Story [Issue 45] Warphare: Final

[sonofchrysalis3 3,719]

 

 

As the holidays draw nearer, we are again reminded of the importance of family and the role it plays in shaping how we live and how happily we live. For many, family is a prized possession; for others, it’s the only possession.

 

With that being said, I offer the last piece of the Warphare series, complete with a family message and a happy ending.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

“How does this bow look, Mommy?”

 

Dottie proudly displayed the red bow for her mother to see. Carol smiled and patted her head as she took the bow.

 

“It looks perfect, sweetie! You tied it very well- here’s some tape to stick it on with.”

 

Dottie accepted the piece of tape and folded it over itself, just as her mother had shown her how to do, and fastened the bow to the gift.

 

“There, now go put it under the tree.”

 

The little girl struggled to her feet and carefully lifted the gift so as not to crumple the wrapping. Under the Christmas tree it went with all the other gifts.

 

Dottie stood by the tree for a moment, admiring all the bows she had tied for the other gifts. A look of concern crossed her face, and she turned to her Carol.

 

“Mommy, won’t the bows get torn when Daddy opens the presents?”

 

“Yes, Dottie, they will….”

 

Dottie’s face fell.

 

“… But it will be alright. We always feel a little sad when something beautiful is broken, but then we can make another one that is just as beautiful.”

 

She held up a roll of wrapping paper for her daughter to see.

 

“How about we use this one?”

 

Dottie nodded enthusiastically. The paper had a candy cane design! She loved candy canes.

 

RIING.

 

Carol’s answered her ringing cell phone.

 

“Hello?”

 

She listened for a moment, then got up and left the room. Dottie grinned. That meant Daddy was at the store shopping for gifts, and Mommy didn’t want her to hear which ones they were discussing.

 

She plopped down where Carol had been sitting and surveyed the mess they had made of the livingroom. In the middle of the gift-wrapping materials was a large pair of steel scissors, silver-colored and as sharp as can be. Dottie picked them up and examined them. Mommy had always done the cutting while she had done the taping and bow-tying. Maybe she could cut the next piece of wrapping paper….

 

Carol walked back in and saw her opening and closing the scissors idly.

 

“Dottie, put those down. They are dangerous!”

 

Maybe she wouldn’t cut the next piece, then.

 

“How are they dangerous?” she asked as she put them back on the floor.

 

“They are very sharp and could cut you if you aren’t careful.”

 

Dottie thought about that for a moment. She’d have to be pretty silly to put her arm between the blades and clamp them down. But then again…

 

“Mommy, could a pair of scissors accidentally kill me?”

 

Carol’s face paled. She pretended not to hear and handed Dottie another ribbon to tie.

 

“Here, tie a big one for Daddy.”

 

* * * * *

 

When the last present had been wrapped and put under the tree, Carol took Dottie outside to play in the snow. The family’s suburban backyard wasn’t very big, but it was perfect for making snow angels and making snowballs to throw at each other.

 

“Don’t go too close to the street, sweetie.” Carol called from the front door.

 

Dottie stood up from another snow angel. “Why are you going back inside?”

 

Carol held up the phone. Dottie grinned again. Gosh, they must be getting lots of gifts this year!

 

“Hey Dottie!”

 

She looked across the street. Her friend Missy was waving from the next yard, standing next to the snowman she was making.

 

“Hi Missy!”

 

Dottie started running over to her friend. She stumbled a little when she jumped down from the sidewalk-.

 

HOOOOOOOOOOONK!

 

SCREAM.

 

THUD.

 

* * * * *

 

Three nights later, Dottie shuffled up the steps to the front door. She stared at the door, straining to get it to move. Finally, after a minute of concentration, it creaked and swung open. Getting the hang of manipulating physical matter had been tough.

 

The Christmas tree was not lit. Why had they left it off tonight?

 

She tiptoed into the dining room, her transparent feet barely even grazing the floor. There really was no need to tiptoe, but she had always done so in the past when she snuck to the fridge in the middle of the night. It was just a habit.

 

Her mother’s door was shut. Great! Another freaking obstacle!

 

At last, there was her mother’s bed. Dottie floated over to it.

 

Carol was awake and staring off into space, tears streaming down onto the pillow. Crumpled tissues filled the garbage can and littered the floor.

 

Dottie’s eyes burned. Oh, if only she could still cry. She hated to see her mother so sad! She had kissed that face a million times, pressed her cheek to it, fallen asleep under its gaze… and now it was broken and mourning.

 

“Don’t cry, mommy.” Dottie said, though she knew her mother could not hear. “We’ll be together again.”

 

She turned and opened the middle drawer of the dresser, where Mommy kept the scissors.

 

 

 

 

Hold your family close. Tomorrow, you may not have them.

 

 

Also in the Warphare series:

 

Psychological

 

Interpersonal

 

Internal

 

Practical

Edited July 29, 2017 by Hexed

[Quarks 2,255]

Sniff Sniff

[personia 4,036]

This is well done. Nothing more to say really.

[13rilliant 8]

:o  :o  :o  :(

 

Sniff Sniff Sniff

[Helindu_2014 830]

Inspirational and Emotional

[DireFlyer 454]

very nice story... thank you

[SnotMaster_PRO 2]

Just went back and read the rest of them again. They were all great pieces, though a bit disturbing. Keep up the Great Work.

[comandobob 15]

Ouch that was a great read I'd say I will be looking forward to the next one but since this is the finale I guess all there is to do is congratulate you on an amazing series warphare has always been a great way to spice up the tanki newspaper. I'll be looking forward to reading your upcoming posts!

Edited December 22, 2015 by comandobob

[Bluebird13 95]

Happy ending...? It was written really well, and I was expecting something bad to happen the whole time. Then, voila?

 

Anyway, I really enjoy reading what you write; it's always entertaining, and never boring.

 

Thanks for a great series.

[beaku 2,656]

Great series... Though I wouldn't deny that it's a bit too early to end it. I really liked the fact that each of the stories required more of reader's ability to interpret and relate to their own lives.

I did read Seventeen:Part One, but after reading Warphare series, it was not-so-good-as-it-could-have-been start. But hey, who am I to criticise? :p

Hope to see some great pieces of work from you. Best of luck.

[comandobob 15]

Thank you for the link SonofChrysalis I'll be sure to check it out!

Edited December 22, 2015 by comandobob

[r_GaIaxy2 8,611]

[kostas604 106]

So, the daughter got ran over by a car and then her ghost killed the mother with a pair of scissors?

[TTK_229 1,080]

again.

Wot.