10 Min Story: The Raven
“We're doing this again?” The ink-black bird asked me.
“Yes,” I breathe out wearily. “It’s day – what is it – day 563? I didn’t even know ravens live that long, especially talking ones.”
“Well, Edgar, you asked me to come here. I don’t have to do this, this favor. I could be, you know, doing my taxes.” If the bird had whites in his eyes, I bet that’d be all what I saw. Resentment rolled of the bird in waves.
“Look, I’m sorry. Thank you, okay? Thank you. I really appreciate it. Please don’t go, don’t do your taxes.” I plead, looking up. What do you do to bribe/assuage/placate birds anyway? Hoard some garbage for them?
“Fine,” the bird huffed. I’m pretty sure the raven was a girl. Certainly prissy enough to be a girl.
“Where’s your wife? Let’s get this over with.”
“A few minutes, she’ll be along.” Or maybe not. Please, lord, let tonight be the night where she doesn’t come.
I sit on my worn winged armchair. I ruffle my hair – which I’d already been pulling out in clumps while arguing with the bird.
I catch my reflection in the mirror. Does that look like a distraught husband? Are my eyes glazed over enough? Dark-rimmed enough? I should’ve asked Caroline’s opinion.
I smile as I think of Caroline giving me input on how suitably distraught I’d have to look. She’d probably puff rice powder on my face, for a more sickly pallor. She’d probably want to put some soot under my eyes to fake the lack of sleep. Well to fair, I have been missing sleep – Caroline’s fault, mostly.
“Stop grinning, for crying out loud,” the Raven piped, “you’re supposed to be wracked with grief.” Again with the imagined eye rolling.
“Sorry, sorry. Alright, here we go,” faintly, I hear the chains clanging. “I quickly plop my behind onto my wing chair.
“Ahem, ahem, ahem, “ the bird clears his throat as the mist starts to fill the room, as the curtain comes down on the nightly show that is the farce of my grief.
“Leonore?” I ask towards the shadows gathering in the doorway.
“Nevermore, “ squeaks the Raven.
(photo from http://www.davebartholet.com)