by Paula Fusco
VICIOUS – yellow-chalked, on her front door.
Twenty-second word in as many weeks.
Unwanted words, appalling, unnerving, at first.
AMORAL
BEREFT
CUNT
Night after black coffee night, staked-out behind her parlour window, keen to catch the unseen hand, red-handed.
But as the alphabet progresses, so anticipation grows.
She takes to prediction, exhilarated when her word matches his: P for PERFIDIOUS: T for TWISTED.
Four more words and then the alphabet is done.
She hopes for WRETCH or X-RATED, YEARN or ZERO.
And prepares to mourn the coming loss of yellow-chalked admonishments on her front door.
–
Paula Fusco, who was born in Belfast and now lives in Surrey, where it’s warmer, hopes that her readers will share her passion for the absurd.
The Pygmy Giant 
#1 by Glenys Grey on December 10, 2014 - 5:42 pm
Hi Paula. Really enjoyed your story – beautiful, clever and succinct. Well done.
#2 by Paula Fusco on December 12, 2014 - 1:37 pm
Hi Glenys
Thank you so much.
Less is more…
#3 by Gary Duncan on December 11, 2014 - 7:54 pm
Great idea, Paula. Love the stripped down style.
#4 by Paula Fusco on December 12, 2014 - 1:40 pm
Hello Gary
I am pleased you enjoyed it.
I really enjoy the challenge of using fewer and fewer words.
#5 by Linda on December 15, 2014 - 1:30 pm
Strange but compelling. It left me wanting to know more about the owner of the door – and the mysterious writer.