Short Stories

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Ms. Salt and Mr. Light moved into their new homes in Bland Land where things were always done the same. They were always done without much fanfare. Mellow would be the word. Not much happened there; nothing really bad, yet nothing really good. And people got upset because even if Ms. Salt stepped outside to get the newspaper, acouple of grains of salt would tip out from her hat, changing the atmosphere of the neighborhood. It was not what they were used to. "All that spice." said their neighbor who did not want to be identified in this article. "They just think they can stir things up in this town. Well, they'll see! We've always been a tastless town, so much so that everyone has lost their tastebuds. Now we have to be concerned our children are going to be wanting more than we had. This has got to stop and many of us are angry about it."

A difference even in the temperature could be reported immediately by the neighbors of Mr. Light. One such neighbor, who wishes to remain annonymous said "Things seem to be just alittle warmer around here. And we're not quite used to it. It just changes the predictable fashion pattern that we have always had of cold, cold, cold and more cold. We're just not used to warm weather. Our town is built on the manufacturing of yarn to make scarves and mittens to simply bundle up and then some. We are a frozen folk with frozen emotions and frozen dinners and frozen relationships and frozen thoughts. We're even frozen in time, just like we were 20 years ago. I can see that if they continue to live here it will ruin our whole economy. What will we do with yards and yards of yarn? These people must be stopped. Why I've seen Mr. Light just step out to get the mail and all of the frost in his path would melt. What are we going to do with all that sludge?"

Needless to say they were a curiousity to the town. They tried not make a scene and do all the proper cultural niceties, but it was no use - they were clearly different. They tried at first to stay in their homes and not cause any suspicion because they got so many stares. But they just felt like they were stuck in a box so Ms. Salt called Ms. Light and said "I've got cabin fever. Do you want to have a picnic in the park?" So Ms. Light agreed. "There they both were." according to a witness, {that Ms. Salt and Mr. Light walking hand and hand through the town. It was an obnoxious scandal." The towns people peered through their windows behind the drapes with awe and fear. It was only the little children, who did not know any better, who ventured to converse with them and even play with them. Soon you could see a trail of tiny tots following behind them on a string. "Though," one town member said, "from a distance they looked like a vine. "

The towns people called the cops to go and get their kids. When they got there, Mr. Light's bright light stunned them so much so that they could not move any further. Eventually they retreated back to the plain donut shop with only plain doughnuts or black coffee. They sat their wondering why it is that they could not have the things in their life that add just enough sweet or salt or zest or zip that it could actually be enjoyed. But the never did venture back.

And the children never did return to their parents and so Ms. Salt and Mr. Light built an orphanage to take good care of those kids. They gave them the warm of their love and the spice of passion for life that warmed their frozen hearts. In time, the whole town began to come to life and things changed, not for the worse as some suspected, but for the better. Mr. Light taught the tots to make yarn wall hangings of unique tapestry mastery, so much so that they were valued in other lands and also in high demand. The town became known around the country for it beauty and eventually became a tourist destination with people traveling far and wide to discover it's mystery.

H. Stone (C) 2005

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