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The Casket of Fictional Delights

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Doll Man

by Alyson Faye

Flash Fiction Curious, Playful

“Mummy!  Look what I’ve found.”Amy tugs impatiently at her mum’s sleeve, while Janey taps on her iPhone.
“In a minute. Just let me finish.”
Amy shrugs, skips back to her ‘discovery’, pokes it then pulls at the filthy trousered leg. It jerks. The white plastic bag, wrapped around the bony fingers, floats upwards. Tugging to escape, in the skin slicing January winds. Amy, pink cheeked, rearranges the man’s fingers, so he can better hold the cup of tea she pretends to present to  her ‘guest.’
“Nice cup of tea Mister, that’ll warm you up.” She’s noticed how cold the man’s hand feels.  ‘Proper chilled.’  as her Nan would say.  “Nippy at this time of year Mister.” Amy parrots the words Janey had tossed at the neighbour earlier. “Here’s my scarf”’ She unwraps her fleecy scarf, carefully wrapping it around the man’s neck, like her mum does for her. Amy pats his shoulder. “That’ll warm you up.”
She wonders what else she might do to help. Regretfully she peels off her furry red mittens, a gift from her Nan. Nan’s always saying it’s good to help others. Amy gently pulls the man’s dirty fingers into her mittens. Her eye falls on the undone laces of his solo trainer.
“I’m not very good at laces, but Mummy says I need to practise more.” Amy pokes out her tongue, concentrating. “…over and under..one loop….oops, nearly..” she mutters.
Her guest wears a cap which covers the top half of his face. Amy can only see his lips. They look blue. It seems rude to lift his cap when he’s having a sleep, but she really wants to see his eyes. He hasn’t moved at all. Trying to be bold, Amy reaches out towards the cap’s brim.
“Come on Amy it’s time to go.” Janey shouts.
Amy hovers, uncertain, pats his shoulder.
“Bye Mister. See you tomorrow.” She crawls out from under the slide, turning her face towards her Mummy, she waves happily. Mitten-less.
Only the plastic bag bobs a goodbye.

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About Alyson Faye

Alyson lives in West Yorkshire, UK with her husband, teen son and four rescue animals. She teaches creative writing classes and works part time as an editor/proof reader. Her fiction has been published widely in print anthologies - DeadCades, Women in Horror Annual 2, Trembling with Fear 1 &2, Coffin Bell Journal 1, Stories from Stone, Ellipsis, Rejected ed. Erin Crocker) and in many e-zines, but most often on the Horror Tree site and in Siren’s Call. In 2018 her debut flash fiction collection, Badlands was published by Chapel Town Books. Her most recent publications include pieces in several charity anthologies from Things in the Well, Parallel Universe (Kitchen Sink Gothic 2) and Diabolica Britannica as well as from Gypsum Sound Tales. Her work has been read on BBC Radio, local radio, on several podcasts (e.g. Ladies of Horror), posted on YouTube and placed in competitions.

Alyson Tweets @AlysonFaye2

Alyson has an Amazon Page 


Visit Alyson Faye on the web

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Everyone at The Casket is hoping 2021 will be a better year than 2020.  We have some great short stories and flash fiction lined up for your delight.  We kick of the year with a story by Lydia Unsworth “The Smallest Boxes” and then for Valentine's we have a story by Dylan Brethour which will also be available as a podcast. Later in the summer we have a new Flash Fiction Summer Collection which will be published online and as podcasts read by Menna Bonsels and Richard Hodder.  We hope you enjoy the stories we have for you and look forward to welcoming you back regularly.

Joanna & The Casket of Fictional Delights Team

 

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Text & stories © Joanna Sterling 2021
Stories © various authors
Audio by Menna Bonsels
Brooch photography by Mark Colliton
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