Ever since I started blogging, I’ve tried to post some spooky themed stories in October.
I make them all micro-fiction so nobody has to panic about finding part two, or missing one in the middle.
There is a style of micro-fiction called creepy pasta. Someone eventually glommed onto that name and started a website to host stories, the whole works. I know you can’t copyright a name, but I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes either. Maybe someday, that person will become a friend.
That’s why I call my stories Macabre Macaroni. And here we have the lovely Lisa Burton bringing us a platter right now, so everyone dig in.
The Woodworker’s Dilema
The tiny bell above my shop door jingled. It was early in the day for tourists to be wandering. I sat down my tea, checked my face in the antique mirror, and walked into the front. “Good morning, and wel–” I crossed my arms at the sight of Reverend Whitaker. “What do you want?”
He held up his palms. “I, I come in peace. I want to discuss something with you.”
“Like closing my shop down and running me out of town? Three years now you’ve been trying to put me out of business.”
He glanced at the apothecary section, then quickly looked away. He moved a hand-blown glass vase off the table, and sat down. I suppose he never noticed the furniture and the vase were for sale.
“I hope we can put all that behind us.” He placed a small cardboard box on the table. “I’ve come to the conclusion that… Well, that maybe there is more to this world than I know.” He gestured to the seat across from him. “Please.”
“I’m just having tea. Would you like some?”
He glanced again at the apothecary section. “No, I um. Thank you.”
I slid into the chair and adjusted my apron. I waited for him to speak, not wanting to invite the condemnation papers or whatever he was up to this time.
“I have a hobby, you see. When I’m not preaching, I have a life just like everyone else. One of my parishioners knows I’m a woodworker, and asked me to remove one of her trees in exchange for the wood. She seemed very upset about the tree, so I agreed to help.
“It turns out it was a huge maple, hundreds of years old. I had to get some of the other members involved to help remove it, and haul the trunk to my farm.”
“What does this have to do with me?”
“Right, um, it turns out it was all curly maple; lovely stuff really. I make knife handles, mirrors, brushes, duck calls, that kind of thing. I have so much of it, that guitar makers and violin makers are calling me.”
He placed a block of wood on the table before me. It was breathtaking. The lines and swirls had a kind of reflective quality that was mesmerizing. I looked up and pushed a hair out of my face. “It’s beautiful. I might be able to sell a few pieces for you.”
“Yes, well, that wasn’t what I had in mind, but perhaps. I was, was, am hoping you could lend a special kind of assistance.” He removed a second piece from his box and turned it towards me.
“I, um. I don’t know–”
“Please. I need to know if this is demonic, or, or witchcraft.” He loosened his collar and wiped his brow. “I can’t let anyone else have this if it’s going to, to, to curse them.”
I lifted the piece and turned it in my hand. I detected nothing evil about it. “I think it is exactly what it appears to be; a cry for help.”
“But from whom, and what kind of help? Can you tell me anything?”
I tossed the wood between my hands to get a reading, but got nothing. “Are there any more messages?”
“Not so far, just this one. Can you help?”
“Perhaps, but we’ll have to work on it together. You find a way to count the tree rings. That will tell us what year it was planted. Figure out what age the message came from too. Then find out who owned the property at that time. Search also for news from those years; tragedy, missing persons, unsolved crimes, a reason to ask for help.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll try some divinations. I will also interview the woman who owned the tree. She may have dreamed something, or noticed strange things. Together, we may be able to figure out something. Right now, do not discount that this message came to you. It is your help being sought. It looks like whoever sent it knew how to write, and they chose not to use cursive script. Possibly they were too young to know it. That is all I know today.”
“Thank you, and – this is hard to admit, but I may have been wrong about you.”
“Your culture has been wrong for centuries. Perhaps you and I can change that.”
***
You guys know me, I’m always trying out new things. This time it was pictures to enhance the story. What do you think? Did the pictures help more than a lengthy description would?
Just a couple of quick announcements. Both of my Experimental Notebooks contain short stories and micro-fiction. Many of those have a paranormal bent to them. If you need something to keep you awake at night, maybe one of those would do the trick.
This week is also the free week for my novel Panama. If you like historical fiction with some creep factor involved, this might be the story for you.
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
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Thank you.
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There is always this problem with your stories, Craig. You leave us wanting more!
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Glad you liked it.
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The pictures were a nice touch but your writing is such that it isn’t necessarily necessary. Personally, I want to know who wrote the message!!!
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Thanks. I slaved away for minutes on the message one.
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It turned out well!
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Oooh – that one had extra spicy sauce. Like the use of the pictures 😀
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Thank you, Jan.
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So much mystery ! Wow. Love your writing, going for the book download. Thanks so much. ☺
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Thanks, Van. Much appreciated.
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The addition of pictures definitely worked with the story. Left wondering what the message was about. Part of me wants to think it’s the tree or a dryad.
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That’s interesting. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it could work for a fantasy author.
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Possibly a curse or disease that causes dryads to become trapped in their soul trees? Something to play with in the future.
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I was thinking something more like communication from the other side, but I like that idea.
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Ghost of a lumberjack works too.
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Yes but Craiggggggg! Never mind the pictures, what happened next? The story isn’t finished yet! How can you be so mean to us???? 😂
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It was about two opposing cultures coming together, with the religious guy having an epiphany. I admit there is room for more.
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I know! I got that. Its good. Lol! I think its certainly got potential for a bit more though. Btw I was teasing you! 😁
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I understood the teasing completely. These two could go on quite the Scooby Doo adventure if they had to.
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Lol! Wow! What a double act that would be!
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A nice lesson the Reverend received.
I so much enjoyed the story. As I am mostly writing about ghosts/past lives I am with you with the idea of a message from the other world.
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The story was great and I would have loved to see it go a little further. It seemed to end abruptly. I do see the tale of the opposing cultures which was great but it really left me wanting more. The pictures really added to the account. Thanks for such a good read this morning.
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I appreciate that, thanks.
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Thanks for sharing my freebie.
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Always happy to share your work.
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I counter shared chapter one, but I’m blog bogged right now. Maybe I can weave a post together and include a lint to the beginning so readers can catch up with your Halloween story. I have something similar scheduled for tomorrow. I won’t be able to do it until the weekend though.
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Thanks. I’m having a big reblog day too. I think having nothing on my blog until the evening has me thinking that I have the time and space to share.
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I have to run out to get boxes and set up a room. That’s why I scheduled ahead this week. Kind of unusual for me.
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I practically live off scheduling at this point. Helps with tweets and posts, which I’ve needed this year. I’m actually trying a new tweet system this week. One at 12 AM that I pin when I wake up and then reblog throughout the day instead of doing 3-6 tweets every day.
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Sounds like it should work.
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By the way, love the Lisa picture. The dress reminds me of Morticia Adams.
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That was kind of the model we used. Sean is so talented that you can actually see tattoos through the dress, without being too revealing.
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Didn’t notice that before, but it is an awesome effect.
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The guy is good, that’s for sure.
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I liked the pictures. Like the rest was looking for more.
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Seems like most wanted a bit more. Now tell the truth, which picture did you like?
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Ha ha ha. I thought the “Help me ” wood was clever. I always vote for a Lisa pic.
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I copied the wood color with my Apple Pencil. Then tried to draw along with the grain that already existed.
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You did a good job.
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Thanks, I’m not much of an artist.
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🙂
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Fun post Craig, your imagination and creativity are always a joy.
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So glad you enjoyed it.
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WOW! Great stuff! Yes, I liked the pictures with it, but I wish it were longer. I got so involved, I hated to see it end! LOL! 🙂
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Seems like the majority thought it could be longer. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Okay, you got me again, Craig. The possibilities you have opened up with this short are amazing. I’m greedy, and like many of the others I want more. The message comes through about the intertwining of cultures, but it’s the message in the wood I need closure on! Bravo!
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Thank you. I probably shouldn’t have included it, and saved it for a full short story. Most people waned more.
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This is divine… I mean macabre. 😀 😀 😀 Okay, wonderful.
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I love the word macabre, I’m going to keep it. Glad you enjoyed yourself.
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*insert brisk nods*
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Nicely done! With so few words I’m invested in the main character and want to know her better. I liked the photos too.
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Much appreciated.
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Well done! Interesting characters. I could read more like this.
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Thank you. I hope the rest measure up. They go different directions, so we’ll all find out together.
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Well done, Craig. I look forward to the next.
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Thank you.
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The pics were a nice touch for micro fic on a blog post. I added a measure of impact seeing those words scrawled out there. Most creep indeed and I’d love to see how the whole things end.
BTW, the new artwork of Lisa is great, and did the header just change or has that been there for a while and I’m only now noticing it?
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Glad you liked the story. I’ll talk about the banner on the next comment.
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