The Creature

One thing that puny humans first notice about me is my thick skin, almost as formidable as the plated armor of old. Fortified with shiny gill platelets designed for breathing. Along with flipper style claws, useful for swimming and digging. And a contour which facilitates speed under water. One drawback though, the blood coursing through my veins runs cold and thready. When winter comes and the weather drops below seventy degrees Fahrenheit, I have to be prepared for warmer living arrangements. Alligators have a unique way of solving this problem. Unfortunately skirmishes ensue. Has anybody known a gator to share?

From Guest Contributor Christopher Baker

Holes

Geoffrey spent almost every waking moment in the backyard measuring holes. He'd dig the holes first, usually with a spoon, which took a great deal of time of course. Then he measured them. He calculated their volume, after taking down their circumference and depth. He analyzed each one carefully for soil erosion and texture. He compared one hole to the next, intent on finding even the most minute differences.

This behavior of Geoffrey's worried his parents. Maybe the boy was autistic. Maybe he was preparing for an alien invasion. Whatever it was, this wasn't the behavior of a normal 2-year-old.

The Longest Night

Carter paused to rub his hands. Callouses had already started to form. Dawn was fast approaching, and his aching muscles longed for repose.

Why not give up this tedious digging? What rewards could he expect at the bottom?

But he continued. The men stared down at Carter from above, perched like gargoyles, or maybe angels gazing down into hell.

Carter resented their leisure. "That's it. I'm not digging anymore." He threw down his shovel.

"That's deep enough." Carter saw the flash before he heard the shot, and he realized in that final instant his childhood nightmare had finally come true.