“I didn’t know she was dead,” Wainwright told the cops. “I didn’t know.” The nude body of the blond hooker lay akimbo across the rumpled bed. Wainwright dropped one of his legs into his Armani trousers, then the other. Next, he tucked in his white Arrow shirt. “She’d been dead since yesterday, said Detective Gwynne. “We got laws against this kind of sex,” Detective Gwynne said. “The courts and the nuthouses call it necrophilia. Ever hear of it? Or maybe you ain’t much for name calling. Prefer practice, and screw theory, huh?” “I’m…I’m a college professor.” To Gwynne it sounded like an apology. “I teach British and American Poetry. I write poems. I’m not like..” He pointed to the dead woman. Gwynne sucked air through his teeth. “Poems? Where you’re going, mack, I’d say, Don’t write any. You’ll either get a shiv through your throat or an engagement ring.” “My wife,” began Wainwright, “she never moves when we make love. I thought maybe if I went out, found somebody else for a few hours. But she…” he throws his head back at the corpse. “she was the same…” “Forget the tie,” said Gwynne, motioning Wainwright to put his hands behind his back. “Let’s get out of here. Your story ain’t the only thing that stinks!” “I thought she was sleeping.” “Yeah, yeah. Sleeping. Maybe you can write a poem about it, professor. Maybe a whole book of them.” Gwynne led him down the creaking stairs of the no-tell motel. |
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DEAD SINCE YESTERDAY by Salvatore Buttaci
Filed under Salvatore Buttaci
Ewwww, disturbing.
Is that a “good” or a “bad”?
This is effectively creepy, and dark. I’m not sure how the animal behavior theme is represented in the piece. Could be just me.
On a completely different note, I had my 40th birthday party at a club on Avenue A in the East Village, NYC called No-Tell Motel. And it is also an online poetry magazine, too. How’s that for random wikipedia moments.
Robert, it would take some kind of an animal to make love to a corpse. Necrophilia is not an acceptable kind of love!
Happy belated birthday, Robert.
Very dark, but I really how convincingly clueless the professor is. Well done.
Al, the professor is a necrophiliac in denial.
Meant to say ‘I really LIKE how convincingly clueless the professor is’ but in denial is even more interesting.
Sal ;^)
Drak and edgy, friend. And so glad to see you here! Peace…
Thanks, Linda. I’m happy to be here!
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I love the line about poetry leading to either a shiv or a ring. Too real.
Thanks, Ken.
Very well written, and it captures my attention. However, it left me wanting to know more. It ended too soon. I think this should be a longer piece.
I think that can be said about all flash stories. However, it is true, especially when the character makes the reader wonder about his life and what motivated him to relish in necrophilia!