FLEA MARKET SPECIAL By: Michael A. Kechula
Saturday, January 10th, 2009“Hey, Sue, look what I got at the flea market for a buck,” Harry said, putting a black metal box on the table.
“How exciting! I can’t wait to see what’s inside!”
Harry slammed the rusted padlock with a hammer. After a few whacks, the lock fell off.
Removing the lid, Sue screamed when she saw a woman’s head.
“Take it easy,” Harry said. “It ain’t real. Looks like it’s made from wood.”
“What an ugly-looking hag. What’s that button for on her forehead?”
“I don’t know.”
When Sue pressed the button, the head’s eyes popped open. An old woman’s voice cackled, and said, “Put a penny in my mouth, if you dare, and I’ll tell your future.”
“How neat,” she said, reaching for her change purse.
“Don’t do it! This thing gives me the creeps. It might be haunted. Look–it just smirked at me!”
Ignoring his pleas, Sue inserted a penny into a slot between the hag’s lips. Whirring sounds filled the room. The thing’s eyes rolled backward. Only the whites showed.
“You will die in five minutes,” a screechy voice said.
“I told you it’s haunted!” Harry yelled. “Did you hear what it just said?”
“Yeah. It’s the best thing I ever heard,” she said, jumping up and down. “Yeee-haw! I’m gonna win Power Ball, tonight.”
“That’s NOT what it said.”
“I gotta buy a ticket. Power Ball’s up to a hundred million. I can’t believe it! I’m gonna be rich! Wa-hooo!”
Grabbing the box, Harry said, “I’m gonna burn this damn thing.”
“No you’re not! You might screw things up. If you ruin this for me, I swear I’ll cut your heart out!”
“Listen to me. It didn’t say you’re gonna win anything. It said you’re gonna DIE in just a few minutes.”
“You’re nuts. You’re just jealous that I’m gonna win a hundred million. What are you afraid of, Harry? That I’ll collect the money and run off?”
“No! I’m afraid for your life.”
“Stop acting so jerky,” she said, heading for the door.
Harry shoved a penny into the thing’s mouth.
“You will be hanged for murder,” said the voice.
“Hear that?” Harry said. “Can’t you see what’s happening?”
“All it said was: you’re a jerk,” she replied. “And if I stay with you, you’re gonna wreck my future.”
“You evil fiend!” Harry yelled, pounding the wooden face with his hammer.
Sue tried to stop him. He shoved her aside.
“Look what you did!” she screamed. “You killed it. You rotten bastard! You ruined my future!”
She grabbed a pot and slammed Harry’s head with all her might until he collapsed.
Cursing him, she tried to insert a coin between the smashed lips, but it wouldn’t go into the slot. She tried to pry the lips open with a screwdriver. “Please take my penny. Please tell me you’re not mad, and that I’m still gonna win the lottery.”
Suddenly, she screamed. Blood streamed from her hand.
“Why did you bite my fingers off?” she shrieked before fainting.
* * *
The jury thought the evidence against Harry was overwhelming. He’d cut off his wife’s fingers. Then her head. Since two psychiatrists affirmed his sanity, all agreed this was a case of premeditated murder.
Harry described the head in the box to detectives and how it could have maimed and murdered his wife while he was unconscious. They thought he was nuts. Especially when they searched his apartment and found nothing unusual.
Before sentencing Harry to death by hanging, the judged asked if he had anything to say.
“Yes, Your Honor. I want everyone here to listen very closely. It’s a matter of life or death. If you ever find a black box with a wooden head inside, don’t smash its face with a hammer.”
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© 2006 Michael A. Kechula
Michael A. Kechula is a retired tech writer. His fiction has won first place in seven contests and placed in six others. He’s also won Editor’s Choice awards four times. His stories have been published by 124 magazines and anthologies in Australia, Canada, England, India, Scotland, and US. He’s authored a book of flash and micro-fiction stories: “A Full Deck of Zombies–61 Speculative Fiction Tales.” eBook available at www.BooksForABuck.com and www.fictionwise.com. Paperback available at www.amazon.com.
