February 19, 2025 4:50 pm
So as typically happens this time of year, I’ve been sick. So I’m just going to chalk February up to a loss and get to your Storystorm prizes in March. I am still recruiting agents for your Storystorm Grand Prizes, where you’ll receive feedback on your 5 best story ideas, to help you determine which to pursue as manuscripts and submissions.
Speaking of submissions, I am sharing a Flash Fiction story I wrote during the pandemic that I cannot seem to place anywhere, so I am publishing it here instead. This is an original story and I hope you enjoy! (Be forewarned, it’s for adults, not kiddos.)
The Neighbors
©2020-2025 by Tara Lazar
We were forced to write the neighbors about the beast.
Louise and I had promised it refuge in our basement in exchange for sparing our family. It assured us that if we kept supplying it with deer and possum, it would remain sated. There would be no need to torment the town. However, it has spent the last week digging passageways to the other homes.
Our son warned us that a beast cannot be believed, and we should have listened. But you don’t heed the kid with straight-Ds who wears t-shirts emblazoned with “Whoof Arted”. Meanwhile, our daughter, the good child, was devoured a month ago. Once again, our fault for the misplaced trust.
“What shall the letter say?” my wife asked.
“How about this,” I replied, pen in hand. “Dear neighbors, it has come to our attention that—”
“No, no, you can’t begin that way. They’ll think we’re telling them to power wash their vinyl siding again. They won’t read past the first line.”
“Then it’s really their fault if they can’t read a simple letter,” I said.
“Use powerful language, Chester. Write it like your clean-up-after-your-pet notice.”
“I won’t swear again, Louise.”
“Of course not, dear. Just be direct. Like your lawn-mowing letter.”
“I’ve got it,” I said, clearing my throat. “Dear neighbors, a beast has infiltrated our neighborhood.”
“Oh, excellent, darling. But shouldn’t you make it clear that you don’t mean Mrs. Stubbs?”
“Good point. Dear neighbors, an inhuman beast has infiltrated our neighborhood.”
“Wonderful! That’s a fine start,” Louise said. “Shall I make us some tea?”
“Spot on. Writing makes me thirsty.”
We composed a letter both urgent and actionable, without being too alarming. We agreed that Mr. Rasmussen, our eldest neighbor, was too fragile to read such a missive, given that his wife had recently passed, so we invited him to dinner instead. We could deliver the news with hearty helpings of Louise’s pot roast and Dutch apple pie, softening the blow.
*****
“We’ve been meaning to have you over for a while,” Louise said, leading Mr. Rasmussen to the dining room. “We were sorry to hear about Mrs. Rasmussen. What a special soul, volunteering at the hospital all those years.”
“Much obliged, Mr. and Mrs. Smythe. Awful kind of you.”
“Please, call us Chester and Louise. And you remember our son, Devin.”
“Goodness gracious. He’s sure grown! Bigger than his father now.”
An intense growl emerged from deep beneath the house, rumbling through the floor in magnificent waves. We held our collective breath, waiting for Mr. Rasmussen’s reaction. He just blinked and asked to use the restroom.
“Do you think he’s going deaf?” Louise asked. “Does he have nerve damage in his feet?”
“I don’t think he’s diabetic,” I replied.
“Well, if he heard or felt that, he didn’t flinch!”
“Good. Maybe this won’t be so difficult after all.”
We worked through the meal with light conversation and waited until we were warm and satisfied to broach the subject. Some things are better discussed on a full stomach.
*****
“I don’t believe you,” Mr. Rasmussen replied.
“I know this is a shock, but it’s living in our basement and it has carved underground routes to every house on King Drive,” I said. “It will pluck you one-by-one from your beds and devour you complete.”
Mr. Rasmussen crossed his arms. “How come you haven’t been devoured?”
“It got to Penelope, the poor dear.” Louise dabbed a napkin under her eye.
“I see,” said Mr. Rasmussen, leaning back. “I still don’t believe you.”
“My God, man! This is no time to be a contrarian!”
“Chester,” Louise said, placing a hand upon my forearm, “we said we were going to be calm and gentle with our guest.”
“Right. My apologies,” I said in a soft tone. “Please understand. This beast is a serious threat.”
“Let’s go see it, then,” said Mr. Rasmussen.
“Pardon me?”
“You’ve got a beast in your basement. Let’s take a look.” He pushed his chair back and stood up.
“I don’t think you comprehend the gravity of this. Going down there is dangerous. I wouldn’t advise it.”
“Hell, I’ve got a lawyer. He advises me, not you.” Mr. Rasmussen started toward the cellar door. “Let me see this thing. I’ll decide for myself if we should run for the hills.”
I blocked his path. “Mr. Rasmussen, I strongly urge you not to open that door.”
He reached for the doorknob and I reacted on a primal level, pushing both hands against his chest, sending him flying backward.
“Chester!” Louise screamed.
Mr. Rasmussen landed with a thwack, slamming his head against the tile floor.
The clamor of the disturbed beast rattled beneath us and the floor seemed to breathe.
The beast galloped up the stairs, thrashing against the walls, snarling and spitting, emitting a brutal heat. Twisting and heaving, it screeched with a sickening sharp note that sounded as if all eternity’s nightmares had joined forces. Then in a flash it dissolved into a tar-like puddle of infinite depth. The liquid bubbled and boiled and from within its abyss emerged a plump, grandmotherly figure with yellow-white hair.
“Mrs. Rasmussen?!”
“You remember my wife, Gertie,” Mr. Rasmussen said, rising, his bashed-in head dripping blood. “Surprising, given you never had us over for supper.”
“Oh, Gerald,” Mrs. Rasmussen slapped at her husband playfully. “Be nice. The Smythes were kind enough to let me stay in their roomy basement.”
“I hope they kept you comfortable, sweetheart.”
“Yes, quite! But I must apologize for the teenage girl. I’m afraid I got carried away that day.”
Mr. Rasmussen proffered his arm and the elderly couple strolled across the living room to the front door, trailing tar and blood.
“Now then,” he said, turning to us, “maybe next time you’ll think twice before sending us another rude letter. We’ll power wash when we damn want to power wash and not a moment sooner.”
The End
©2020-2025 by Tara Lazar
Posted by Tara Lazar
Categories: Flash Fiction
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Get healthy! See you in March – or whenever the creepycruds abandon you!
By chris109shestak on February 19, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Hello Tara,
I hope you are feeling better. I’m writing to say that I really enjoyed Storystorm. This is my first year participating, but I came up with some fun ideas I’ll be working on in coming months. I completed the challenge, but I forgot to turn in my completion. I don’t want prizes, just wanted you to know how valuable this is!
Tonya Duncan Ellis
Author/Speaker
By tonyaduncanellis on February 19, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Tara, I absolutely love this story. I love the line, “It got to Penelope, the poor dear.” The ending was great, too. Thanks for sharing.
Yours, Sonja McGiboney Author & Photographer
By Sonja McGiboney on February 19, 2025 at 5:15 pm
I love flash fiction with a twist. It’s my favorite to write. This one surprised me even though I was watching for the twist.
Hooe you feel better soon.
By rachelcritchleya061056d76 on February 19, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Tara, get well soon and thank you for this delightful diversion!
By sue macartney on February 19, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Hope you feel better soon, Tara! Amazing piece of flash fiction, thanks for sharing it with us! Couldn’t wait till the end!
By kcollazo on February 19, 2025 at 5:21 pm
Ahhhh Feel better! You are a light
By samanthabremekamp on February 19, 2025 at 5:43 pm
Feel better soon. Thanks for the story. Nice distraction!
By rosihollinbeck on February 19, 2025 at 5:46 pm
Wishing you rapid healing. Many thanks for the great story with a wicked ending.
By Anne C. Bromley on February 19, 2025 at 5:56 pm
I hate hearing you were sick. I hope you are feeling much better. Thanks for the entertaining story!
By Kathy Doherty on February 19, 2025 at 5:57 pm
No rush – be well.
By robincurrie1 on February 19, 2025 at 6:07 pm
Love your story!! Hope you get well soon!!
By Lisa Riddiough on February 19, 2025 at 6:15 pm
I hope you feel better soon! I am sick too…ugh, and my kids are home after school has been closed for a few days. Just over here writing the winter blues away. See you in March!
By greengirlblueplanet on February 19, 2025 at 6:25 pm
Oh my! I love this! Feel better soon!
By triciacandy on February 19, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Thanks for a fun read with surprise ending. Wow! Take care of yourself.
By virginiamcgregor on February 19, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Hope you feel better soon!
Best, Mari
By mrbellasgmailcom on February 19, 2025 at 6:58 pm
Brava, Tara! This is a great read
By Joyce Frank on February 19, 2025 at 7:07 pm
Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! Good one! Feel better soon, oh great one! Maria Ordish
By mariaordish on February 19, 2025 at 7:09 pm
What a fun read, Tara. Hope you feel better soon.
By ralucasirbu on February 19, 2025 at 7:14 pm
Ha–thanks for the fun story!
By Buffy Silverman on February 19, 2025 at 7:19 pm
My son loved this as well. Wink wink. Nudge nudge! Great!!!
By mariaordish on February 19, 2025 at 7:50 pm
Bravo! Loved it!
By geigerlin on February 19, 2025 at 8:07 pm
what fun! The story – not the creepy crud. hope you recover quickly
By Sue Heavenrich on February 19, 2025 at 9:27 pm
Shirley Jackson and I applaud your story 😉 Sending lots of get-well wishes!
By Teresa 何 Robeson on February 19, 2025 at 9:43 pm
Tara, take time to feel better!
Loved the Flash fiction Story! ❤️
By seschipper on February 19, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Thanks for sharing, that was fun! And hope you feel better right away!
By andreesantini on February 19, 2025 at 11:10 pm
Hope you feel better soon- it’s been a brutal cold/flu season!
By jlehson on February 19, 2025 at 11:16 pm
You got me with the surprise ending! Was not expecting it. The yellow white hair reminded me of my grandma many years ago. Enjoyed the story. Ge well soon!
By seahorsecoffeeelektra79018 on February 19, 2025 at 11:26 pm
You work so hard on giving us a fantastic Storystorm, Tara. Hope you’re feeling better soon! And I loved your story.
By pathaap on February 20, 2025 at 12:20 am
Loved the story-great surprise ending. I’m sensing a hidden message in there, too, but regardless found it thoroughly enjoyable to read! Thanks for sharing it.
By loricevans on February 20, 2025 at 4:30 am
I empathize with your winter ailments. I got the flu right at the end of January, but was thankfully able to finish collecting my 31 ideas! February has been the same–I’m not really sure I’m completely over what I had in January. Maybe it’s just winter;-)
I love flash fiction. And though it’s really helpful to me when I want to “just write,” I never know what to do with the finished piece other than reread.
I loved your flash fiction! What a great story! Had me thinking at first, but made me chuckle in the end.
Is there such a thing as a Flash Fiction anthology/collection/(or some catchy collection title)? I’d love to read a themed flash fiction collection.
By roundswrite on February 20, 2025 at 7:18 am
Loved reading this piece! Such wonderful use of words and a grand twist at the end! Excellent job and I hope you feel better soon.
By carmen2750 on February 20, 2025 at 7:27 am
OMG! and you write kidlit! Did you by any chance have problems with your neighbors lately? I always have and I would love to live in their basements and scare the s**t out of them without having them for a snack. Sorry for the expression, but they are such a pain. ‘Your rooster is too loud, but honking horns doesn’t bother them. Your grass is too long and snakes bathe in the sun on our porch.’ I told them we need biodiversity and grass snakes don’t bite and also eat rodents. Snakes are scared stiff of humans, etc.
Quite the treat Tara. Thanks.
By eleanorannpeterson on February 20, 2025 at 8:31 am
No problems with our neighbors, but we do have an HOA here! 😉
By Tara Lazar on February 20, 2025 at 4:18 pm
I hope you all get along.
By eleanorannpeterson on February 20, 2025 at 5:10 pm
Feel better soon! Loved your story! I’ve been doing the February Flash Fiction challenge where you write a piece of flash fiction each day of the month to the prompt that’s given. A good way to stretch the creative muscle in between picture book drafts/revisions/etc.
By serendipityinstars on February 20, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Hi Tara!
Yikes! Feel better soon AND what a GREAT story!! I did not expect the ending! Were you channeling Stephen King? 😀
Seriously, I hope you are on the mend and thank you for sharing!
Best, Laurie
PS I have to check my basement now…I’m hearing noises!! 😉
By sunfishrule on February 20, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Sorry you’re feeling under the weather, and good luck placing this story. Don’t give up yet! Gee, I’ve got several unplaced stories. Maybe this should be the new venue… (!)
By Poupette on February 20, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Wait…WHAT?!? (your story–so unexpected…I laughed out loud)
Broth, juice, jammies/rest, water… feel better!
By Henrietta Choplin on February 20, 2025 at 6:43 pm
Bahahaha! Oh, that was fun! Thank you for sharing, Tara, and hope you feel better soon!
By Susan Halko on February 21, 2025 at 6:59 am
OMG you kill me…
Shannon Stocker Award-Winning Children’s Author
By shannonstocker on February 21, 2025 at 11:38 am
Ha, that’s fantastic, Tara! Thanks for sharing!
By Matt Forrest Esenwine on February 21, 2025 at 11:52 am
Oh wow! I didn’t see that ending coming! You totally channeled your inner “Stephen King!” Well done!!!
By Michelle S Kennedy on February 21, 2025 at 1:36 pm
Did you notice what road they lived on???
By Tara Lazar on February 21, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Feel better! February was a bit of a wash for me too. Being sick sucks.
Very fun story! Love dark humor. I thought the beast might have been the daughter pranking them to get her own space and alone time, tired of being just the “good kid,” and embarrassed by their neighborly meddling, since it wasn’t specified how the beast communicated with them. Nice twist!
By Dana Nahas Dillaman on February 21, 2025 at 5:33 pm
Ha, ha, Tara. Well done. Nice surprise ending. LOVED t-shirt with Whoof Arted. My take away: any letter you are “forced” to write your neighbors is going to come back and eat you in the end.
By Natasha S Garnett on February 21, 2025 at 10:08 pm
We are all cheering for you as you rest and heal! And how have I lived 59 years without using the word contrarian? Thanks for this fabulous word!
By Alicia Shawn Gagnon on February 22, 2025 at 1:45 pm
Witty, scary, fun, Lara!! Thanks for sharing! Get well, spring is oh so close ~ creativity is great therapy!
By fortress11art on February 22, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Who knew that power-washing made folks so tetchy! (Love the t-shirt which encapsulates a kiddo perfectly.) Thanks for sharing!
By Wendy Greenley on February 24, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Your story is so good…funny and scary at the same time! I love the nonchalant attitude of the parents when the monster eats their daughter and they chalk it up to misplaced trust 🙂
I hope this story finds a home and you are feeling better in no time.
By Teresa Speranza Vargas on February 25, 2025 at 1:00 pm
Tara, this is hilarious! Would NEVER had seen that ending coming lol And I hope you feel better soon. We got hit last month with something that lingered for weeks
oxox
By writersideup on February 26, 2025 at 10:07 pm
beloved Rasmussen versus striking/smiting Smythes – love it!
I will resist sending this to the self appointed HOA deputies…
I will resist sending this to the self appointed HOA deputies…
I will resist…
By Lorraine McCown on March 1, 2025 at 8:46 am
Wow, that was quite the story! It reminds me of Grimms’ Fairy Tales. Some of them were pretty scary for kids. I enjoyed it as an adult. I hope that you are feeling better now. I have enjoyed Storystorm for a few years now.
By 1marth1 on March 5, 2025 at 3:28 pm
You had me at “power-washed the vinyl siding.”
Your humor remains intact! Thanks for an enjoyable read.
By jhinnevada on March 7, 2025 at 6:48 pm
The sickness has been overwhelming this year between the flu, the stomach bug and just colds. I am recovering now from food poisoning…. I am hoping the spring brings renewed health for all.
By Courtney Johnson on March 9, 2025 at 9:29 am
This kept me on the edge of my seat from the 1st sentence.
You have a keen ability to mix suspense with humor. I love it. Thank you for sharing.
By Jill Purtee (P. J.) on March 18, 2025 at 7:50 pm