THE DIM CORNER
‘Go along around about back up there to the hill. You’ll find the hermit’s cave on the other side beneath a little bluff. I always tell folks not to bother, but they don’t pay me much mind anyhow. So go along. I reckon everybody’s got to learn for their selves,’ said the gas station attendant in the lonely desert to the traveler.
The traveler nodded thanks and made his way through the low brush. The heat thrummed in waves. The traveler topped the hill and worked his way down the bluff. The cave beckoned. He slipped inside and squinted, waiting until he could clearly see the dim corner where the hermit sat facing the wall. The traveler cleared his throat. The hermit spoke.
‘I did something once, and I didn’t enjoy it. So I’m never doing anything ever again,’ said the hermit.
The traveler waited, then again cleared his throat.
‘I did something once, and I didn’t enjoy it. So I’m never doing anything ever again,’ repeated the hermit.
The traveler backed out of the cave and returned to the gas station.
‘Satisfied?’ asked the attendant, winking.
‘Some,’ said the traveler, and he stepped to his car, got in, and drove off.
The hermit sat motionless in the dim corner of the cave.
Leave a Reply