He's an overzealous eudaemon, his head a crooked cross. His halo brushes my brow now and then like bants that are somehow simultaneously too long and too short.
WHAT IF IT OFFENDS GOD?
The corners of his four mouths curl
up
Two of them have eyes between their tarnished teeth. Oblong pupils sit on the tip of his tongues as he perches in the cradle of my neck's curve.
THEY'LL BUTCHER US
I lift the page a little, so he can peer at it, proudly proclaiming,
"It's not blank"
His left mouth blinks, then his left, then he breathes flaming hundred-dollar bills, the smoke searing my fingers.
BUT WILL IT MAKE MONEY?
"At least I made it"
WASTE OF TIME, GONNA AMOUNT TO NOTHING -
I flick him in his face, and he almost falls off my clavicle with a cry that reminds me of a bleating lamb.
"You'd be nothing if it weren't for me, so watch it"
The corners of his four mouths curl
down
"Do you want to try?"
He tentatively takes my pen between his teeth. After a while, he lifts the page a little, so I can peer at it.
IT'S BAD
"Just because it's bad doesn't mean it can't be good"
...I'LL WORK ON IT.
About the Creator
Wen Xiaosheng
I'm a mad scientist - I mean, film critic and aspiring author who enjoys experimenting with multiple genres. If a vial of villains, a pinch of psychology, and a sprinkle of social commentary sound like your cup of tea, give me a shot.
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More stories from Wen Xiaosheng and writers in Poets and other communities.
s.o.c. 3
Dogs don't feel guilt, they just feel fear. When they sit there, sclera shimmering, hunching to hide from shouted scoldings, floppy ears fused to their skulls, they're not sorry. They're scared. Of course they're scared. They don't know what they did is wrong until the screaming starts. It's not their fault their teeth are tearing through their inflamed gums, and the couch is the closest thing they can chew.
By Wen Xiaoshengabout a year ago in Poets
📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 02/05/2026
Our “Raise Your Voice Threads” are hosted most alternating Thursdays at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
By Raise Your Voice by Vocal4 days ago in Resources
Comments (1)
"Just because it's bad doesn't mean it can't be good" That line was soooo deep!