Matching of Stray Souls

Eric watched the moving men grunt and muscle the sofa through the door. A new house meant adventure, especially to a six year old. He toted the last of the boxes that his mother insisted he take inside. Now, he got to explore the back yard.

He sprinted around the side of the house and into the half acre of grass. A wooden privacy fence enclosed the patch except the right side where a line of white pines provided the last border. He inched close to them and felt the soft needles. A wondrous smell filled the air. Something was baking. Curious, he sifted through the sticky branches and spied a pie in a wicker basket cooling on a window sill.

Like a hungry bear cub, his legs moved toward it. He halted just short due to a thorn covered bush full of bright red roses. Eric peered through the window where a white-haired woman toddled. She smiled as she spotted Eric.

“What have we here?” Martha asked.

“I’m Eric. Your pie smells wonderful and I like your roses too!”

“Thank you. Are you the little boy that’s moving in?”

“Yep.” Eric grinned.

“I baked that pie for your family.”

“Really?”

“Stay right there. I’ll cut you a slice with some ice cream.”

Moments later she handed out a plate and a fork. Eric took several big bites. “Wow. My mom’s doesn’t hold a candle to yours!”

“It doesn’t, eh?” Came his mother’s voice behind.

“Hi, Mom.”

“What a nice boy.” Martha chimed.

“I guess I’ll know where he’ll be if he gets lost.”

“No doubt.” Eric shoveled in another bite.

“Eric’s grandparents are all deceased.”

“I don’t have any grandchildren.”

Eric smiled up at Martha’s twinkling eyes. Somehow he knew he’d found something, he never knew he’d missed.



299 Words
Flash Story Must contain: Candle, Roses, Basket