The Unknown Tales: A Collection of Short Stories, One Shots, and More

Green and Orange

Mae Walsh sat with his coal-coated hands folded neatly in his lap on a rigid chair. A dusty black streak marred the white upholstery of the love-seat where he had accidentally touched it. The humidifier hummed in a low C major, reminding him of the days when his fingers could tenderly play a silver flute. The steel-grey door swung open on silent hinges and thumped against the wall.

Walsh sprang to his feet as an ebony-haired woman strode through the door and stood regally in front of him. Her suit was dark as the coal dust staining his hands. A single fake green flower adorned her left breast. She wore no other jewelry about her person.

"Mr. Walsh, you are here on multiple witnesses of theft from the mines. Your coworkers are willing to testify. What do you have to say in defense?" Her voice was cold and biting; hard as the diamonds in his pocket. Walsh hung his head.

"Please forgive me, ma'am. My family."

"I am well aware your family has come upon hard times. I am not an unkind woman, Mr. Walsh. You have proven yourself very useful to this company and I am grateful to have you as an employee, but why steal?"

Walsh shook his head. "Forgive me," was all he said. The woman tilted her head up and studied him closely for several seconds. She nodded once.

"See that it does not happen again, Mr. Walsh."

Walsh thanked her profusely and made his way back to the mine. His coworkers, friends, watched him enter with curious eyes ringed by black dust.

"Hey, man, what happened? We saw 'em take you up there," Julian asked, avoiding naming the place Walsh had just come from. Walsh glared at his friend.

"You promised not to tell, all of you," he growled. Julian held up his hands.

"Hey, man, I'm sorry, but you said you'd only take a few, enough to get back on your feet."

"You promised!" Walsh shouted and struck Julian across the face. Julian staggered back, clutching his bleeding nose.

"What is wrong with you, man?" he cried. Walsh turned his back and walked down the dark tunnel. The orange stripe on the left side of his shirt glowed dimly in the light.