The Stuffed Badger

Not much could be said about the stuffed badger on Grandma Daley’s mantel. It was a stuffed badger, nothing more, nothing less. No one paid it any mind.

The family talked in front of it, even argued in front of it. Uncle Pete cursed Grandma Daley in front of it, and Cousin Ritchie got cut out of the will in front of it. And then Aunt Karen—well, no will ever forget that Thanksgiving.

One day someone killed Grandma Daley in front of it. There were no witnesses—except for the badger. But it didn’t make a peep.