Listen instead!

“This is so unfair,” Derrick grumbled to himself, as he pulled the rake from the garage.
+++++He wouldn’t even be in this mess if it wasn’t for his little brother Ricky. Sure he’d broken Mrs. Morrison’s window, but no one would ever have known if Ricky hadn’t tattled on him. Now he was going to be short two weeks allowance, and have to spend his whole Saturday raking and bagging leaves, when he could be inside playing Call of Duty. This was just one more reason to hate his little brother, who was perfect in his parent’s eyes. Ricky could do no wrong as far as they were concerned.
+++++The yard was huge with high hedges along both sides and a privacy fence across the back, separating the yard from a small wooded area. Three large maples bordered the rear of the property. They were almost barren, only a few splashes of color were left hanging delicately on their branches. The fencing ensured that all but the fewest of leaves became trapped inside. The weather had been windy and had blown the majority of the leaves to the back fence. It made his job much more manageable, but he didn’t see it that way. All he saw was a lot of work caused by Ricky.
+++++Working close to the house he spent his time split between grudgingly raking for a while and bagging up the debris. He found Ricky’s action figure, Iron Man, which he’d lost last week and was still throwing a fit over. He put it in his coat pocket.  He’d throw it into the woods later he thought smiling to himself.
+++++With this part of the yard finally done he set out to the back fence. The wind had funneled most of the leaves to this area. They were blown almost three feet high against the slat board fencing. His hands starting to blister, he was thankful that it would be mostly bagging from here on out.
+++++With six bags full, and what seemed like a mountain more to go, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. The leaves seemed to rise from the far side of the mound, moving in his direction like a ripple across a pond. He immediately thought of the old Bugs Bunny cartoons and how the ground would swell when Bugs traveled underneath it. Momentarily startled he jumped back and out of the pile. The leaves waned and ceased moving. Something was under there.
+++++Gathering his composure he picked up the rake. It was probably just a groundhog or maybe a skunk that had slipped in under the fence from the woods. There had been a lot of them around lately. A skunk would be good. If he got sprayed he wouldn’t have to finish raking and it would suit his parent’s right for punishing him in the first place. He’d stink up the whole house and make everyone as miserable as he was. Taking a deep breath, preparing for the skunk, he took the rake in his hands. Gripping it firmly he stabbed and poked it into the heap. Nothing happened. Then he swung it wildly through the high pile sending leaves flying in all directions. After a few minutes the leaves were scattered everywhere, but nothing had been in there.
+++++“That was stupid,” he muttered.
+++++Now he had twice as much work to do. At that thought the leaves began to move again.  A deep, throaty growl whispered from them as they pulled together, slowly shifting and swirling, swelling and ebbing, until they were heaped once again along the fence.  He backed away slowly never taking his eyes off the pile. When he got to the back porch he sat down to think.
+++++What should he do? He should tell his parents, but they wouldn’t believe him. Besides running to mom and dad was the kind of thing Ricky would do. He wasn’t like Ricky. He’d figure this out on his own. The pile swelled and receded again, as if taking a great breath. Whatever it was he didn’t think it was friendly. Freckles, Mrs. Morrison’s cat was lounging on their porch. He hated that cat.
+++++“Let’s try a little experiment,” he said, a feral look in his eyes.
+++++Coaxing the cat to him he picked it up and approached the unmoving pile of leaves slowly, gently stroking Freckles and whispering softly to him with every step. This was going to be fun. As he got within a few feet of the menacing mound it swelled once more, as if in anticipation of what was to come the cat hissed. He tossed Freckles indifferently into the pile. Nothing happened for a long moment. Suddenly there was a growl and Freckles hissed. Crunching and a loud tearing sound filled his ears, skin being peeled to the bone.  It sent a chill up his spine. A vortex stirred in the mass of debris, like water down a drain. The leaves then erupted in a flourish, a geyser of crimson splashed into the air mixed with the amber and gold of the leaves. Derrick stumbled then fell backwards, his heart pounding.  As suddenly as it had started it stopped. The leaves settled back comfortably.
+++++The pile looked almost as it had before, only smaller and not just a little smaller but considerably smaller. Derrick pulled himself up and watched the mass of leaves swell slightly. He had an idea, kill two birds with one stone. Thrusting his hand into his pocket he pulled out Ricky’s Iron Man action figure and gently tossed it on top of the pile, where it could easily be seen.
+++++“Ricky will be so happy that I found it for him,” he said to himself. Then he turned and walked purposely towards the house.

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Donald Glass

Donald Glass lives in Altoona, PA. He writes mostly about the underside of life that dwells in every city … including yours. He’s had work published in all the usual places online including Shotgun Honey, Dead Guns Press, Yellow Mama, Near to the Knuckle, Spelk, Out of the Gutter, Thrills Kills ‘n’ Chaos and has had 2 stories published in the Dead Guns Press anthologies Crime Scene and Dames and Sin.

Latest posts by Donald Glass (see all)

• Dyin’ Down The Road - November 6, 2017
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• Yard Work - October 31, 2015