanna try?” a high pitched voice asked. Benjamin shyly glanced over as a man wearing tights and tennis shoes began to juggle three balls then four, five and six.

Crowds filled the stands, elephants pranced across the floor but Benjamin couldn’t go inside the arena, not without his father.

“Let’s all welcome to the center ring…… Juggler Jim!” the announcer said.

“That’s me! Gotta go!” Jim picked up Benjamin, swung him around and handed him off to a seven-foot-tall man on stilts walking towards the concession stand.

“He’s lost!” Jim said.

Benjamin covered his eyes and wept.

The tall man patted his tiny back. “There now, little one.” He walked out the front door with Benjamin in tow. No one noticed as the circus actor put the child in a white van, patted the roof and watched as the vehicle sped off.