The Threadbare Girl
‘The Threadbare Girl’ is a two-part story taken from ‘Story A Day May‘ anthology. Hidden from sight, the threadbare girl takes in her surroundings. She remembers everything but even the man supposed to be looking after her forgets. It starts like this…
It’s the two clocks she finds the most comforting. Both beat a different tune, started with batteries within a few seconds of each other. Alternating like an analogue tennis match.
Of course she doesn’t need two, it being such a small room, and she’s not going anywhere so really she doesn’t even need one, but they keep her company. The only noise in her existence. Except for people going to work, then home. Car doors, house doors, the shouting in between. There’s no-one for her to shout at. About. Not that she would anyway. She’s too calm for that.
She only knows the seasons by the temperature of the room. With her body playing tricks on her, that’s not even accurate. She hears the radiators kick in around the house but hers isn’t working.
It’s the sun she misses the most. She sees chinks of it but it’s not the same. She can’t see the whole; her favourite fruit, high up in the sky. Burning into the skins of those allowed out. Playing, talking, oblivious to the freedom they take for granted.
Now available as two-part complete story free from Smashwords or for $1.22 inc. tax from Amazon. Reviews received to-date:
- 5* on Smashwords: “Beautiful, haunting imagery of a tormented woman. The author provides a great twist, and the ending is up to the interpretation of the reader. This great short story definitely influenced me to buy ‘Story A Day May’ by Bailey!”
- 5* on Smashwords: “This is well constructed, moving and scary. A great short read, but not before bedtime.”
- 4* on Smashwords: “A good short read.”
- 4* on Smashwords: “Good short story, but disturbingly realistic! Another winner from Morgen.”
- 5* on iTunes: “This story was great but it was vary short and confusing.”
- 2* on iTunes: “Good descriptions, but I don’t understand what happened at the end.”
Short stories are my favourite format to write and read so there will be many more to come, either individually as freebies or $1.49 anthologies (as the ‘Story A Day May (stories)‘ and ‘Story A Day May (challenge)‘ are) as well as the occasional novella or three. 
