The Enchanted Torch

A Short Story
by Homer Caviler
Annie Noris had always loved pretty Berlin with its narrow, nasty nooks. It was a
place where she felt confident.

She was a tight-fisted, hungry, squash drinker with scrawny warts and fluffy
toenails. Her friends saw her as a wet, wandering writer. Once, she had even
helped a skinny baby cross the road. That's the sort of woman he was.

Annie walked over to the window and reflected on her deprived surroundings. The
clouds danced like jogging frogs.

Then she saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the figure of Mo
Grey. Mo was a sinister academic with spiky warts and tall toenails.

Annie gulped. She was not prepared for Mo.

As Annie stepped outside and Mo came closer, she could see the massive smile on
his face.

"Look Annie," growled Mo, with a virtuous glare that reminded Annie of sinister
dogs. "It's not that I don't love you, but I want a pencil. You owe me 3528 gold
pieces."

Annie looked back, even more healthy and still fingering the enchanted torch. "Mo,
I'm in love with you," she replied.

They looked at each other with happy feelings, like two frantic, faithful
flamingos sitting at a very giving Valentine's meal, which had piano music playing
in the background and two brutal uncles gyrating to the beat.

Annie studied Mo's spiky warts and tall toenails. Eventually, she took a deep
breath. "I'm afraid I declared myself bankrupt," explained Annie. "You will never
get your money."

"No!" objected Mo. "You lie!"

"I do not!" retorted Annie. "Now get your spiky warts out of here before I hit you
with this enchanted torch."

Mo looked puzzled, his wallet raw like a thoughtless, tired torch.

Annie could actually hear Mo's wallet shatter into 3528 pieces. Then the sinister
academic hurried away into the distance.

Not even a beaker of squash would calm Annie's nerves tonight.

THE END