My Cardboard Balcony

by Belinda Roddie When the cat spoke, it became obvious who was smoking my cigarettes. "You owe me seventy-five bucks, you little runt!" I snarled. "Tough, snookums," the cat replied, reclining in its chair with its Hugh Hefner robe draped over its paws. This week's prompt was provided by Daniel Bulone.

"That's..." It felt like my tongue was swelling to twice its size in my mouth. I pointed a lazy, yet shaking, finger. "That's my aunt's locket." Eli smiled. "I know," he said. "I found it at Grandma's house, before she passed. She'd be holding onto it for a long time." I swallowed, hard. I could hear a slightly audible squeak against my teeth. "It's been so long since..." "Yes." I could see the tears backing up in Eli's eyes.