Just a bit of free writing on a Sunday morning, inspired by the following Tweet, from fellow writer Sally-Jayne:
The tinny tune wafted on the night breeze, rippling over the burbling canal and along the street, bouncing from brick to brick down the row of tightly-packed houses. Up over the doors kept safe by Yale, Alexor, and Infinite, to the windows above propped open to let in the subtly soothing wind. And more.
Two rooms away, Daddy slept soundly with Mummy beside him. Lily knew he’d wake – both of them would – if she called. If she could call. But when the tune stuttered, skipping on a high C, the breeze fell still, and Lily cringed beneath the covers.
The curtains drifted up without wind, slow arms seeking blindly in the dark. A shadow of a beast loomed between them, head large and misshapen by tiny, crackling crystals.
The Ice-Cream Man had come.
I happened to glance at Twitter this morning, and was struck by this quick idea for a horror story. I’m not good at horror (I’m not good at much of anything, save perhaps drama), but it’s always fun to take a stab at something different.
Thanks again to Sally-Jayne for the prompt! I hope that all of you, too, are finding ways to tap into your own inspiration, whether it’s silly, scary, or the next part of your ongoing story.
Nice imagery! I enjoyed your bit of fiction.
Thanks, Phillip! I’m enjoying getting back in the game. 🙂
Yikes! I’m glad I never had such thoughts about the ice-cream man when I was growing up! 🙂 I know who to blame if I have a nightmare about this tonight!
I never had those nightmares, either, JM. But, don’t blame me! Blame Sally-Jayne for putting that idea in my head! 😉
I must disagree, you had me scared Mayumi. 🙂 I love this take on that tweet–well done!
Thanks, Kourtney! I enjoy imagining future possibilities for all my characters and stories. I didn’t like putting little Lily in danger…but, maybe this opens up a new stretch of stories for one of my more mundane casts. 🙂
I may never listen to the ice cream truck tune the same way again. This was a really neat start to what could be a terrifying story.
Thanks, Kate! I’m glad it worked as intended, though it was rather difficult to make an ice-cream man scary. I always think of a nebbish type with a paper hat. 🙂
Not to do a cliche, but it could just be a nightmare. Or the ice cream man could be coming to tell her something. Or just keep the horror and let her escape somehow. That’s why we love horror. We breathe a sigh of relief when a character escapes harm. 🙂
Something tells me I shouldn’t ask for two scoops from him…
Very spooky imagery indeed! Reminds me of Pennywise pulling up for a snack.
“IT” is one of my favorite King stories – I go back and read it rather regularly, in fact. His meandering, full-backstory style really shines in that one, I think. Plus, I love all of those great supporting characters: Richie, Eddie, Stan, and the rest. Thanks for the compliment! It’s a rich one for me, indeed. 🙂