April 13, 2022
Flash Fiction
Animals will always hold a special place in the hearts of humans. Here is a story dedicated to this love.MangoCarol remembered Mango when he was just a kitten. He would pounce at empty air and try to claw his way up Carol’s pants leg to get the pets he deserved. From her parents’ home to her first apartment, she had Mango through it all. Carol held Mango as she cried over being dumped as a freshman in college. He cuddled with her each night until the tears finally dried up weeks later. Mango had run into the room when Carol shouted in joy after learning she got her dream job. She lint-rolled orange fur from her pants every day before work, but never denied Mango when he begged for attention the second she arrived home at night. Carol knew that Mango’s pouncing and running days were over, however, as she watched him struggle to hop into bed night after night until eventually stopped trying all together. She cried as she put Mango in his carrier for his last car ride to the vet’s.
—Serenity Block, Flash Fiction Editor