Hello and welcome to day 13. Despite the craziness going on int he world, I’m trying my best. I am inspired and uninspired all at once. I will make it through though.
Today’s prompt: Write a story about a rumor moving through the grapevine.
Enjoy!
Anthony stands in front of the sink and washes dishes cleaning up the kitchen before he cooks. There’s a pot of boiling water on the stove, and the oven is preheating. He turns off the faucet and dries his hands. He walks over to the pot of boiling water and adds a bit of salt. The oven finishes preheating and beeps. He turns to the right and starts to reach for the cupboard under the counter. Suddenly, his phone rings. He stands up and grabs his phone. It is his friend, Sarah.
“Anthony, are you home?” Sarah asks.
“Well, hello to you, too,” he replies sarcastically.
“This is serious, Anthony. Are you home?” she replies. Anthony looks in confusion and answers, “Yes.”
Sarah replies, “OK, I’m on the way” and hangs up.
Anthony looks at his phone in confusion then puts it down. He turns off the stove and oven, then bends down and reaches for the cupboard again. He opens it and takes out some Febreze. He sprays some around the kitchen for a few minutes. Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. He puts the Febreze down and heads to the front door. Sarah walks in quickly and pushes him to the side. Anthony chuckles and closes the door.
She runs to the kitchen and begins to search through his cupboards, cabinets, and pantry. Anthony is shocked and walks into the kitchen. “What the hell are you doing?” he asks her.
She continues to search, ignoring him. She finally gets to the fridge, opens it, and starts to throw things out and explore. Anthony rushes over to her anddrags her away from it. He slams the fridge shut and glares at her.
“WHAT. THE. HELL. IS. WRONG. WITH YOU?!” Anthony says sternly.
After a few seconds of silence, Sarah asks sternly, “Is it true, Anthony?”
Anthony replies, “Is what true?”
Sarah glares at him and replies, “Don’t play stupid with me, Ant!”
Anthony sighs and wipes his face. “Have you been drinking, Sarah?” He asks.
Sarah scoffs and replies, “Yeah, blame it on my drinking.” She then hiccups and covers her mouth.
Anthony laughs and says, “Drink some water.”
He reaches for the fridge door, and Sarah says, “I don’t want anything from you, Dr. Lecter.”
Anthony stops, turns around, and says, “What?” Sarah smiles and walks over to him.
She snidely says, “Yeah, I heard about you. Everyone at work speculated on it, but George proved it.”
Anthony looks in confusion.
“George always said that your breath smelled funny. Like it was…raw.”
Anthony replies, “Well, that’s rude.”
Sarah continues, “I brushed it off. Maybe you have halitosis?”
Anthony replies, “OK, THAT was rude.”
She continues, “Then, at the company picnic, we chilled the entire time, but you brought your food, and you didn’t sit with us when we ate.”
Anthony sighs and replies, “Some friend you are. Did you forget that I’m allergic to every barbecue seasoning and spice out there?”
Sarah scoffs and sarcastically says, “Oh, of course, I remember that, Anthony. That’s why I dropped a little in your food when you stepped away. And by the way, it smelled AWFUL!”
Anthony’s eyes widen, and he stares at Sarah questionably. “That was you? Wow. I went to the hospital that night. I almost died,” he replies.
Sarah, looking remorseful, says, “Oh…I thought you were faking. I couldn’t believe that someone could be allergic to that.”
Anthony replies, “I missed work for a week, Sarah.”
She remembers and says, “Oh, yeah. You’re right.”
Anthony shakes his head, leans on the wall, and says, “This is a heavy accusation, Sarah. You could’ve come and talked to me.”
Sarah folds her arms and says, “But…your food just smelled…like…remember when that patient was smoking in the stairwell, and he mistakenly lit himself on fire? That’s what it smelled like…burning flesh.” She glares at Anthony, hiccups, and says, “I know it’s true. That smell is different.”
Anthony shakes his head, laughs, and replies, “So, let me make this clear, so I understand. You think I am eating…people?”
Sarah replies, “Well…when you say it out loud, it sounds crazy. But, yes.” Anthony replies, “You searched my entire kitchen and emptied my fridge. Where could I be hiding it…”
Suddenly, Sarah grabs his face and smells around his mouth. He pulls away and glares at her in bewilderment. She scowls at him and says, “I guess you just brushed your teeth.”
Anthony replies in anger, “Alright. Get the hell out of here. Go. I won’t let you accuse me of this shit in my own house.” Sarah scoffs and says, “OK. Whatever. I’ll go. But first, your bathroom.”
He rolls his eyes and points to the bathroom. She stumbles into the bathroom, lifts the toilet seat, and vomits. Anthony laughs and shakes his head. “How did you even get over here?” he asks.
She replies sluggishly, “I walked. I was at the bar on the other block.”
She flushes the toilet, cleans herself and gathers her thoughts. She looks at Anthony and says, “This shit better not be true, Ant. I can’t be associated with people like that.”
She looks him up and down before walking out. Anthony says bye and she slams the door. He laughs again and shakes his head. He heads back to the kitchen and restarts the oven and stove. He cleans up the mess Sarah made and by the time he’s finished, the oven beeps. He puts the pot on to simmer. He opens the fridge and takes out a microwaveable broccoli bag. He opens the seal and pours a few eyeballs into the pot, along with a few other spices and puts the fire low.
He then goes into the garage, flicks on the light to reveal his car, some junk and a white deep freezer. He opens it, and it’s filled with frozen, severed human parts, carefully wrapped in plastic. He reaches in and grabs an arm and closes it. As he walks back to the kitchen, he scoffs mumbles to himself, “I can’t believe that bitch tried to kill me with that barbecue sauce. Nobody ever believes me.”
He flicks the light off, walks into the kitchen, and closes the door.
© Jormatic. All Rights Reserved.
Originally published at http://illthinker.wordpress.com on June 2, 2020.
