One can’t even leave the house for a few hours. It’s Day 23 of Flash Fiction February. You’re welcome. Have a nice day.

Deep, low snores, barely audible, loft from down below. There is a raspy, airy rumbling between breaths. How a body, any body, can live in such a dank, gloomy, and seemingly permanent situation is beyond understanding.

Meanwhile, above, two ladies, Marla and Kasey, prepare for a day of thrifting and grocery shopping.

Marla is excited. “OK!, we’ll go to Carrie’s Coat Closet, then Franklin’s Found Objects, and then to the BigWill.”

“I just love the Foster kids that work at BigWill.” Kasey says. “It’s so sweet that they can find a place.“ I really could have used some support like that when I was a kid.” She says.

“You and your soft spot." Marla says.

Marla continues: “I hate grocery shopping.”

“But you love the eating.” Kasey interrupts.

“Ok, ha ha, just don’t forget the list, please.” Marla responds.

Kasey says, “Ok, we have the list, and on it there are all things, like the staples, and the condiments, and the vegetables, and the meats.”

“Don’t forget the head cheese and the cow’s heart.” Marla says.

“Never.” Kasey says, and they both laugh.

“Can you imagine eating that?” Says Marla.

“Try not to think about it.” Replies Kasey.

Down below, there is movement, and there is cognizance regarding the movements above. A belly heaves, there is a belch and a release of gas, and saliva is drawn between yellow, fuzzy teeth. Eyes wait impatiently.

“I’m so glad we got this chair the last time we were at Foster’s.” Kasey says.

“I can’t believe the deal we got on that,” says Marla. “The wood alone is worth a thousand bucks, and the fabric is still original. “I hope we can find something like that today.”

The ladies get themselves together; they gather their things, chatting and laughing the whole time. Marla takes one more lap around the house; there is a flurry and a fuss at the door; it closes, and the lock is latched as they leave.

Down below, eyes open wide at the sudden silence.

Half a day later, the two return home with exhausted and relieved voices. They make several trips back to the vehicle to bring in their bounty, which they deposit on the dining room table. They are putting things away and scurrying all over the place.

“I can’t wait to sit down.” Kasey says.

“Me too,” says Marla. “I’m going to put this darling little lamp from Foster’s right on that table next to the chair; don’t you think that will look nice there?” she says. “And I need to sit down, so I’m going to test out this whole scenario right now.”

As she sits down, the leg of the chair buckles, and she tumbles as the chair leg gives way. “Ooohh!” she shouts.

“Will you look at that? You broke the chair!” Kasey says, laughing hysterically.

“You know that’s not true!” Marla replies, as they are both beside themselves with laughter now.

Marla picks herself up off the floor. She ambles over and opens the basement door. “Bruno! Why did you break our chair? You’re too big to sit on our furniture, you know that!” She yells down the steps.

“Look out,” Kasey says as she throws a couple of pounds of head cheese and a cow’s heart down the stairs.

"You and your soft spot." Marla says. 

A thick, slimy tongue licks a fistful of head cheese; there is a release of gas.

The End.

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