The Shoemaker's Elves
A Microfiction Story
He leaves us cream. We make him shoes. It is a simple relationship—harmonious and symbiotic.
He has left us cream since his wife died. We followed her here as a little girl, but we’ve taken a liking to him. He honors her homeland’s traditions.
His hands stopped working months ago. They cramp until he cries out in pain. The finer points of shoe-making have become impossible for him.
The young men of the neighborhood mock him. They say he is a shoemaker no more and poke fun at his crippled hands. Their skin will make fine leather boots.
About the Creator
Stephanie Hoogstad
With a BA in English and MSc in Creative Writing, writing is my life. I have edited and ghost written for years with some published stories and poems of my own.
Learn more about me: thewritersscrapbin.com
Support my writing: Patreon
Keep reading
More stories from Stephanie Hoogstad and writers in Fiction and other communities.
After the Honeymoon Phase
He wanted to paint her. He wanted to paint her in her wedding dress, but his hand shook before the brush touched canvas. He wanted to paint her at the altar, a halo of light arching behind her face. He wanted to paint her at the reception, twirling around shoeless. He wanted to paint her naked form hiding under the blankets of their hotel room—but he could only see her lifeless eyes staring back at him from the passenger’s seat of their car, blue and red lights dancing on her face as he struggled to maintain consciousness.
By Stephanie Hoogstad12 months ago in Fiction
Final Call
She flings her arms around my neck and squeezes me like she’s never going to let me go. My head spins as her lips brush against my cheek. She must be able to feel my heart thumping in my chest. I shuffle backwards and ram my hands into my coat pockets, watching her reach down and heave the rucksack across her shoulders.
By Caroline Craven2 days ago in Fiction
Freeze Yourself To Live Forever
So, here's the deal - when it comes to freezing people to potentially revive them in the future, it's a bit sketchy. Companies can't make any promises about bringing someone back to life. One lady, Jean Hillier, was frozen after a night out and miraculously revived. Scientists think her body went into a hibernation-like state, slowing down her blood flow. Some experts believe that this concept of "hibernation" could be used for long space journeys, like to Mars. NASA is even considering putting astronauts into a deep sleep to conserve resources. Animals, like narwhals and Arctic squirrels, have some amazing abilities to withstand extreme cold. Humans can also freeze things, like their eggs, for later use. But when it comes to thawing out frozen bodies or brains, things get complicated. Reviving memories and personality is a whole other ball game, and it's a bit like trying to wake someone up from a deep unconscious state. In the end, the question remains - if you were brought back from being frozen, would you still be you? It's a tough call, even for the experts.
By Kenedy Njukia day ago in Fiction
Comments (2)
This heartwarming story beautifully illustrates the power of kindness and the enduring bonds of friendship. It's heartening to see how a simple act of leaving cream has fostered a harmonious and symbiotic relationship, demonstrating the importance of honoring traditions and supporting one another in difficult times. https://shoesinquiry.com/why-are-golden-goose-shoes-so-expensive/
Ah, happy cutesy elves how ni.... Oh. Oh dear. Love it!