A Fantasy short story by I.M. Gerhi
Shaw Peel is under pressure. His wife, Minky, is bringing her boss home for supper and his stew, using a secret family recipe, takes a whole day to prepare. Will Shaw get the stew done and will Crippen, the talking werecat, be a help or a hindrance?
Shaw Peel is a dutiful stay at home husband with a dark hobby, and not only because his kitchen is in the basement.
Crippen, the werecat has an acidic personality and a sharp wit. And gets on Shaw’s nerves. How will Shaw cope with everything that needs to get done?
At the moment Grizzle & Bone is only available as part of the short story collection Night Light Tales.
Read a sample:
Shaw Peel slammed his ladle on the heavy kitchen table. “Would you believe that it is raining still?” he said.
“What do you expect?” said Crippen.
The windows were placed high on the basement wall, but the outside was ground level. Above was only a pale gray rain sky sifting down.
Shaw looked at the frogs throwing themselves repeatedly against the window. Poor buggers, trying to escape the dismal weather, he thought.
Shaw pointed at the dark corner. “You just shut up over there. I’ve got too much to do to have time for your nonsense.”
The kitchen was tiled from floor to ceiling in pristine white. Shaw had installed a set of bright downlights that hung in two strips down the kitchen. He was assured that every corner of the kitchen would be evenly lit. The other corner, where the boy sat, was well lit. He could not figure out how Crippen kept his corner dark.
“Yeah, like what?” said Crippen.
“Well, I have to finish making dinner. And then I have to polish the silver, iron the tablecloth, set the table, wax the floor, take out the garbage, do the laundry, shake the mattress, engrave the place settings…”
The light in the corner worked, and it was on. It was at full strength, but still, Crippen’s corner was dark. Because Crippen didn’t want to change in the light. “You’re already running late,” he said.
Shaw picked up a knife and pointed it at Crippen. “Shut up.”
Crippen hummed a tune under his breath.
Shaw turned around and added another log to the oven fire. The big pot was just beginning to steam. Then he leaned over and inspected the bowl of peeled potatoes.
“You done these ones good, Crippen? I don’t want any peelings.”
Crippen chuckled. “No peelings in the Peel’s supper.”
…end of sample
Grizzle & Bone © I.M. Gerhi