It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. We gave him his packed lunch, and watched him run down the yard and into the waiting school bus. He took his seat, just like every other day and waved us goodbye. I waved back until he was out of sight. But that day he wasn’t going to come home to us. Read more »
Posts By: Edwin Crowe
Pica
Pica, a tendency or craving to eat substances other than normal food (such as clay, plaster, or ashes), occurring during childhood or pregnancy, or as a symptom of disease. Read more »
The Haunted Toybox
I was always creeped out when I visited my Aunt’s house. My brother made me watch the Shinning when I was only five. My Aunt’s daughters looked exactly the same as the ones in the film. That alone was enough for me to feign sickness when I was told where we were going. Unfortunately that only worked a couple of times, until my mum got wind and made me go no matter how much I played up. Read more »
Do What You Know
I thought about the words my father said to me as a child.
“If you don’t know what to do, do what you know.”
My Cabin in the Woods
I live outside of town for a reason. I’m old now and don’t have time for small town gossip, I wanted peace and quiet. I’d lived here all my life, so when I moved, I didn’t go far. Read more »
I’m Not Afraid of Spiders
I think I was ten when I found the spider living in our garage. I remember staring at it for hours. The beautiful web it had woven glistened in the sun that shone through the small glass window. The large hairy body waited in the centre, silent and majestic. Curious I touched one of the silk strands, the spider then pouncing, expecting to find a meal. I withdrew my hand quickly as the spider searched for the intruder in his little world. My heart thumped with excitement. Within a minute, he’d returned to the middle. Back on guard duty, his fine legs holding onto the gossamer threads patiently, on stand by for the next vibration to signal his chance. Read more »
It Was the Worst Thing he Ever Saw
When my old friend from school, Eric, phoned the house, I was more than shocked. To think he remembered the number. I’d changed my cellphone many times since I last spoke to him. Read more »
Alone in the Forest
We were the last people left in the campsite. The more I thought about that, the more petrified I was to hear just the faintest noise from outside. My sleep was broken and when I did awake, I swore it was because I heard something. Read more »
Our Little Ritual
It was a ritual of sorts. We’d arrive home after a dog walk, and Scruffy would scratch at Mrs Hampton’s door. I’d open it and let him in. I’d return to my apartment, down the hall, after thirty minutes or so, I’d hear those scratches on mine, and I’d let him in. However, over the last week, I fell out with Edith. Read more »
Bleak Christmas
I told my wife I had a surprise for her the week before Christmas. She asked if it could wait until the day, but I said no, this couldn’t. Read more »
Splinters
I’d been digging at it for twenty minutes, but the little bastard wouldn’t come free. I plunged the tweezers into my palm even further in an attempt to remove the splinter that was bothering me so. I saw it grasped in the tips of the tool, but as much as I pulled the damn thing wouldn’t budge. I took a tissue and wiped away the blood before trying again. Read more »
Meat
Ghost Rock, Utah isn’t much more than a rock. When my wife and I stopped there for a rest, the sun was beginning to set. Sarah used the restroom, while I stretched my legs outside the car. We were traveling to the national park to camp for a couple of days, before visiting family. Ghost… Read more »
I Bought a Murder House
Buying a house at an extremely discounted rate because the previous occupants were murdered may not sound like a wise idea. Especially if the house still looks like the crime scene that was inspected just months earlier. But prime real-estate in the centre of London is worth its weight in gold. I suspected if the estate had bothered to clean, then there would have been more buyers and the price would have risen through the roof. However, blood stains and the smell of death put off even the most forgiving buyer. Read more »
I Help Schizophrenics
When I saw the woman in the middle of the road appear to swat thin air, I recognised it immediately – schizophrenia.
I approached her, she turned, her face distorting horribly. Read more »
Father and Son
“Be ever so quiet, son,” my dad said to me in a whisper. Read more »
Just Hold It
When I told my friends I had guns in my house, a couple of them were excited, the others not so much. The gang followed me home nervously. Read more »
Keep the Shoebox
When I found out my new girlfriend was pregnant, I was so happy; I moved in soon after. It was so fast, not something we had planned. On the twenty-week mark we went to the hospital for the scan. Read more »
Leave the Hall Light On
My Dad died when I was ten. I was too young to understand what was happening. All I can remember was that my mum had to rush to the hospital and that my older brother was left to take care of me. I loved him, he being another ten years older than me meant that he was an adult and I always felt privileged to spend time with him. Read more »
Schizophrenia with Severe Paranoid Delusions
When I saw the woman in the middle of the road swat thin air, I recognised it; schizophrenia. I approached her, she turned, her face distorting horribly, her hands waved me away.
Buyer Beware
Trying to find something for your significant other is hard. You can go for the easy win and get some jewellery and flowers, but that’s not going earn you any brownie points. Though, it won’t cause the evening to devolve into silence and arguing.
Air Freshener
I work maintenance in a large high-rise office block. You have no idea the type of things I have been forced to clean. I’ve seen toilets that have been covered in shit that you’d need to be a gymnast to create. In another walk of life they may have entered it for consideration of a turner prize.
Uncle Jack Says Not to Tell Tales
I’m unsure when I awoke, but it was the overbearing feeling of claustrophobia that returned me to consciousness. I struggled against my bindings. The dirty cloth jammed into my throat tasted bitter. I heaved, my breaths cut short by the makeshift gag. Read more »
Rotary Phone
“She’s awake,” I said to the man next to me.
“Did she take her tablets?”
“Have fun!”
We arrived in the ambulance and got out as quickly as we could.
“We need a neck brace and a stretcher,” said Rick.
“I’m on it,” Stuart replied.
They Say Time Heals All Wounds
“Do you forgive me?” I asked. She looked up and searched my eyes, before saying nothing and hanging her head. So much time had passed since I did those terrible things. They say time heals wounds, but just how much time is needed? I wondered what I could do that would change her heart; so… Read more »