The Fifty Year Sword

"The Social Worker had mentioned
other
"youngens
"but that night
Chintana saw no sign of any more.
"Maybe the incresiating cold
"or the
peculiar threat of a storm
"or Belinda
Kite's birthday
"had turned parents
from wrestling with seat belts and car
seats-
"-from those oh so
"many lists
of baby sitters tacked conveniently by a
phone.

"Chintana rubbed the violet line
on her thumb as a woman with topaz
clamped on her ears burst past her
towards a small bathroom tucked
under the main stairs.

" 'Such a hateful whore,' the woman
sputstuttersobbed to Chintana,
"to no one
in particular,
"diving for the comforts of
lock and running water.

"Whereupon Chintana's thumb
abruptly began to sore a little
"and she
felt bleak,
"as if a thousand
"vengeances
upon vengeances were dicing her
suddenly
"into hail.

"Though the cause was none too
mysterous
"-the front door just stood
wide open.
"Though when it had
been flung so Chintana would never
remember.

"The porch lights were extinguished The Social Worker had mentioned
other
           youngens
                               but that night
Chintana saw no sign of any more.
    Maybe the incresiating cold
                                              or the
peculiar threat of a storm
                                             or Belinda
Kite s birthday
                      had turned parents
from wrestling with seat belts and car
seats
           from those oh so
                                            many lists
of baby sitters tacked conveniently by a
phone.    Chintana rubbed the violet line
on her thumb as a woman with topaz
clamped on her ears burst past her
towards a small bathroom tucked
under the main stairs.    Such a hateful whore, the woman
sputstuttersobbed to Chintana,
                                              to no one
in particular,
                   diving for the comforts of
lock and running water.    Whereupon

Mark Z. Danielewski