Short Horror Stories

White Circus

Friday was always Elijah's favorite day, matter of fact, it was every second graders' favorite day of the week. Two full days of freedom lied before them. Two full days of no work, no teachers, and no cold school lunches. With a brilliant smile and to the sound of the dismissing bell, Elijah rushed home with his red Spider-Man backpack being jostled around behind him. Papers fluttered out of the unzipped bag, but it was the least of Elijah's concerns. Jumping over curbs and kicking through piles of crisp, orange leaves, Elijah was thrilled with every step further away he got from his grade school.

His red bricked house slowly yet surely came to view and the little boy's speed increased. By the time he reached the gate to his home, almost every paper in his backpack had vanished; leaving him with a math workbook with yellowed papers and a hardback copy of Ready Freddy he checked out of the school's library.

Elijah undid the latch of the gate; the rusted metal screeching as if it were alerting Elijah's mother that he arrived home. From there, he entered the garden of his backyard but the cool autumn air was in the midst of terminating it. Flowers couldn't stand in the new chilly air and so began to wilt; its pedals drearily falling onto the sidewalk. The tall grasses contorted to a brown shade and hunkered down low into the ground.

As he happily ran his hand against the few flowers that remained strong, Trigger rounded a corner of the house; his eyes ecstatic to see his companion. He released a few friendly barks and sprinted towards Elijah. Elijah, just as blithe to see his dog, squatted down and opened his arms. Trigger, a growing giant schnauzer who hasn't quite reached his maximum size, flopped on his back for the tummy rub. Elijah happily delivered the silent request; his tiny fingers intertwining in the dog's fluffy curls. After a good moment of the boy bonding with man's best friend, he stood back up and went for the back door.

With a simple twist of the doorknob, Elijah entered his home and dumped his red Spider-Man backpack on the floor.

"Mommy, I'm home," he announced and allowed Trigger to follow him before closing the back door. "Since it's Friday can I go to Harry Myers Park? Pretty pretty please," he begged.

"Depends, Eli," mother replied as she peered down at him from the kitchen. She was in the middle of washing dishes, a pan in one hand and a rag in the other. "What did you get on your last math test?"

His eyes immediately shifted downwards at Trigger. "A 76," he muttered but his head then shot up. "But that's passing, Mommy. I promise I'll do better on the next test, I promise. I'll study real hard next time."

"Eli, a 76? Darling, you need to pick up your grades. Besides, your father and I are going out tonight and I'd prefer if you stayed home while we're gone," she added and began cleaning a plate.

"Mommy, please. I finished my reading log. I..." he began to ramble as he sought out all his good deeds rather than the flaws. "I was once behaving so good that I got to be the line leader. Mommy, please! Bryan and Rudy are also gonna be at the park."

"I don't know..."

"The park's not far, I can walk there and be there in five minutes. I'll come home before you and Daddy leave. I can even take Trigger, the park has a dog park after all," the pleads continued on as Elijah was more than determined to go to the park.

"Well..."

"Well?"

Mother couldn't help but give in. She knew her son was well behaved and could hold his own. And accompanied with Trigger, nothing should go wrong. She placed the plate and rag down on the counter and lowered down to Elijah's level. "Alright, but I have rules I expect you to follow."

Elijah couldn't help but sigh, but listened to her requests nonetheless.

"Keep Trigger close. Look both ways before crossing a street and don't play in the street. Play nice with the other kids and don't speak to strangers. I want you home by 5 o'clock and no later. Got is, mister?"