Fun

Clemens and the old man sat at the dining table playing gin rummy. A card game for two.

“Careful now, that seven’s got bad manners. Always ruins a hand,” he said.

Clemens looked at the seven. She smiled.

She slid down a jack, “Behave yourself…”

The old man nodded. But he was one step ahead.

“And that my dear girl is Gin…”

Clemens blinked. She was winning a second ago. How’d he catch up?

She had eaten the whole packet of cookies.

“Well Mister, I should be going now… My friend is waiting for me…” she said.

“Oh… dear… Yes it seems to be about that time… Won’t you stay a little longer… I want to show you something fun…” he said, looking at his fingers. Yellow nails.

“Fun?” Clemens said, “Okay.”

The old man motioned her to follow. They went upstairs. They went to a bedroom. There were mannequin pieces. Heads. Limbs. Torsos. There was nothing else.

The door shut behind Clemens. Click.

“Mister?” She said, then turning the knob. Locked. She was locked in.

“Mister you locked the door…” she said.

There was heavy breathing. Then he walked away.

Clemens sat on the floor. She felt a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She looked at the wall and saw a cross. Jesus dying nailed on the cross. And then the tears came. Quiet. This time.

“I am bad…”