The best of luck in a pinch
Riley is dripping on the carpet. The door is open, but no one is there. This makes no sense because only moments ago, someone was banging on this door. He looks around the door jamb to the sidewalk outside. No one. In either direction. In fact, it’s almost too quiet out there. Then he begins to feel self conscious standing here dripping, in only his bathrobe. Riley closes the door, and locks it.
Later, he is sipping tea while watching the evening news. Ordinarily he would be driving his route tonight. However, he was already an hour late by the time the questioning came to an end. Furthermore, he still needed that shower. And he was having trouble processing all that happened in his day. In fact, now that he has time to think back, did he really know what happened?
He takes another sip of the hot tea. His eyes find the good luck charm laying on the table. And he stops cold. For a moment there was a glow of light coming from it. Blue? He blinked, and it was gone. Now he feels annoyed with himself. Of course the light disappeared after he blinked. That is why he shouldn’t have blinked. Now he won’t blink, as he stares at the good luck charm.
The Best Of Luck
Now his eyes are stinging. And they are beginning to water, making his vision blur. And he blinks against his will. Exasperated, he sets his tea on the table. Then he picks up the good luck charm, and examines it closely. Roughly the size of his palm it resembles a large hook and key combination. Furthermore, it is made of what looks like a silver gold metal blend. However, for its size, it weighs almost nothing. It has a ring of the same gold and silver blend, through its top.
Moreover, it had been this ring that saved his life early this morning. Absently his fingers trace the intricate patterns etched in the surface of the charm. There was no glowing light, it was clearly his imagination. He clips the charm to his belt and decides to get some cleaning done with the rest of his night off. Later tomorrow he would search for more details about the earthquake. Surely by then every news station in the area would be reporting on it.
The first sting hits him on the side of his foot. He is only wearing socks so the shock of the pain makes him jump. Quickly he reaches down to his foot and his hand brushes against something odd, just before his finger is pinched so hard he cries out in surprise. He immediately yanks his hand back and discovers a scorpion dangling from his finger. It has his finger in it’s claw, and it’s about to sting again.
Luck In a Pinch
Riley almost screams but flicks his hand instead. The scorpion flies across the room and strikes the wall. He is shaking his hand vigorously trying to ease the pain when a terrifying thought occurs to him. What if the Scorpion is poisonous? He immediately looks at his throbbing foot, and feels a sense of dread. There is an angry looking welt where he feels the pain. Furthermore, it is swelling up, horribly fast.
Without thinking he grabs his phone and dials 911. He doesn’t feel panicky yet but he’s sure close. Wasn’t he supposed to be having the best of luck? How the hell did a scorpion get in here? The emergency operator answers but before Riley can utter a sound he feels another sting on his side. Followed by another sting on his thigh. Riley looks down in horror at the large scorpion. It has a larger Riley, pinched in its claws.
However, that’s nothing compared to the searing pain (now spreading) in his side. He jumps up from his chair. As he turns around he can see several of the things, in his now vacant, chair. Then another pinch on his arm. He swipes at the scorpion furiously and swoons just slightly. Not cool. He has a moment to think how he’s in a pinch, before he runs to the door and opens it.
The Best of Luck
She is waiting at the door. Furthermore, she is so beautiful Riley can’t seem to say a word. Likewise, he can hardly move. However, he knows it’s his Angel of mercy. Because she is wearing a stethoscope, and it makes perfect sense. Every Angel wears a stethoscope. And now she looks at him while he is getting pinched. For a moment she stomps her feet and he thinks he’s done something embarrassing. Then he remembers the scorpions.
He watches her stomp again, and at last the pinching stops. Now she is looking at him and smiling. Then she steals his heart when she speaks:
“It’s okay sir, I’ve got you. We’re getting the antivenom ready now. You’re going to be fine!” She looks at Riley and smiles. He smiles back. He also thinks it’s very true. Angels do wear stethoscopes.