urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:mystic_savage Or Subtitle mystic_savage 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:mystic_savage:335661 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z <em>Assignment:&nbsp; A deep-sea diver brings his work home with him. Done in the style of Agatha Christie.</em><br /><br />It was 7:00 in the evening, a time that the inhabitants of Louisiana call &quot;moss time&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp; Long strands of green reached through the dusk to whisper across Maybelann's cheek as she tottered her way across the back yard to the porch.&nbsp; Crickets had given way to the deeper buzzing sounds of oncoming night.&nbsp; <br /><br />The thump of her cane sounded loudly across the raised porch.&nbsp; Maybelann used the sound to warn away snakes as she cast an interested eye over the curtains framing her back door.&nbsp; Something dripped from the corner of the yellow gingham; something green and ominous.&nbsp; She did not grimace.&nbsp; There was no disgust in Maybelann, she simply did not like dripping green things.&nbsp; She opened the door to the kitchen and screwed up her rheumy eyes to look about her.<br /><br />The warped cabinet door on the eastern wall hung open, revealing a missing Kerr's jar.&nbsp; The kitchen sink was empty and dry.&nbsp; Water and mud streaked the white and yellow linoleum of the floor she'd scrubbed that morning.&nbsp; Maybelann cautiously maneuvered the slippery spaces as she made her way to the living room.&nbsp; She would prefer to use lady-like tones and avoid foul language, but she had learned long ago that in this native, wild land, only savage talk could be heard.<br /><br />&quot;God-dang it Horace!&quot;&nbsp; She yelled.&nbsp; &quot;I done told you and told you to clean up after yourself!&quot;<br /><br /><br />