By Stoney M. Setzer
“I’ve been told that you have some very special… abilities,” Madeline Collins said, her eyes darting about the room as she tried not to squirm. She was used to finer homes, but this house was one notch above a trailer park.
“I suppose you could say that,” Val Owens replied, taking a sip of her coffee. “I’m guessing your husband didn’t tell you.”
Madeline shook her head. “Geoff only believes in what he can see. That and the so-called untapped potential of Sardis, Tennessee.”
“Oh, I know.” Her voice was smooth. “He came out here years ago to visit my father and me—just trying to meet the people, I guess. He couldn’t believe the things Dad told him, but we’ve voted for him ever since. He’s exactly who we want as mayor.”
“Thanks, I think. Sometimes he acts like he’s married to Sardis, not me.” Madeline’s eyes finally landed on one thing to appreciate in this ramshackle house—a beautiful snow globe on the ancient coffee table.
Val raised an eyebrow. “Is that why you’re here?”
Madeline nodded, picking up the globe. Inside was a cozy house, reminiscent of a bed and breakfast. A sign sat in front of the porch, its writing too tiny to read. “Can you imagine playing second fiddle to an entire community? Sometimes to people you’ve never met?”
“No, I can’t. What would you want me to do?”
Chuckling nervously, Madeline set down the snow globe. “You know, I’ve always had this crazy fantasy about getting snowed in somewhere with a man who can’t think about anything but me. Preferably Geoff, but at this point I’m not picky.” She regretted that last part instantly, realizing how it sounded.
Val seemed unfazed. “So you came here, wondering if I could help you with that?”
Another nervous laugh escaped Madeline’s throat. “Crazy, right? But it’s been forever since Geoff has paid me any attention…”
“That’s what you seek. Attention.” No trace of judgment tinted Val’s voice. Her eyes were compassionate, and she patted Madeline’s hand lightly.
Madeline nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, that’s it! You understand!”
“I do indeed… and I think I can help you.”
“But how?”
Val smiled. “Don’t worry about that. Give me tonight, and I’ll have it all set in the morning.”
An unwelcome thought dampened Madeline’s enthusiasm. “So, what’s your price?”
“Nothing at all. My plan will give you what you want without the risk of you jeopardizing your husband’s position with scandal or a messy divorce. You see, he is exactly who I want in the mayor’s office.”
“Are you sure?” Madeline looked around the rickety house. It seemed only natural that somebody in Val’s position would need money, but she wouldn’t press the point.
“Positive. Deal?”
Madeline hesitated for only a moment. “Deal.”
***
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead.”
Madeline opened her eyes. A young man stood over her bed with a tray of breakfast food. She had always dreamed of breakfast in bed. The man looked exactly like Geoff—twenty years ago, long before he ever ran for mayor.
Back when I was all he could think about…
Only then did Madeline notice she was not in her bedroom. Before she could react, her phone rang, and instinctively she scooped it up. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Collins, this is Val. How do you like it?”
“You did this? So you really do have those… abilities?”
Val chuckled. “Have you looked outside yet?”
Madeline hurried over to the nearest window. Snow was thick on the ground and still falling. “Yes, I see it. It’s wonderful! But how…”
“Don’t worry about that, Mrs. Collins,” Val said. “Just enjoy.”
Madeline looked at Geoff with his tray full of her favorite breakfast foods and smiled. “Oh, I will. I will indeed.”
***
Madeline did enjoy it—at first.
But by the third day, the fiery excitement in her chest was a flickering ember. Regret twisted her stomach like a pretzel.
Snowed in somewhere with a man who can’t think about anything but me. What was I thinking?
“In third grade, your teacher was Mrs. Miller,” Geoff droned. “In fourth grade, your teacher was…”
“Can’t you talk about anything besides my life story? I haven’t thought about Mrs. Miller in thirty years.”
Geoff looked confused. “But… you’re all I can think about! Would you rather we talk about all the pets you had as a child?”
Madeline rolled her eyes. “You already did, last night at supper.”
“How about the books you’ve read, or the movies you’ve—”
“What about things that get on my nerves?” Madeline snapped, storming toward the door. “I’ve got to get out of here. I can’t take any more!”
“Oh, you must be frustrated. Don’t you always take a walk when you’re frustrated?”
Madeline opened the door despite the snow. She didn’t give much thought to where she was going until she walked into something and fell.
Madeline looked around but saw nothing. Reaching out cautiously, she felt a barrier of some kind. Instead of being vertical like a wall, it curved inward. And it was transparent, allowing her to see through to the other side…
She gasped.
There was Val—just her face, now at gargantuan size. She grinned at Madeline through the glass, but her smile was twisted, almost malevolent.
Looking behind her, Madeline recognized the house right away. It was the same one in the snow globe on Val’s coffee table…
The world quaked. Fresh snow fell from above.
Although Madeline couldn’t hear it, she saw Val laughing as she shook the globe.
In her horror, Madeline’s gaze fell upon the little sign that she hadn’t been able to read from the outside. At this size, the words were perfectly legible: “Be careful what you wish for.”
Madeline screamed, but it only went as far as the curvature of the snow globe.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I like the Twilight Zone vibe! Be careful what you wish for… good advice!
Thank you. That is definitely the vibe I was going for!
worthy of thriller thursday!
Thank you!
Wow! I did not see that coming!
Thanks! I definitely wanted it to be a twist!
Wow—didn’t see that coming! Great story! Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it!
I remember these two from before!
(Will there be more installments in this world? And are you writing a book in this universe? Because I’d love to read it…)
Thanks! Yes, there will be future installments. There are also some other stories set in this story world that have been published in an anthology series from Ye Olde Dragons publishing (although those are set years later, this one and “The Skeptic” are prequels.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent!! (I’ll have to find those…)
Great final line!
Thank you!
Be careful what you wish for… such a true statement. And this story really drives it home.
Thank you! That was definitely what I was going for.