The tragic play unfolded in reverse. From the kitchen window mother saw the ragged hole in the ice on the frozen pond. Footprints in the snow backtracked to the door. The little red boots were gone, and toys lay abandoned on the floor. The television droned on, speaking to emptiness.
B.C. Nance is a native of Nashville, Tennessee where he works as a historical archaeologist. In his spare time he writes fiction and poetry and has published several of his short stories.
You’ve captured a parent’s worst fear of not being vigilant enough. Tracing events back worked a treat in this context. Well told!
Wow! An unusual approach and deceptively simple phrasing provide a powerful punch.
Good one. Excellent!
Excellent work. So much emotion to read into 50 words!
Great job fitting so much into such a short story.