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About the Author: Michael Bracken, recipient of the 2016 Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for lifetime achievement in short mystery fiction, is the author of several books and more than 1,200 short stories, including two published in Mystery Weekly Magazine.
Centerville’s only traffic light quit working in 1963 when a stray bullet caused it to short out, and it had never been repaired. Hanging over the intersection of Main Street and Central Avenue, it confused out-of-towners who occasionally passed through. Some stopped at the intersection and looked around nervously; others passed beneath the broken traffic light, never noticing it nor the dying town where it hung as they rushed from one side of the state to the other.
Most days I sat in front of the Blue Bonnet Cafe and watched the intersection, only rising from my broken-legged chair when called inside to cook a meal for someone who didn’t know better or didn’t care. I often didn’t have all the ingredients to prepare the few items remaining on the limited menu, and over time had crossed several selections off rather than refill the larder.
Though I had long ago paid off the bank loan taken out to purchase the business, I was still paying for the Blue Bonnet Cafe in my own way. I lived in a two-bedroom apartment above the restaurant, monthly Social Security checks paid my bills, and I planned to keep the place open until the town finished dying or I did.
Most of the other businesses along Main Street had closed years before, leaving behind slowly disintegrating buildings, and the county had assumed responsibility for the town services when Centerville lost its charter. The post office, which had never been anything but a counter in the back of Dickson’s, had closed years earlier.
As has been true of everything I've ever read by you, Michael, this story was highly entertaining and left me with a big smile. You're awesome and one of my inspirations!
Terrific imagery and atmosphere. Great story. Sad tale.
A terrific story filled with justice and injustice all at the same time. And a masterful stroke of pathos. At the very end I wanted to give a comforting hug to a man who had murdered two people. Amazing.
Great job. As always.
Wow, Michael, it's a dark and powerful story. Injustice meets justice for sure. The opening, sorry to say, reminded me of the sad state of my own small hometown.
Good story Michael from beginning to end. Liked the way you ended the story with the way it began.
I really liked the story, ad the way it moved along without clutter or any extraneous detail was refreshing. I look forward to your next one!
This was a great story. The ending with two bodies in the freezer in a dying town had me grinning. A very enjoyable read.
Great story with a twist I didn't see coming?. Nicely done!
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