Just
then a man in a checkered suit and hat walked up and knocked on their
neighbor’s door. “Who in tarnation is
it?” bellowed Rottina. She came to the
door wiping her hands with a rag.
“Hello. I’m Karma,” he
replied. “Well, who the hoot are ya
lookin for?” “I’m looking for you,
Rottina. I have a message for you.” She paused and looked him up and down for a
moment. “Well, I don’t know how you got
my name but you have the wrong house.
Now scoot!” Karma tipped his hat
and said, “I’m sure that I have the right house. Good day, Ma’am.”
As he left, a dirty puff of smoke flew into
her face making her cough. Then he
disappeared. Rottina slammed the
door. Not five minutes later Fester
jumped up from his chair. He and Rottina
watched as sparks began to shoot from the television cord. The sparks traveled from the wall to the
television set and suddenly it was on fire.
Rottina’s eyes got really big with fear.
Fester turned to run but fell down face first, cracking his glasses
because of his bad leg. Rottina ran to
fetch some water but fell on top of his hunch back. Fester moaned, “Get off of me woman! You’re heavier than a house!” “Oh shut up!” Rottina retorted. “Blood and ash, down the spout, I command
this flame to burn out!” she pointed her fat, wrinkled finger towards the
television and suddenly the fire stopped.
She and Fester struggled for a long time to get back on their feet. Return to excerpts page