Korial16

The sound of glass clattering intermixed with the weatherman’s evening report. Karen cursed under her breath and rinsed foam off the glass, searching it for cracks. “What was that kiddo?” Pa turned from the cupboard of neatly stacked plates. Ernest Thomson was a big man, broad shouldered and slow moving, rugged features tamed by a neat moustache. “Nothing. They’re fine.” The teenager shoved the glass to him, and resumed savagely washing the rest. “Hmm. No, it was a word.” Pa dried it with a fluffy pink towel in those big callused hands, made of nine thick careful fingers and one stump that hadn’t been careful. “I don’t care about you sayin’ ‘damn’ Karen, but don’t bother hidin’ it.” What about hiding other things? What about the fact that their mayor was a snake-thing? She glanced over quietly, “Fine. Pa, do you think magic’s real?” “Magic? No. You’re not goin’ to invoke hellfire by sayin’ damn, kiddo.” “Don’t be so hasty, Ernest,” Her Mom spoke up from the couch as the