SUMMER CHILLER CONTESTANT
Rojelia never thought of herself as an evil witch.
“We’re not all skin-pocked hags,” she told Wanda. “We’re wonderful mothers and wives. We do good things.”
“I know, darling,” Wanda said.
It was summer. They were at the local, outdoor produce market. Men and women were soaked in sweat, shuffling beneath the torn canvas canopy.
“Sure you’re up for this?” Rojelia asked.
“Yeah.”
Wanda clasped the thin raincoat she wore and nervously adjusted the silk scarf over her head. The devastating effects of chemotherapy had claimed all of her beautiful blond hair, and the liver cancer had inked a saffron tattoo of jaundice onto her jasmine-scented skin.
It broke Rojelia’s heart to see her best friend dying. “C’mon, sweetie,” she said gently, and led Wanda by the hand.
All around them, fresh fruit and vegetables sparkled in crystal droplets of continuous mist. They ventured down the center aisle and waited for a young family to exit the area.
“Go ahead, reach out and pick one,” Rojelia instructed.
“Is it wrong to want to live?” Wanda’s eyes were wide and hopeful.
“Not at all.” Rojelia wiped away tears.
The moment Wanda touched the cantaloupe, her cancer was healed. She smiled and snatched the scarf from her head. Golden hair fell to her shoulders.
“You’re lovely,” Rojelia said.
“It’s a miracle,” Wanda sniffled.
No, Rojelia thought. It’s dark magic.
An hour later, a mother of two girls purchased three, ripe cantaloupes. The following year, her youngest daughter died of liver cancer.
© 2009 Angel Zapata
Angel Zapata was born in NYC, but currently resides just outside of Augusta, Georgia. His flash fiction and poetry has appeared or is forthcoming on Morpheus Tales, Flashes in the Dark, The New Flesh, Twisted Tongue, The Absent Willow Review, House of Horror, and Flashshot. He is husband to his blond goddess and father of four boys obsessed with all things ninja. Visit his blog: http://arageofangel.blogspot.com
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September 24th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Great story Angel. Your descriptions of the market were very good and I liked the dark little twist at the end. Nice one!
September 24th, 2009 at 4:01 am
Nice! Though I’m a little afraid of the farmers’ market now.
September 24th, 2009 at 4:46 am
whoa! evil transformation. lovely tone to this one. beautiful sentiment, right til the very end. an az classic.
September 24th, 2009 at 5:10 am
Nicely described, Angel. And quite a dark story as well…
September 24th, 2009 at 6:26 am
Chilling.
(golf clap of reference and fear).
Nice work, as always. (kim from 13s)
September 24th, 2009 at 8:44 am
This is so enchanting - for all the wrong reasons. The sparklely fruit and friendship graze over the selfishness of the, ahem, hags. I’m so glad this doesn’t happen in real life. The title is great and this is my favorite sentence.
“We’re not all skin-pocked hags”
September 24th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Loved “crystal droplets of continuous mist”.
Well done.
Just read your poem on Every Day Poets…well done, too!
September 24th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Yet another great story from Mr. Zapata! Brilliant descriptions! I loved the little twist at the end… I think I’ll stay away from the farmer’s markets for a while though…. yikes.
III
September 24th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Great story and excellent dark twist, Angel!
September 24th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I echo the sentiments of my fellow commenters, and would also like to share my favourite line, such poetry:
“…the liver cancer had inked a saffron tattoo of jaundice onto her jasmine-scented skin”
September 24th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Great story Angel! Nice twist!
September 24th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
SO well done. You almost feel as if you’re there, following them down the aisles….
September 24th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
oooh, I just love the story. And I’m glad it wasn’t an apple. Short and concise, dragged me in and kept me there.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Thanks everyone for stopping by, reading, and leaving feedback. Glad you liked it.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Powerful in its brevity. The moral grey zone is a frightening place.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
So innocuous, a trip to the farmers market. You changed all that in two sentences.
I will never buy cantalope again.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Congrats on an excellent piece, Angel. Short but extremely sweet (cantalopes are sweet, right?) Well done!!
October 15th, 2009 at 2:01 am
[...] http://flashesinthedark.com/2009/09/24/surrogate-fruit-by-angel-zapata [...]
October 18th, 2009 at 9:26 am
A worthy first place Angel - well done
January 12th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Wow! That was a dynamic ending. Your story was vivid and heartfelt.
As a matter of fact, scary as hell.