The short fiction of j hardy carroll
Arnaldo, grasping at everything, gaining nothing. Random as a moth, and every bit as compelled. The wicked flee where none pursue. (perhaps this badness was always within him, a cancerous rot awaiting only a few drops of rain to bring it forth. A few drops of blood.) Below her window he sang dulcet sonnets in…
“Why do you keep him on, Mother? The man’s the merest sot.” “Now now, Katharine. Monsieur Jaques has never been drunk in my presence.” “He’s never been sober! Look at him out there. See? He’s looking for the shears he just put in his pocket.” “He has been with the house since I was a…
Blydig Gryyfth had black hair and eyes dark as rotting plums. As he grew older, his limbs bunched with muscle though he did not grow taller. He hated the forest, hated the trees and the sky itself. His chief amusement was staring, which could do forever. He never smiled, never laughed. In fact, he barely spoke…
Stephens set down his cup and squinted at his pocket watch. He sighed and went out of the tent. Insects droned around his face and neck despite his upturned collar. The jungle birds had begun their dusk cacophony. He walked across the new clearing toward the massive pyramid. There sat Catherwood at his easel, madly…
The old man wasn’t dead twenty-four hours when they started staking the land. The son had spent some years getting ready for the day, cutting deals with developers, drawing up maps of the various parcels, filling out the paperwork. Development. That’s their word for when they down whatever was here and build some godawful boxes…
Dick climbed into the back seat of the Mercedes. “Slide over, Patty,” he said. “Where’s Premier Chou?” Pat asked. “He’s coming along in the other car,” Dick said, chafing his hands together. “Goddamn, it’s cold here. Never thought of China as being cold.” “Well,” said Pat, “they seem awfully fond of those fur hats.” He…
Soon as I finish up working, I run right quick to the blue house where my Nkuku Bosweo live. None of the other grandchild visit on her. They say she look funny with her milky eye, spread stories she a witch. Maybe, I say, but she the happy kind. She always glad to see me so, and…
Dominick walked back from the road, hands in pockets. “You see him?” asked Tony, already knowing the answer. “He’ll be here. Don’t you worry, little brother. When has he ever not showed up after practice?” Tony stared at his sneakers, wanting to ask when has he ever been on time? but instead saying “I’m hungry.” “Ma will…
Jepp was finishing his second cup of coffee when the two slaves arrived at the shop. Both were dressed so well Jepp guessed they had raided their masters’ closets for the occasion. “You are sadly late,” said Jepp as they sat. “Unavoidable,” said the man Jepp knew as Omar. “What is the password?” demanded the other…
Decroix took his St. Joseph’s Day handkerchief from his hip pocket and wiped out the brim of the blue Borsolino he used to only wear for parades. There was a lot of that down here. Used to. We used to go up to Luchan’s for boudin, used to get us some drinks at Jimmy White’s Sports…