Read Twisted Little Things and Other Stories for Free Online

It's kind of a long story, honey. I really don't want to get into it right now, but let's just say that -”
    “I don't want her to have them.”
    “Well, to be honest, that's fine. I have to mail them to a -”
    “Can you take them away from her?”
    “But -”
    “Now, Michael? Please.”
    I frowned. “Is there a problem?”
    “I tried,” she continued, “but...” Her voice trailed off for a moment. “I tried to take them away from her, but she...” She paused, before reaching up and touching the scratch on the side of her face.
    “Did Lucy do that to you?” I asked cautiously.
    “It was an accident. She didn't mean to hurt me.”
    “Lucy scratched your face?”
    “She just...”
    Pausing, she once again seemed lost in thought. After a moment, however, she started muttering to herself, although her voice was too quiet for me to hear what she was saying.
    “Katie,” I said finally, “are you sure the -”
    “I don't want them around,” she said suddenly, rubbing her shoulders and then starting to scratch either side of her neck. “I don't like them, Michael, they make the whole house feel strange. Can you just get rid of them?”
    “They're just -”
    “Get rid of them!” she hissed, turning to me with fear in her eyes. “Can you please take them away from her and get them away from our house? What the hell were you thinking, bringing them here in the first place?”
    Sighing, I realized that there was no way of talking her down.
    “Fine,” I muttered, trying not to sound too tetchy. I'd had enough discussions about the statues for one day, and all I wanted was to get rid of the damn things and never have to think about them again. “You sort out the books, and I'll take the statues away from Lucy. Hell, I can go post them back to the guy right now, if that's what you want. I'll drive straight to the post office.”
    “I don't care what you do with them,” she replied, visibly shuddering, “but get them away from our family.”
    “What's wrong with everyone today?” I muttered, heading to the door. “They're just two dumb little statues, that's all.”
    Making my way out to the driveway, I saw that Lucas was sitting quietly in the shade, watching as Lucy played. Giving him a quick pat on the head, I couldn't help thinking that he shared my exasperation about the whole crazy situation. Approaching Lucy, I saw that she was mumbling away to herself as she pretended to make the two soldiers talk to each other. She had loads of other toys scattered about, most of them with flashing lights and all the latest gadgets kids were supposed to love, but two simple little wooden soldiers seemed to have captured her imagination.
    “Sweetie,” I said, crouching next to her, “I hate to do this, but Daddy needs to take those now.”
    She glanced at me for a moment, before shaking her head and then turning to resume her game.
    “I have to send them back to the man who wants them,” I continued. “They're not mine. I'm just looking after them for someone.”
    She shook her head again. “They're mine now.”
    “Honey -”
    “I want them,” she added, with tears in her eyes. “Please, Daddy, you can't take them away, not after you gave them to me.”
    “I didn't give them to you, I just -”
    “They're mine!” Gripping one soldier in each hand, I could see she was holding them tight. “You can't take them!”
    “Everyone else can't wait to get rid of them,” I muttered, “but you're the opposite, huh?” I held my right hand out toward her. “Come on, game's over. You've got millions of other toys. You don't need these.”
    I waited, but she simply turned and started playing again, almost as if she was trying to ignore me.
    “Lucy, I'm serious.”
    She mumbled something under her breath.
    “Lucy, give me those toys right now.”
    “No!”
    “Lucy, I'm your father and I'm -”
    “No!” she yelled. “They're mine and you can't have them!”
    I opened my mouth to reply, but suddenly she