Thread: Sylvia

Some adult Language

Sylvia
by MJ Preston

The garage door slid open revealing only a hand, but then the blood coagulating on the concrete floor sent the taste of copper pennies up into my nasal cavities.

It was a sick smell, one of mayhem and torture. Then I saw the body.

Who was this dark man of Indian descent laying bludgeoned on my garage floor? How did he get here? Where on earth was my cell phone?

"Cover your eyes, don't look!" I try and step in the way, expecting her to scream, but she doesn't. Instead she stands statuesque looking unaffected by the grisly scene. "My God, there's so much blood," I gag. A few feet away I see the garden hoe, it's blade crusting up with rusty tissue, the corner of it is chipped-either by collision with bone or concrete.

"It's okay," she says. "Just close the garage before someone sees."

Someone sees? What does she mean someone sees? I have to call the police! There's a dead East Indian Man on my garage floor!

"Close the door Daddy." I click the remote, my nine year old daughter at my side. The garage motor clicks and hums as we stand in front of my forgotten SUV.

Someone sees?

The garage motor shudders as it seals off the horror giving me a moment to collect my thoughts. "Sylvia, who is this man? How do you know him?"

She looks left then right, making sure no one can hear her except me. "His name is Armad, but he calls himself Rene."

Rene? Rene? I suddenly realize who it is. "Oh my god! Sylvia! This is him. 5 O'clock Rene?"

She nods.

My hand trembles as I bring it up to my mouth. He'd had been calling me for the last two months.

"Hallo, my name is Rene and I have da vonderful deal fuh you today on life ansurance," he'd open. At first it was funny, like making fun of "Apu from The Simpsons"-but 60 calls later I remember our final exchange.

"Listen fuck-stick, you call again I'll beat you to death with my garden hoe!"

Oh my god! I look down on my little Sylvia and my heart shudders. "Sylvia, you did this?"

"Yes Daddy, I told him to come to the house when you worked late that day. He really isn't in India or Pakistan. He lives right here in Cartwright. He came in through the garage that same day, holding a binder. I had to hit him a lot, but he fell down and moaned for a while. Then he just died Daddy." She smiled at me, proud of her handy-work.

"I need you to go out to the shed Sylvia and bring me back my shovel and some large garbage bags." I urge.

"What are we going to do Daddy?" Her eyes are so innocent.

Placing a hand on her cheek I grin. "We're going to bury him in the backyard when it gets dark sweetheart."

Her eyes light up. "With the others?"

"Yes, with the others. Now go get that shovel and latch the shed before you come back." I stand straight up thinking how annoying the bastard had been and then I think about the backyard. I'll need the map I'd drawn up. We were running out of room for all those bodies.

Now that's family bonding. It's nice to see in this day and age. A nice, twisted little entry, as usual. In some strange way, this piece made my day.

My only nit would be the fathers reaction to the body. If he's killed before,and has bodies, why would he worry about the police? I understand it's part of the twist, but it seems off.

Otherwise, I liked this a lot.

Originally Posted by RyeCatcher24

Now that's family bonding. It's nice to see in this day and age. A nice, twisted little entry, as usual. In some strange way, this piece made my day.

My only nit would be the fathers reaction to the body. If he's killed before,and has bodies, why would he worry about the police? I understand it's part of the twist, but it seems off.

Otherwise, I liked this a lot.

Well the story sort of ended up where it did. I hadn't intended on their being more bodies.

You have a point, but I'll chalk it up to parental denial. By the way. Who said he was doing all the killing? From where I stand he was doing all the burying.

Thanks for your comments.

I like this alot, the twist at the end wasn't something I was expecting!!

Agree with rye on the issue about why he would be bothered about the police unless it can be worked in somewhere that obviously this was just him putting on a show incase someone had happened to see before they could close the door?

Hmmm I like your response..... intriguing.. so he is the one doing doing all the burying. So maybe something could be added like, we play the same game or i repeat the familiar words... sorry if i'm not making sense I hope you get what I mean.

I would definately love to read more though!! I'm waiting patiently with bated breath

Originally Posted by Luckystars1987

I like this alot, the twist at the end wasn't something I was expecting!!

Agree with rye on the issue about why he would be bothered about the police unless it can be worked in somewhere that obviously this was just him putting on a show incase someone had happened to see before they could close the door?

Hmmm I like your response..... intriguing.. so he is the one doing doing all the burying. So maybe something could be added like, we play the same game or i repeat the familiar words... sorry if i'm not making sense I hope you get what I mean.

I would definately love to read more though!! I'm waiting patiently with bated breath

Thank you, but that's really all there is. I suppose you are both right about the Father's initial reaction. This was just a tongue n cheek black humor piece.

Oh so you're not going to continue on with this piece?
I'm a sucker for black humor

I agree with Luckystars. I would love to see more of this. I do however, know the feeling of having something just be a one-off short piece.

Yup that's it. I'm knee-deep in editing one novel while writing another. This was just a distraction. Like ice cream.