The Mayfly

by David Bart

About the Author: David Bart’s short fiction has been published in a number of anthologies, including Mystery Writers of America anthologies. Many of his short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. His story, “Under the Playground,” originally published in AHMM, was chosen to be reprinted in a French anthology. He enjoys hiking, kayaking the Rio Grande and any food with green chile on or in it.

Excerpt

Murder’s fun, Mom—I feel awesome!”

The wood floor in the hallway creaks, feminine fingers curl around the edge of the door, hinges squeaking as it slowly opens … Mom leans into the room.

Had she heard me playfully editing my earlier response to her inquiry as to how I felt?

“Ah, I’m, uh, just goofing off,” I say.

She had, I thought, gone down the hall and outside, heading to an appointment.

“Call my cell for anything,” Mom says, glaring at the clear bag hanging on the IV pole beside my bed. “And, uh …” Crooked grin. “Try not to talk to yourself while I’m gone.”   

A team of oncologists agreed to be astonished when I’d reached the ripe old age of nineteen, given that adenocarcinoma had laid waste to my once-athletic body with only tepid interference from chemo/radiation treatments.

As Harold, a Brit exchange student in my old high school, used to say: You’re stuffed.

Mom brightens. “Oh, I forgot, hon’, Phoebe’s coming for dinner.”

That makes me smile. The only women I love are my sister and Mom—or ever will, I guess, both my grandmothers having preceded me into oblivion. I “liked” my former girlfriend, Amber, but Mom and Phoebe are my girls.

“Is Shithead coming?” I ask.

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