Sacrifices




His cat is the only one who really likes the fish.

As his grandmother peers out the window at her two fishermen, she isn't thinking about the scales. The way they will pile up along the sharp blade of her knife and stick to the soft, mottled skin on the back of her hand. How she'll find them days, even weeks later on the underside of the counter's overhang-- shriveled, dry and crusty.

And he, the little fisherman, has consciously blocked out the horrible things that will happen when he finally catches one. When he reels it in. When it hangs there on the hook before him. The way his stomach will churn and his hands will hesitate. How it will writhe, so alive in his grip, then struggle to find the water as he tears the hook from its mouth.

Grandpa fisherman has forgotten that they will have to eat it eventually. That the smell will overpower the house and linger for days. That his teeth will pierce the chewy tough flesh and crush the tiny bones. That when he swallows, his throat will resist and try to force it back into his mouth.

They think of none of this now, in this moment. For they are together. And each is happy, trying to keep the others happy.

Later, they will watch with a smile as the cat licks clean the thick bones of the fish's spine and wipes a paw across his whiskers. They will each have already forgotten the sacrifices they made.

Comments

  1. Melanie MeehanMarch 5, 2019 at 11:16 AM

    What a great way to push yourself as a writer! Love the juxtaposition of present and future!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JulietteMarch 5, 2019 at 11:38 AM

    Another great slice. The details... It shows how you think as a writer, bringing in your experience of what you are writing about. The description of the scales on the blade and how they linger, even after you've cleaned. As I am commenting I realize you did the same with the smell of the fish-"That the smell will overpower the house and linger for days." The title is also perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  3. tenkoranmaahMarch 6, 2019 at 3:02 AM

    "For they are together. And each is happy, trying to keep the others happy".

    This resonates so much with me. So much details to feed the readers mind. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MarinaMarch 12, 2019 at 7:33 AM

    Wow. You created the opportunity for the reader to see what couldn't be seen in the image. How much of life is like this little story? So much. Yin and Yang.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarinaMarch 12, 2019 at 7:35 AM

      I didn't mean to reply anonymously, this is Marina. I'll try publishing this comment with my name.

      Delete

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