Humble Monster

Treadway?!!Sir...it's the police,please open the door."

He paces in short circles around the kitchen.."Oh, goodness...oh goodness..This is all my fault."her hands are clutching eachother",I am so sorry to have worn this dress..I am sorry I opened the window,"Tears are coming from her one good eye and it is hard for her to see his reaction"I am so so sorry to have spoken to you without your permission.Please forgive me....and help..."

A third knock rang sharply enough to make her breath draw inwards."Please open Dr....We need to speak with you.!!"

There were more than one voice discussing the situation from behind the entrance.She would have to keep begging until he understood the seriousness.Or she herself would have to be brave enough to face all punishment if she chose to break the all important rule of opening the door.

They weren't going to leave..she knew that clearly..."You must hate my weakness...but if I am polite like you taught me, if I am mild in manner..if ...."she is creeping toward the door and keeping him in sight behind her.Maybe he will attack while her back is turned and pour hot grease on her head,or grab her hands and break her fingers one by one.Maybe he will pour scalding water in her mouth to teach her a lesson about talking too much.Or slam the door on her foot a dozen times.Painful lessons yes..but you had to break a few eggs to make that omelet.

He hadn't moved from the table:he simply sat fat and staring at her with those cold grey eyes.He is only waiting to pounce,she thought.He has such great patience...If only I could not be so stupid ,I could have such great patience like that as well.Men of science always have attributes like that.

Her attention turned to the voices beyond the door.She could hear them clearly now with her good ear pressed tight against the wood.They were speaking of the "smell"that came from inside her house and how it reminded them of the man found dead for three weeks in his attic in July.They would try once again to knock and afterwards find another way of entering.

Her twisted hand grips the knob.Maybe they would notice her bad parts were gone and she would be as normal as the rest of them.Her husband always did such a professional job.She would barely feel the need to scream as he was pushing the scalple acrosss her skin.He knew how to strap her ams and legs just right so her reflexes wouldn't disturb his work.And if the pain became unbearable while the operation was going on...why he would simply smile at her and place his hand over her mouth until she passed out and did't feel a thing.

"Maybe the doctor was dead"they said.

She looked behind her at those steely eyes.

Never,she thought,never dead...only waiting.Waiting to choke me slowly,waiting to break my teeth,He has great patience,my husband.Such will and patience.

I will be polite and cheerful,mild and mannerly..I will be the perfect model of rehabilitaion.He will know and see the success of his work.I will not sing or cance or laugh or do anything that is happy or manic.

The lock popped open in her hands and the door swayed wide as the two figures in blue stepped instinctively back in surprise.

Surprise at the bloated rotting corpse sitting at the kitchen table,but more surprised at the smiling gracious monster in the red floral dress.