Short Stories

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There came
a day,
when the sons
of God
came to present
themselves
before the Lord,
and Satan
also
came
among them.
[Job 1:6]
*********************
"Hey, BOSS!"

[SILENCE.]

(Satan tightens
his red silk tie,
with an air of
arrogant confidence.
He stands at ease.
His hands are together;
his beautiful,
intelligent eyes
full of curiosity.)
"What's UP?"

(An angel, standing
behind the Throne,
moves his heavy
hand a little tighter,
around the handle
of his edged sword.)

(Satan smirks at the angel;
giving him a nod with his
exquisitely sculpted chin.)
"What's with YOU?
What are ya gonna DO, ANGEL:
THROW your big.. SPEAR,
at ME?"
(Laugh!)

[THUNDEROUS VOICE.]
"SILENCE!"

"Sorry, BOSS."
(Satan tugs on the
silk collar of
his perfectly fitted,
black shirt.)
"I got carried AWAY;
sorry."
(Smile.)
"I'm always in such a
good MOOD....
this time of year;
my gleefulness....."
(Purposeful pause.)
".....OVERFLOW'ETH?"

[LONG SILENCE.]
[GAZE.]

(A familiar
chill of a drop
of cold sweat,
begins to slide down
Satan's satiny smooth
back. He ignores it:
cocking his handsome
head, with an air
of intimacy.)
"This IS the best
time of the YEAR.....
for me,
You KNOW."

[NOD.]

(Looking again,
albeit cautiously,
at the angel whose
hand remains tightened
on the handle of his
gleaming sword.)
"Ya know, BOSS..
what with all the
DEPRESSION,
and...
SUICIDES,
and all...."
(Slow smile!)
"I can't HELP it, BOSS!
It's just a ......"
(Satan looks around
the Throne Room,
as if searching for
the right word;
he spreads his hands,
dramatically.)
"....BEAUTIFUL time..."
(Smile!)
".....of YEAR?"

[CALM GAZE.]
[QUIET VOICE,
ALMOST IN A WHISPER.]
"Yes;
I know."
[LONG SILENCE.]

"So.......why have
I been SUMMONED,
Here,
BOSS?"
(Satan steps just an
inch closer, but no more.
Involuntarily, he glances
down at the River of Life,
which is flowing before
the Throne. He grimmaces,
and then tastes blood in
his mouth, realizing that
he has just bit his tongue.)
"Is there.....eh...
somethin' SPECIAL...
that Ya want me to DO?
Just NAME it....."
(Smile!)
"And.....
(Tasting the blood, again,
in his mouth, Satan's eyes
glimmer with sensual delight.)
"..It's..DONE."

[LONG SILENCE.]
[GAZE QUIETLY,
DOWN ON EARTH.]
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Then
the Lord
said to
Satan,
Have you
considered
My servant....?
[Job 1:8]

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