"How did you find us?" the old woman asked. "This is a specialized shop, well hidden from the outside world."
"He wanted a colouring book," I said, softer than intended. "I saw the neon light flashing."
"Really?" she said, with astonishment in her voice. "Lights you say?".....
"It's funny that your son wants a colouring book," she continued without pause. "Oh I don't mean that it's funny he likes to color - that in itself, is one of the delights of children - but staying inside the lines gets harder and harder as you get older, have you noticed it? Take this for instance." She held up one of the colouring books. On the cover was a strange creature holding a staff and a small child holding the beast's hand. In the background were many people whose faces were superimposed, one over the other, till the faces became bent and disfigured, vaguely human. I wondered if such colouring books were even appropriate for a boy his age. In red letters were the words: We are all one... above the faces.
"This colouring book is among my most valued treasures. It comes out quarterly in a very limited print, and is very popular with the adults. How long has it been since you've coloured?"
"I never liked colouring," I said, growing impatient. "How much did you say that was?"
"All together?" she said, snapping out another paper bag, and putting the two colouring books in one, the other items in another.
"The teenage boy stood behind us; eyes glazed, his lips trembling and in need of Blistexx. "Five-fifty," she said, handing one bag to Emmanuel, and the other to me. She put the crayons in a separate bag; gave them to Emmanuel. 'Those are not regular crayons, laddie," she said. She leaned on the counter and brought her wrinkled face forth. "Those are magic crayons."
"Magic?" Emmanuel said in awe.
"Yes, magic," the old woman said. "Becareful to stay inside the lines - and it's important that you handle and use them with the utmost caution. Have your dad help you. I think he might enjoy those crayons yet, and the colouring book."
"Your help has been much appreciated," I said. I slapped the coins on the counter, spread a crisp five on the top, and took Emmanuel's hand. On the counter, the teenager had put his books down, two of which were a couple of Heinlein paperbacks, Stranger in a Strange Land and Rocket ship Galileo, the third was a colouring book (- the We are all One...colouring book), and a box of crayons.
Balineburr Street
Perstist
Kisses in the Dark
We Are All One
Meat Left out on a Kitchen Table Top
Musical Chairs
A children's birthday party becomes deadly after the kids play an ancient game where the losers can't call time out.
What happens when a father kidnaps his own son and takes him to a bookstore that is there one minute and gone the next? Problems arise after this dad purchases a hypnotizing coloring book with haunted pages.
Snippet:
Teenage zombies, scientific experiments, and a highschool prom all in one story.Find out what happens when a young Dr. Frankenstien meets the girl of his dreams.
A strange child prodigy playwrite writes a story which performs in front of an invisible audience. This is a dark tale that takes place in the past. Or is it the future?
Xavier is a male prostitute. He finds himself in a sticky situation when he is employed by a cult that worships a statue whom they call "Grandma."
"How did you find us?" the old woman asked. "This is a specialized shop, well hidden from the outside world."
