Pinch of Whimsy Touch of Darkness: Stories and Poems

By Carol Smith

Escape into stories, poems, and photographs of nature, laughter, love, and horror. Heed the warnings of unknown dangers in the night, go on an adventure, learn a lesson, cry over lost love, experience the beauty of a single moment. Just find yourself a comfy chair, kick off your shoes, and enjoy some time away from the humdrum.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dragonfly-Watch Press
• Release date: Nov 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393976288

Carol Smith

Carol Smith is an award-winning journalist and editor for NPR-affiliate KUOW in Seattle. Previously, she worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Los Angeles Times. Her newspaper work has won dozens of national and regional awards and has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize a remarkable seven times, and her writing has appeared in more than a dozen literary journals. She was recently named Editor of the Year by Public Media Journalists Association.

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Pinch of Whimsy

Touch of Darkness

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Stories and Poems

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Carol Smith

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Copyright © 2019 by Carol Smith

All rights reserved

Table of Contents

Battles of the Bargain

The Present

Don’t Walk at Night

The Letter

Residual

Spirits

Celestial Ship

More than Meets the Eye

Mystical

Crimson Is Such a Lovely Color

Unsafe

Man in the Museum

Enough

Reward

Interlude

Flawed Strategy

1200 Milligrams of Calcium plus D

Spaceships

Assistance Needed

Escapades

What Do I Do

Journeys

Photo Credits

About the Author

A Note from Carol

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There is more than your senses lead you to believe.

Battles of the Bargain

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CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY. I promise myself every year to never again face the hordes on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Here I am—a glutton for punishment. Why? Are the deals really worth the wear and tear and boorish people? I hate myself for bowing to the lure of saving a buck.

Ah, a spot right near the mall’s door. Just a few feet away. What? Are you serious? You saw me with my turn signal on and you swerve into the parking spot right in front of me with an evil grin on your mug. Merry Christmas to you too, you bastard. Yeah, get out of your car laughing. Before I circle around the lot for who knows how many times, I’d like to give you an early present—scraping off a large amount of your car’s paint with my sharp, little key.

Now, now. I know this is par for the course. It’s not the first time. Suck it up. I could still bounce you and your smirk nicely off my bumper. Nah, you’re not worth all the time and trouble it would cost me. I hope what you’re looking for is snatched out of your greedy hands and it’s the last one in stock.

Oh, this is a fine mood. So much for the Christmas spirit. My blood is boiling, and there isn’t a place to park anywhere. There may be something in the back forty. Walking is good for me.

Look. There’s safe harbor, and no one in sight. The spot is beneath a light pole that’s flying a festive holiday flag too. A landmark. I’ll be able to find the car when it’s time to get out of holiday Hades.

Things are looking up. It’s a beautiful, sunny day with an invigorating crispness in the air. I’m feeling cheerier, and it’s not really very far to walk to my destination. Ha-ha, the troll hasn’t ruined it for me. This may work out well after all.

Another adventurer, and you’re smiling at me. I feel a kinship, fellow pilgrim. Let me return your act of kindness with one of my own before we enter the fray. Good luck and Godspeed.

Well, I’m finally in the door. Many people, and Christmas carols resounding in every direction. The mall is sparkling. I love holiday decorations. There’s Santa. A long line of children is waiting to see him. They all look so joyous. I remember waiting in a line like that. I had lots of wishes to share with Santa Claus.

OK. Which way first? I’m ready to reap the spoils. My favorite, The Carol of the Bells, is playing.

I want to get Ben that watch he’s been dropping hints about. Seems as good as any place to start checking off my list. I can’t wait to see his face Christmas morning when he unwraps it. Off to the jewelry store.

It’s not so bad being here. I’m actually enjoying myself. Maybe my good mood will survive the shopping.

Look at it gleaming in the case. Not too fancy and not too plain. Just the way he likes it. Nooooo, there’s a couple pointing to it. The salesperson is taking out the watch to show them. One of them is trying it on their wrist and admiring it. Don’t buy that watch! The clerk is putting it back. Saved. That timepiece is mine now. Score one success. Whew, broke a sweat on that one.

Ow. Someone stepped on my foot. No apology. But, I’m fortified; it will take a lot more than that to bring me down.

Where now? Mom loves that pale-blue, cashmere sweater we saw last week. My next prey. Into that women’s clothing store with me. How can there be only one left? Let me check if it’s her size. Could I hope against hope? I can’t believe it. The sweater is her size. Score two!

Daddy is a seafaring man. Twenty-five years in the Navy. He prides himself as our grill master in the summer. The American Kitchen store