Once Upon a Time in Southtown

Summary

Elmer escapes a fiery scene with a sense of detachment, leaving behind a disaster that once held the company of others, as part of a fictional series titled "Once Upon a Time in Southtown," featured in "The Scribbler's Nook."

Abstract

In an excerpt from "Gehenna," a section of the fiction series "Once Upon a Time in Southtown," featured on "The Scribbler's Nook," the narrative unfolds with Elmer, whose car smells of gasoline and is filled with the sounds of Michael Jackson and emergency sirens. Amidst a second explosion that ravages a house, Elmer, who appears unharmed except for his smoky, war-painted face and painful hand, retrieves his revolver and flees the scene. The passage describes the aftermath of a violent event, with bodies strewn about, and Elmer's nonchalant exit as he watches the fire, pondering whether there were other victims in the house. The segment ends with a nod to "The Scribbler's Nook," a platform that supports imaginative writing and invites readers to explore more of such stories.

Opinions

The description of Gehenna sets a dark and ominous tone, suggesting biblical themes of punishment and misery.
The author conveys Elmer's detachment from the chaos and carnage, as he prioritizes his own well-being and appearance over the potential victims of the fire.
There is a sense of irony in Elmer's concern for his attractiveness and the juxtaposition of the tragic event unfolding around him.
The literary style is vivid and cinematic, painting a clear picture of the destruction and Elmer's escape, which engages the reader's senses and emotions.
The mention of "The Scribbler's Nook" implies that the excerpt is part of a larger collection of creative works, encouraging further exploration of the fictional universe presented.
The use of iconic music references like Michael Jackson and The Rolling Stones roots the scene in a specific cultural context, enhancing the immersive experience for the reader.

Excerpts from Gehenna

Photo by Matt Hearne on Unsplash

Gehenna is defined as a place or state of misery. In the Bible, Gehenna is a cursed valley south of Jerusalem. Here, children were sacrificed to a false god. Gehenna is considered a place of divine punishment. Many biblical scholars believe it is Hell.

The entire car reeked of gasoline. Michael Jackson denied Billie Jean on the radio, competing against the intermittent door-ajar bell. Humming softly, the heater massaged the cabin with lukewarm currents.

A second explosion blew out the house’s garage doors. Its concussion obliterated windows. Little fires smoldered on neighboring roofs.

The driver's door flew wide. Elmer dived into the seat. Righting himself, he turned the ignition. Acrid smoke rose from his denim jacket in several places. His left hand revealed fresh layers of increasing pain. Checking his face in the rearview mirror, he relaxed. Elmer thanked God; his handsome features hadn’t been jeopardized. Soot shaded his cheeks like war paint. He tossed a revolver into the vacant passenger seat. For a moment he rested, catching his breath, regulating the frantic currents in his head.

Sirens wailed nearby, too close or too distant to discern whether they belonged to police or fire engines.

His hands, arms, back, and neck were burnt. The silver wedding band had been fused to his ring finger. Grunting, he popped the car into gear. Before releasing the brake, he scanned the scene with bulging eyes.

This car had been full when Elmer parked here an hour ago. The unoccupied seats now held no record of passengers. Bodies lay like heaps of unwashed laundry on the front lawn.

The Rolling Stones complained about their lack of satisfaction on the radio. Elmer reversed out of the driveway. He laboriously spun the steering wheel, pausing curbside to enjoy the conflagration.

The two-story house trembled black and smoking, flames splashing through broken windows like serpent’s tongues. Spent shotgun and handgun shells gleamed in the firelight like coins in a fountain.

Elmer wondered if anyone else was in the burning home. If the woman had children living there. Maybe a husband.

Brake lights vanished as the car lurched forward, and Elmer silently merged with the night.

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Once Upon a Time in Southtown

Excerpts from Gehenna

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