Short Stories

Garbage Day

"What are you doin Philip?! You looking through my garbage again boy?!" I jumped hearing the loud words from my old neighbor Frank. I looked at him with a nervous grin.

"A man's garbage is another man's treasure." He gave me that stare, you know the one. The stare where you can look right through a man to see his true intentions.

For the longest time while I've been staying with my brother Eric there's been this guy, old Frank. He lives across the street from us, such a shady dude. Giving me the eye and always holding that damn cloth which I'm sure he uses to drug people. I've told Eric about this dude and I think that he might be murdering people behind that house of hose. Curtains shut, door locked, lights never on unless its tv. Shutting people out and rarely talking to people unless they're giving him a hard time.

Now back to the present, where I'm sure this is where I die. He walked down his wooden creaky stairs from the porch to meet me face to face. I could've sworn I heard something move inside the trash can. His eyes widened and I quickly went to open the garbage can to release what was inside.

"No!" He yelled, but it was too late.

"SQUEEEEE RATATATA" a giant Raccoon sprung out of the can and ran off to the street before getting crushed by a car, poor bastard.

"Now look at whatcha did!" he grabbed me by my flannel and lifted me up.

"Please oh god please don't kill me!" I cried. Frank looked at me with a sick grin.

"Oh no boy. Imma take you somewhere worse than death..the police station." I looked at him confused. What? But? I thought Frank was...am i wrong? Could I have read this man wrong? Surely if he's taking me to the police that would put him in hot water for sure.

He called the cops on me, telling them that I had been going through his garbage can, which was illegal. As they took me away I stared at him, and I stared hard. He walked back up to his porch to sit in his chair. Smelling the cloth he always holds.

. . .

I was left off with a warning and called my brother to pick me up. Man he was so annoyed. He wouldn't stop lecturing me about how rude it is to go through other people's stuff. Of course I just rolled my eyes and went on my phone.

The next day from across the street there were red and blue lights illuminating. Eric was already outside when I walked out of the house.

"What happened? Did they find the dead bodies in Frank's backyard?" I asked but Eric just shook his head.

"He had a stroke last night, since no one was around no one could call an ambulance. I honestly feel bad for the guy. I mean with his wife's death it must've taken a toll on him, being a last straw." my jaw dropped, oh sh*t man. I f*cked up real big. Frank, I hope you can hear me when I say.

"Im so sorry."