Tag: fiction

Diane and her arch-nemesis Flora face-off while the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Abruptly, I realized I had not spent this much time looking directly at Kaitlin even as her hostage. Somehow it hadn’t even occurred to me at the time that I might be her hostage. It seemed so transparent that Henry was leading the show. Now in my own invaded dining room I felt like I…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 33: The Other Grandma

“Your lunch will be ready in fifteen minutes, Diane,” announced Tony Feeder from the kitchen. “Thanks, Tony,” I shouted without looking up from my computer. William was in the living room wiping down my mantle again. The Caretaker was standing in the corner in sleep mode. “Zzz…” said his screen, typing itself in and disappearing…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 30: Cold Calling

Somehow, I felt as if I hadn’t seen Walter in years, but that couldn’t be right. I lay in bed, letting my love’s piano playing wash over me.  “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound” I sang along under my breath. I rolled out of bed, feeling strangely unsteady. “Must have stood up too quickly,” I…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 29: Angry Grandma Rises

The wall shone white, projecting its clean to the world, goading me, daring me to be anything but thrilled with its faultless, pure perfection. Slumped in my easy chair, I felt my face pull into a scowl. My house was immaculate. William had left to get repaired, but on the way his issue mysteriously resolved…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 28: The Wall

Henry put two fingers to his ear. “Do you have it?” he asked, looking away from us for a moment. He seemed absorbed in a response from what must be an earphone. I took a risk. “Can’t you call the police?” I whispered to William while Henry was distracted, “I saw somebody like you make a…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 27: Victory

Henry and Cindy studied me from the couch. Despite their age difference they looked everything like a couple with some bad news to tell their child. I supposed that made me the child. Cindy looked older now that she had cut off the blue and white part of her hair, leaving a dark brown ear-length…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 25: The Wrong Answer

I awoke one morning to find my wheelchair had been bedecked with green and red Christmas tree baubles. It shone in the dusty light of the sun coming through my window. Careful not to knock any of the fragile ornaments to the floor, I maneuvered myself into the chair and pushed myself to the door.…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 24: How to Make an Angry Grandma

“Oh, Henry’s not so bad,” mumbled Cindy through her bologna and cheese sandwich and waving away the idea of Henry being bad with her free hand, “He acts a little crazy, but I think he’s coping well with what he’s been through. Don’t get me wrong, he should have told you a lot more about…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 23: Kaitlin’s House