These Old Tales - Complete (A Collection of Dark Fiction) by Kenneth W. Cain

Author:Kenneth W. Cain [Cain, Kenneth W.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Distressed Press
Published: 2012-04-22T16:00:00+00:00

WHAT’S THIS LINE FOR?

He fidgeted with his fingers as he stood there, his feet feeling heavier than usual. The line extended out farther than he could see, and yet he couldn't remember the reason he had gotten in line. He had little memory of stepping into the line in the first place. As a family of five took their place behind him, he would be damned if he was going to relinquish his spot without knowing what the line was for.

Even as he came to this decision, others were taking a place behind this family, and before long the line extended out of sight out behind him, as well. There was no way he was going step out of line now, only to find out he should have stayed. Any time he might have spent waiting thus far would be wasted.

Thinking of this, he wondered how long he had been waiting. Judging from the worn look of his clothes, he thought he might have slept here. The only event he could fathom having camped out for would be tickets to some concert. He wondered which artist might be coming, and how much he must have drank or smoked in order to forget that knowledge. He began looking around for familiar faces.

He was young, more so than most of those standing in line, other than the children being tended to by their parents of course. He was certainly the youngest person standing alone in line. Taking this into consideration he tried to guess what band might equally appeal to both this mix of people as well as the likes of him. He could think of none offhand, but was sure it must be one of the classic rock-n-rollers.

Observing the man standing in front of him, he took note of his graying hair. The woman next up in line might have been in her mid-thirties at most. She stood wrapped up in a robe, indicating she too might have slept here the prior night, and could have partaken in a little too much sin herself. He didn't bother examining anyone else beyond her.

Abel didn't mind this development. He welcomed such differences, diversity within a crowd. It pleased him to think they could all be so similar in their tastes. This was the world he envisioned, a peaceful alternative to the one he had grown accustomed to.

He tapped the shoulder of the man standing in front of him. "Excuse me. What band is this for?"

The man offered him a troubled glance, clearly bothered by the invasion of his solitude. Abel guessed the world hadn't changed so much after all.

"Okay." Abel muttered this in the most sarcastic voice he could muster.

The woman ahead of the man looked back, smiled, and then returned her gaze onward, waiting. Abel almost didn't notice the few people passing at his left, heading in the opposite direction.

He watched, as they left, likely having already secured their tickets. He wondered if they got good seats. When they were almost out of view, they descended downward on some unseen escalator he had missed.

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