Seeing Red

Alex O’Reilly heard the buzzing sound of a drone outside his Dublin flat, and a gentle thud as something landed on his doorstep. He was in the middle of an email, a steaming cup of black coffee by him. He grumbled and got to his feet. With the rash of robberies in the neighborhood, he knew he should get the package in. He cursed silently. It was a good size package and a bit heavy. He looked it over, looking for shipping information. He cursed softly. Idiots! The package wasn’t even addressed to him. It was for a house a block away. He put the box on the kitchen counter, and slowly finished his coffee and his email. As he finished his last sip, Alex heard something.

Drip. Drip.

Alex checked the kitchen sink, wondering if he had forgotten to shut it down all the way. The sink was empty, the faucet off. From the corner of his eyes, he could see movement. The corner of the package had a red stain and it was expanding. His eyes grew wide. It looked like blood. He reached for his cellphone, and called the police.

The next few minutes were a blur. The police came in force, and asked a bunch of questions. They took the box away, leaving Alex to clean up the mess. If it was blood, it certainly was sticky and smelled odd almost like fruit. He heard a knock on his door. He opened it to see a very small woman standing on his doorstep. Her hair was in ringlet curls and her ears were slightly pointed. She was dressed in a frilly girl’s dress from a past time and she wore black patent leather shoes.

“Hi, neighbor. I am Shimmer. Excuse my impertinence for calling on you unannounced. I am new here. But it seems a package was delivered to you by accident.”

Alex backed away, staring to close the door.

“The police have it.”

She was gone from the doorstep. He looked up and down the street. He turned around and with a start saw she was in his flat. She was staring mournfully at the red stain on the floor, and countertop.

“Well that tears it. You broke it.”

Her eyes flashed.

“You great lummox! How could you break my bottle of imported grenadine? It took me weeks to find it. I demand restitution!

Alex was flummoxed. though he was relieved to find out it wasn’t blood in the package. He had visions of severed heads or some other body part. Still though, he didn’t invite this little lunatic into his house.

“You might want to contact the shipper. I didn’t drop it or anything, just put it on my counter top was all. Now I must ask you to leave.“

With a childlike pout, Shimmer went for the door. She was suddenly very mournful.

“However will I make Shirley Temples tonight? The goblins will be so disappointed.”

Alex looked at her, bemused by her comment. He thought she was some harmless lunatic. But he answered what appeared to be a sincere question.

“It’s not that bad. There is a market just up this street that has a good liquor selection they would likely have grenadine.”

The little woman looked at him. Then she started hopping between her feet, her patent leather shoes tapping on the travertine foyer.

“I am sorry for my earlier outburst. I am in your debt. You have saved my evening! I almost forgive you for calling the constabulary. If you wish to come to the party, you’re welcome. You have the address.”

Shimmer smiled at him. Her skin seemed to have tiny pale green flashes of light. Her pupils were crimson and her teeth reminded him of a piranha.

“I bet the goblins would love you.”

She traipsed up the street. A few passersby looked at her curiously. Alex wondered if it were an actual drone that has dropped the package off or something else. He swore he could see gossamer wings, just out of phase. Sighing, he closed the door and locked it. He rummaged through the junk drawer in his kitchen, until he found the iron amulet his great grandma gave him. He hummed as he nailed it above the door. He spun around counterclockwise three times and chanted. He finished cleaning up the mess.

He settled on the couch, he turned on the telly and started watching some comedy to get his mind off the events of the day.

Fecking neighbors, he thought.