This piece was written for, and won, the June '07 Writing Contest on the Steelsings forum. The prompt was as follows:

The rules are that a) your story must star, or center on, inanimate objects, b) it must be between 750 and 1250 words, and c) it must be in by the due date.

The specifications are a bit looser than before. All variables like whether your objects can talk or communicate, whether they move, whether they interact with humans, whether they live in modern day.. that will be all up to you. Entries will be judged on Creativity, Originality, Grammar & Spelling, Rules, the usuals.

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I can't remember the first time I saw light. I think my first memories rake back to when I was laying there on the hard, cold wood, under the angry glare of a Neon Light. I didn't like its stare but couldn't escape it. Beside me was the glass panel, and beyong it were Brothers and Sisters, on or against the walls, on shelves, waiting as I was for the Person who would take them home with them. We spent our days and nights there, slowly warming up under the blazing look of the Neon, quickly going back to ice under Darkness's cool caress.

The first time I saw my Person, he had been intimidating. He had towered over us all, clad in a Coat with a Scarf and a Hat. He had Gloves on his hands and Sunglasses on his nose. Although I had never seen or felt him before, I knew he was like Us. He was cold inside, as cold as the drops of Rain falling from the edge of his Hat.

I saw his Lips move as he talked to our Father. Father opened the glass, taking away the Neon Light, and the Person stuck his hand in. Wrapped his Gloved fingers around me. His coolness swept softly around me; his warmth slid silently into me, his heat snaked slowly down to my very core. A Finger coiled around my limb and pressed gently.

Extasy.

He gave Father the Bills. Father handed him the Case. Its lid shut over me and blocked out the Light.

For the first time in my life, I knew what I was.

I was His.

* * *

He and I became one. I was always under his Coat, in the special Pouch at his side, hugged close to his ribs. I worked for him. He worked for Others. We went all around the City. And each time, it was the same thing. He talked. He wrenched open his Coat and his Gloved hand closed swiftly around me. He pulled me into the light of day. The Other never smiled upon seeing me. The finger would lock around my limb and press, that sweet touch. I was warm from his heat.

A red Flower blossomed against the Wall and trailed down to the Other on the Floor.

He took good care of me. He groomed me, made sure I was alright, made sure I could work for him. In return, I did what he wanted and put all my efforts into pleasing him.

We made the roses bloom.

* * *

And then one day it was the opposite.

I came out as usual, with His hand wrapped around me. I prepared for extasy, for colors and rainbows inside me, for the Flowers dripping their colors down the fresh white Paint or Tapestry.

But the Other was faster. The next thing I saw was a whirlwind of images. The Ceiling, a wall, the Other, and finally the Carpet. His hand wasn't a strong as it had been.



And then I became cold again.

The colors faded as my heat retreated into his Hand. The cold swpet through me, and suddenly it was followed by the slowly-expanding red flower seeping under and around me, drowning me in its scarlet rage. Everything was spinning.

I was picked up, dripping, by another Hand. The heat wasn't the same. The grip was different. The finger was bigger. I was lifted up high, high, and pointed down. I saw my Person; he had bloomed his own Rose. There was a strange sadness building up, when suddenly, the thick finger pressed harshly against my limb.



The Extasy was the same.

I was His.

* * *

This is Mary. See Mary run after the Ball. The Ball rolls away. See the man. He enters the House. See Mary run after her ball. Hear the sounds. See the man. He comes out of the house. See the red. Mary sees the red. See Mary. See Mary. I saw Mary's parents. See Mary. See Mary. Pray, Mary, pray.

this is mary see mary run after the ball the ball rolls away see the man he enters the house see mary run after her ball hear the sounds see the man he comes out of the house see the red mary sees the red see mary see mary i saw marys parents see mary see mary pray mary pray

thisismaryseemaryru naftertheballthebal lrollsawayseetheman heentersthehousesee maryrunafterherball hearthesoundsseethe manhecomesoutoftheh ouseseetheredmaryse estheredseemaryseem aryisawmarysparents seemaryseemarypraym arypray

pray mary pray