Friday, April 8, 2011

Honey I’m Home

Harry B. Sanderford

“Honey, I’m home… Just me, Sugar,” Doc rehearsed on his walk from the barn to the house. It always took a bit before his borrowed ears adjusted to the sound of his borrowed voice. Physical sensations were mostly familiar, though often incorrectly categorized. Twisting the icy door knob awoke senses in his fillings. Snow melting in his boots felt like sand between his toes. He’d watched his host slip on the steps, landing squarely on his ass. He had a private chuckle, truth be told, yet the only discomfort he registered now was a ticklish burn in his earlobes.

Pushing the back door open, he was relieved to see the bluish flicker that meant Beth was watching television. If he played it right he could thaw out in a warm shower and collect himself a bit before engaging in more than cursory conversation. It was not that he wished to avoid Beth; he'd become fond of her on his previous visits. She of course knew nothing of the arrangement, but her smile was real and his to keep whenever he manned the controls of her husband's body.

“Hi Sugar,” he called from the hallway.

“Hey babe, it’s going to be a cold one tonight. How do you feel about chili?” Beth asked.

“Sounds great to me Hon. You know it’s you who’ll pay later.”

“No beans in yours!” she shouted.

 “Ha, fair enough. I’m going to take a quick shower to warm up," he shouted back.

Safe, he thought and gestured with hands already becoming familiar as he watched them close the bathroom door.

19 comments:

Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...

Oooo, and wasn't that a chiller! LOVED IT! It's like an alien-abducted Stepford Husband, so scary in the middle of such a normal domestic scene. Well done, Harry!
(Of course now I've got 'Honey I'm Home and I've Had a Hard Day' by Shania Twain playing in my head)

Icy Sedgwick said...

Wow, this was really different for you - and I like it! I agree with Cathy, it's such a chilling scene. Although I've also now got Shania in my head as well.

Anonymous said...

Yes, very different for you Harry, and I agree with Cathy and Icy - chilling, very well done!
I refuse to allow Shania Twain in my head for any length of time!

John Wiswell said...

Way darker than your usual fare, Harry. The most distinct from everything else I've read on this blog, and I think I've been around here a while. The close is almost chilling.

Anonymous said...

I love how very short pieces can provide an entire story with such brevity, where the reader can extrapolate and continue the story or fill in the previous history.
This is wonderfully creepy.
Adam B @revhappiness

Stephen said...

Nice awkwardness over controlling that body. Who is the something or someone at the controls of that poor guy? Nicely underplayed within a domestic situation. 'Tis freaky I tell you. St.

Kate Pilarcik ~ absolutely said...

Well Har,
I may as well join the gang, agreeing with Deanna agreeing with Icy agreeing with Mrs Webster who nailed the Stepford Husband this Twilighty Zone saga was steeped up with. Agree as well with the chilling Mr Wiswell noticed, but that warm shower should clear that up, but the chili for dinner? Does your shape-shifter alien robotic have the mechanics for hot spices? In the pot or in the sack? And will Beth know "that" is different?

While we're on size or mechanics mattering, it cracks me up Adam that afullnessinbrevity remarks on your brevity . . . and yet Mr S -- you let loose so many details in da tell. You had fun in your spunky eyes wit' this one, didn't you? (What were you watching on TV last night? What did you have for dinner?)

OH YEAH --- Where the hell is Beth's hubby and what did he do to get them all involved in this intergalatic Donna Reed show?

~ Absolutely*Kate, an inquiring mind who wants to know

Steve Green said...

Good bit of sinister, Harry, and as has been said, different from your usual. I think this concept, and characters could go a lot further, any future plans to expand on this?

Chuck Allen said...

Oooh, I like it. The concept is great and the way it unfolds is terrific. Leaving the ending up to the reader is a fun way to end it. (Or perhaps you're saving the ending for another story?) :)

Tim VanSant Writes said...

Whatever is controlling my body is giving you two thumbs up.

Kate Pilarcik ~ absolutely said...

(( Tim VanSant - I don't know you, but I moseyed all the way back to Har's just to say that was one of the coolest responsorial comments I ever read. )) (Betcha whatever unknown force 'tries' to control Harry's body has broke out in a gigundus grinnn now too) ~ Absolutely*Kate

Alan W. Davidson said...

Enjoed the homey dialogue between the two, Harry. I'm wonderin' if this is going to take a sinister turn...

Stephen said...

Well, now that's a bit of creepiness well done, which makes me say, "More, sir, I want more." I especially like the part about an "arrangement," which makes me want to ask a few questions. Suffice it to say, then, you really engaged me as a reader, Harry. My hat's off to you.

John Xero said...

I kind of disagree with some of the previous commenters... I think this piece is great because you have made the body snatcher trope not-so-sinister, and very interesting. There have been previous visits so Beth is in no obvious danger.

I really like it, I want to know what brought about this 'arrangement' and what the (real) hubby gets out of it. =)

AidanF said...

Creepy. I suppose because I would never be interested in sharing my body; but I guess that's not quite right. I see occasional cases where I might agree.

Nice writing.

Harry said...

Thanks alot everyone!

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to see where this one is going! This piece raised so many questions. What's he doing here? How long has he been doing this? Why is he doing this? He seems harmless enough now, but I have a feeling that is not his true intent. The length of the piece is great, gets the meaning across and a fast read.

Kevin Michaels said...

Excellent - dark with a little nasty undercurrent....this could go in so many directions (all of them good).

PJ said...

Oh, sequel, please! I want to know who this unwelcome guest is and why has he done this before and why is he here now! Do tell! Terrific concept.