The House That Had a Gentle Heart - Part 3

The Bristle house shook its rafters and let out a series of mournful creaks. Then it settled in for the night and fell fast asleep. Its moanful snores sending a chilling breeze rushing through its interiors.

Bent and Soggy Bristle sat at the kitchen table feasting on a nightcap of anchovies and bitters.

“If another one of these neighbors wishes me a good day,“ said Bent, “I’m gonna spit in their eye.”

“They're revolting,” said Soggy. “What in hell are they so happy about?”

“Beats me," said Bent. “But they’ve given me a great idea for a new book.”

Bent and Soggy Bristle wrote and illustrated graphic novels with titles like The Bloody Butcher’s Block and Oliver Twisted.

“We can do a book about a town where the people have two sets of heads. One smiley-face head and one angry-face head. They put on the smiley-faced head in the morning and replace it with the angry-faced head when they come home at night.

“Then one night a mysterious stranger comes to visit and, while the town sleeps, he wipes all the smiles off the smiley-face heads. So when the towns people put on their heads in the morning they still look angry. By the end of the day they become so agitated with the anger surrounding them, that they kill each other off.”

The Bristles chortled into their bitters then let out a howl of laughter.

They both went to bed as happy as two wretched people could be.

******

Gentle sat at the kitchen table, staring down her waffles.

“What’s wrong?” said Her mother. “You’re not eating.”

“I’m worried about the little boy next door. He seems so unhappy. There must be something I can do.”

“Can you blame him?" said her dad. “You’ve seen his parents. Who could be happy around creatures like that?"

“Maybe if I invited him over to watch a movie,” said Gentle. “I don’t think he has any friends. At school they call him The Shadow. He dresses in black and practically attaches himself to the wall as he walks down the hall.”

“But you heard what he said to you the other day, honey,” said her dad. I eat bumble bees and sleep with snakes. So, unless you do the same, you’d better stay away. Doesn’t sound like he’s looking for any company.”

“I still want to make friends,” said Gentle. “Because unhappy people have a way of making you unhappy too. I don’t want that to happen.”

“That’s very commendable, dear,” said her mother. “I’ll walk you over after breakfast. It’s a beautiful Saturday morning. A good day to make a new friend. Besides, I saw his dad leave earlier. He seems more hostile than the others. Maybe they’ll be somewhat hospitable when he’s not around.”

“I wouldn’t take any bets with that bunch,” said her dad. “But I’d put on some bug spray if I were you two. That house seems to be a hotbed for gnats and mosquitoes. Makes my skin crawl thinking about it. And if he really eats bees you may want to pick up a couple of beekeeper outfits. Just to be safe.”

“Very funny, Tom,” said Helen. “But I’m with Gentle. Let’s make friends. After all, we only met them once. Maybe they were having a bad day.”

“It’s your funeral,” said Tom. “Good luck. Just scream if you need me.”

As Gentle and her mom approached the Bristle house they saw what appeared to be a huge tear hanging below an upstairs window.

“Look, Mom,” said Gentle. “The house is crying.”