The Ogre's Message to Gretel

Gretel can't move, but her torso hurts less in the morning. The mother does laundry and irons the father's shirts. At lunch, she brings chicken meatball soup. Gretel takes a mouthful; it tastes strange, but she hasn't eaten in three days. She jerks forward and pukes all over herself,. If you're going to yak, tell me first," mom says. A TV repairman arrives at 2:30pm. He rebuilds the TV, packs his tools then approaches the girl. "Every night I feel the buggers sliding inside my bum hole," he says quietly.