A Fear by Any Other Shade
By Maria Mitchell


He looked for a way to hide from the girl at the party who wouldn't leave him alone. He darted inside the closet and reeled back as his hand brushed against a long lock of hair.

"Who's there?"

"Just me."

"Who's 'just me'"?

"Just me."

"Great conversationalist," he seethed sarcastically. He took a long sigh while she focused her gaze on what little she could discern of his outline.

"What's wrong?"

"Some girl keeps trying to dance with me. She's a fat cow and smells like cat pee. I wish she'd just leave me alone."

"So you're trying to hide from her here in the dark?"

"Basically." He took a deep breath. "Though I'll be frank with you, I'm glad you're here. I'm kind of afraid of the dark."

"I'm afraid of the light," she replied.

"Do you fear the dark or the light more?"

"The light."

"Why?"

"Because everyone can see me. It's no fun because it's not very flattering."

"But in the dark you can't see anyone."

"Exactly," she asserted. "That's why I prefer it. I don't want to see anyone because I don't need to. It's doesn't serve my purposes."

"You're a strange chick." His brow darkened mischievously." Boogiemen lurk in the dark, you know."

"Exactly."

"What do you mean 'exactly'? And what's that awful smell? Smells like cat pee. You are-OHMYGOD-AHHH!"

"You know sir, you've enlightened me. Fear lurks in so many shades, dark or light, so what difference does it make? In the end you're no less dead. I think I'll use what I've learned here in the dark and head for that dance floor now."


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Maria Mitchell is an illustrator, writer of speculative fiction, and composer of music for piano. She lives in northern California.