Rattle
First appearing to me when I was a child, it rattled past the ornament box I’d come to claim from a dark corner of our garage.
Only bones. Its back curved gently along the spine, its toes landing with a soft tap as it walked, stilting, no skin on anything. Even the tail was bare, white, hard.
It had a shyness mixed with urgency, wanting something. 30 years later I still don’t know what.
Part of myself moved with that creature.
I never told anyone. Alive and not.
It still comes when I call. I don’t talk about that, either.
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This is an exactly 100-word flash fiction piece for a tradition of writing ghost stories on Christmas Eve. We acknowledge a sinful and hopeless world, and welcome the dawn in full awareness that Christmas day brings us light.
Advent Ghosts 100 Word Storytelling is put on by Loren Eaton at I Saw Lightning Fall. See other entries there.
Note: I regret being unable to provide attribution for the photo. This is as close as I could get to the source.
Esse Diem 
Terrific stuff, Elizabeth. Well done.
Thank you for reading! I enjoy this tradition. Every year I have an inspiration.
Creepy, evocative. I don’t want to know the secret! A very merry Christmas to you —free of boney creatures looking for friends.
Thank you! Can we ever really know the secret?
Nice! Love the atmosphere.
Thank you! I appreciate the comment!
Total chills, Elizabeth. We’re every bit as bad as the monsters we find. Ever read T.R. Hummer’s ”
The Rural Carrier Stops to Kill a Nine-Foot Cottonmouth”? Worth your time.
Yike-ees. I’m creepier than I thought. LOL Thanks for reading, and thanks for throwing this bash!
Great piece! I love the Advent ghost story tradition, and this is a lovely one.
Thank you, my friend! Always interesting to get involved with a refined inner narrative, no matter how weird.
Scary and succinct.
Thanks! 100 will keep you pretty focused.
Nice one. Very atmospheric and intriguing 🙂
Thank you for reading! I appreciate your feedback.
My imagination is running wild, mission accomplished!
Wow, thanks! Mission accomplished indeed.
Well done. I want a skeleton puppy.
I think deep down we all do. All us weirdos, anyway! Thanks for reading and commenting.
That last line wonderfully elevates the story from weird to creepy. Well done!
“Elevated to creepy.” I love it. Thanks!
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