I am Melanie Sue: creator of the curiously eerie. I write from the shadows. Everything that leaks from my pen comes out dark and odd, twisted and creepy. I leave happy endings for others to write.
Currently, I am enjoying posting short stories on my website and submitting to open calls when I am not camping in the woods laughing at deadlines. I am also working on my first novella or novel if the characters don't kill me first!
Connect the Melanie Sue right HERE.
MOMMY
by
Melanie Sue
Dear Mommy,
Happy Valentine’s Day! I wish I could be with you today. I’m sorry I haven’t been to visit you the past few months. I know it’s an emotional day for you. It’s the day of love, and the day your baby boy was born! That’s me! To celebrate, I want you to follow the instructions on this card as I take you down memory lane. Ready?
Mommy. Do you remember when I was seven, and you came home from work furious only to find me playing with my toys and not paying attention to you? You asked me, “Why aren’t you listening to me?!” and I said, “I am Mommy, but only half-way. I’m playing.” You showed me what half-listening really was. Boy! Did you show me! I never screamed as loud as I did when you took that boning knife from the counter and tackled me. You took that knife to my ear, Mommy, and cut it clean off! One, two, three times you sawed back and forth as I kicked and screamed under your weight. When you had it in your hand, I remember you said, “Now you won’t be able to half-listen to me, boy!” And then you popped the knife tip into my ear hole. I heard a hiss and there was so much blood! It hurt so bad, Mommy. You threw my ear into the corner of the room and left me there as you went to shower. But I learned. I learned real good because I always listened all the way after that. Okay, open the box that says, “Number One” on it! Do you like the pretty, yellow wrapping? Look, Mommy! I kept my ear all these years! It’s dry and rubbery looking, but it’s mine. I made a necklace out of it for you. Hope you like it. You can wear it anytime you need someone to listen to you.
Now, open box two. Be careful! It’s fragile. It’s the one all wrapped in purple. Don’t shake it! Do you see it, Mommy? Haha! Do you “see” it? Funny right? You always said I was a funny boy. Don’t open the jar! It’s full of a chemical called Formalin. That stuff I stole from science class when I was thirteen. Do you recognize what’s inside? That’s my eye! I kept that, too! I remember that day. Do you? We got into an argument because I told you I liked a girl at school. I wasn’t supposed to be looking at girls. You were yelling at me so loud and I was so angry that I couldn’t even face you! I didn’t want you to see how angry I was at you. You said, “Look at me when I’m talking to you!” But I wouldn’t. I told you I didn’t want to. You made me go to my room. I remember waking up feeling like I was on a boat. The bed felt like it was moving, but I couldn’t lift my arms or turn my head. Something was wrong. You were sitting on the bed with me and you had that band wrapped around my arm. You know, the one you use when you give yourself medicine with the needle? I remember not being able to talk and something was across my forehead really tight. I don’t remember everything from that time, but I know you said something like, “You won’t be looking at any women but me and they sure won’t be looking at you!” Then I saw the spoon come closer and closer to my eye. I must have fell asleep cuz I don’t remember what happened.
When I woke up, there was a big bandage on my right eye and on my nightstand, in a glass of water, was an eyeball with all the nerves and cords attached floating in the glass. It was my eye, Mommy! I remember you gave me pills to take twice a day for almost two weeks after that. You said they would make me feel better and keep the disease away. Thank you, Mommy! Now, you can put my eye jar on your dresser so I can watch over you when you sleep and keep you safe. Okay?
Now for the bestest gift. I'm so excited. I hope you like it! I had some help from a friend to get you this gift. I saved all my money from being a janitor at the museum so I could give you exactly what you have always asked me for. Can you guess?
You always said you wished I loved you on Valentine’s like those people in the movies love each other. “I gave you life. The least you could do is give me love!” I heard it so often, Mommy. I tried so hard to be a good boy. I don’t know why you were always so sad on my birthday- on Valentine’s Day. I always thought it should be a happy day! My friend did a great job with this last gift; I’m sure of it! We worked out the details for months and months. Are you ready? I’m so excited for you. Open the box that says “Number 3”- the one with the hearts on it. It’s a very special box, for sure.
It looks like a toy, doesn’t it? It’s not! Mommy, the only way I could love you completely is if I had my friend help me. He called it plas-ti-nation. I know it’s a big word. Probably why it cost so much. Mommy, I give you my heart! My whole heart, Mommy! I wanted him to do my whole body that way, but that takes too long! So, the rest of me is in the freezer in the basement. You do what you want with that, but I wanted you to have the important parts all wrapped up and pretty. I really hope this makes you happy. I love you to pieces!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Your Son