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DRABBLE/SHORT FICTION
Damn the Aristocracy
A Drabble dialogue
I jump in bed. My wife, propped up on pillows, watching the iPad as she eats her late meal. Another long day.
Polished English voices chirp away.
“What are you watching?”
“Emma.” Not moving her eyes.
“Mr. Darcy?”
“Wrong one.”
“Right.”
I open my kombucha. Women giggle, flashing fans. Dancing. Smiles. Heaving bosoms. Blushing. Tears.
My mouth opens wide. I bend over and begin to bite her arm.
“Stop it!”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to be eaten.”
“But I want to eat you all up.”
“No.”
“Fine.”
How I hate the aristocracy! I’m glad the Morlocks will eat them one day!
— Janaka Stagnaro
Thank you for reading this Drabble, a story of 100 words. The Morlock reference is to H.G. Wells when he has the Eloi (the English aristocracy) devolving into being cattle for the devolved working class Morlocks in The Time Machine. I channeled Fernando Munaretti, a master at short, funny dialogues. Here is one of…
