Editor’s Note:  You may notice this story is used for both Assignment 56 and 57.  Kitson wrote it that way and intended it to meet the requirements for both stories.

 

Write a short-short story of less than 600 words. You cannot use words of less than three letters; incorporate the words -- disclose, hackle, sphenoid, irksome, and fatten in the story.

 

Twice The Fun

 

©2004 by E. Kitson Southward

 

 

 

“Can you disclose what instrument killed him?” detective sergeant Marks asked.

“Death was caused with one sharp upward thrust through the occipital foramen with this hackle.” the coroner replied handing sergeant Marks the object.

“Where did this thing come from?”

“That particular quill came from mister peacock’s neck feathers and was the diabolical weapon that killed your man.”

“How could this innocent looking feather have possibly caused his death?”

“The quill passed through the sphenoid into the sella turcica and pierced the hypothalamus; death was instantaneous.”

“Now that could prove irksome!” remarked the sergeant.

The coroner concluded, “Once again you have discovered another type instrument with which you can fatten your homicidal weapon’s list.”