WSPI-2012-03: Editor’s Choice: Sold! – Short Story for Children
This short story is participating in Write Story from Picture India 2012 – Short Story Writing Competition.
Hush, sleepy head!
What?
Wake up!
Why?
Market is full. Show your most ugly face.
Let me sleep. People don’t let me sleep.
Look, Two. Someone is picking you up. Open your eyes, drama king.
No… No wait. Please, don’t do it! Damn, you have blue eyes. How can anyone have blue eyes?
“How much for this, Ali chacha?” said the boy, admiring Monster Two.
“Fifty rupees, son.”
If this creepy moron sells for fifty, I’m gonna bang my head.
Please don’t take me. Let me freakin’ sleep already. I don’t know what you monsters would do to me. Blue eyes, damn it!
“I don’t have so much, Chacha.”
“Should I keep it for you?” Chacha said.
“I will come some other time.”
“You can take a look at that one.” Chacha gestured towards the other mask. It had a more vibrant shade of colours painted on it but looked less threatening. Maybe it was because of the fact that it held a round, laddu-like object in its mouth.
Yeah, go for him. Leave me alone. I was having such a ghastly dream. Utterly despicable. Lovely.
If he sells me for less than him, I’m gonna bang my head.
“You can take him for thirty.”
Damn! Curse be upon thee, maker. Why did you have to put this abomination in my mouth?
Ha! Look, One. He is putting me down. Off you go, I’d say.
The boy scrutinized One for a moment and then said. “I will take it. It looks funny. Can you save it for me? I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Yeah, I am Charlie Chaplin. What are you even taking me for? To ward off spirits. They’d laugh their asses off. Curses will come upon you too.
“As you wish, son.” Ali Chacha replied.
My maker doesn’t make more of my kind. I was such a huge hit in the old days, Two. Now I am a laughing stock. This boy seems to be the only one who likes me.
Ahh, bugger off, you complaining twit. Let me freakin’ sleep.
-THE END-