Changeling
Susan struggled against her mother’s prying hands, desperate to keep her favorite teddy, but mother won at last, tearing it free. The child wilted to the floor. “You can have it back when you apologize,” said her mother, slamming the door behind her. Susan saw the little man out of the corner of her eye, beckoning from the window, his crown adorned with fresh lily blooms. He was so polite and understanding. Her mother would never know. Susan’s mother returned and found her daughter’s window open, wind scattering lily petals across the floor.
“Susan!”
“Here,” replied the child behind her.
From Guest Contributor Sean Ferrier-Watson
Sean has pieces published or forthcoming in Borderlands, Better Than Starbucks, Forces, and Illumen. His book The Children’s Ghost Story in America was published by McFarland in 2017. Follow him at www.seanferrierwatson.com.
Please support the site by purchasing one of my books on Amazon. Check out Quitting The Grave, a murder mystery set on the Oregon Trail. Plus, don't forget my other books: They Both Loved Vonnegut, Ahab's Adventures in Wonderland, and Picasso Painted Dinosaurs.