bludgeoned his head repeatedly until he collapsed, limp and denigrated on the carpet.
When Teddy awoke, he winced at the tugging pain at his eyelidsâthey wouldnât open no matter how hard he strained. Atop his naked groin he felt the cold security of Peg, and beneath him the gritty soil. Damn Mother and her sewing. He touched his eyelids and knew he would find the tiny knotted stitches binding his vision.
âTeddy,â she called from above. âYouâve been a bad boy. You wonât be looking at Angie anymore though, Iâve seen to that. Just like your father you are. I had to teach him a lesson too.â
He heard an earthy scrape from above and pleaded for forgiveness. âMother please, I didnât mean to look. Iâm sorry. Please, Motherââ
A scoop of dirt landed on his face, covering his nose and mouth; his arms were squeezed too tightly into the grave to protest.
âGot to keep the family together.â
Mother continued to fill in the grave as Teddy struggled to free himself; he wanted to spit but his mouthful of dirt prohibited any such action. Above, Mother babbled about discipline and Teddyâs punishment led to suffocation as his eyes seeped tears of blood.
Â
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March 15, 1988 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Night Terrors Magazine
1007 Union Street        Â
Schenectady, NY 12308
Brian Warner
3450 Banks Rd. #207
Margate, FL 33063
Hey Brian,
Thank you for âAll in the Family.â I like the idea, but I prefer something a little more involved. However, you write very well and very convincingly, and Iâm anxious to see another submission from you. But, Brian, I would first urge you to acquaint yourself with the unique type of fiction we publish by purchasing a subscription to NT . I can send you the next four issues for only $12 for your first year and $16 each year afterwards. I hope youâll take advantage of this savingsâmore than 35% off the cover priceâand join our bloody little gang. If youâre serious about selling your work to NT âpayment is two and a half cents per wordâthen getting to know the mag is your key to a quick sale.
Till then, Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
John Glazer                 Â
Editor                         Â
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March 28, 1988 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Brian Warner           Â
3450 Banks Rd. #207
Margate, FL 33063 Â Â Â
John Glazer, Editor
Night Terrors Magazine
1007 Union Street
Schenectady, NY 12308
Dear John Glazer,
Thank you very much for your encouraging response. Enclosed is a check for four issues of NT . I am eager to receive my first copies. In the meantime, I am sending you three new poems I wrote, âPiece de Resistance,â âStained Glassâ and âHotel Hallucinogen.â I hope that youâll find them more to your taste.
Thank you for considering these submissions, and Iâm looking forward to receiving my subscription to Night Terrors Magazine .
Sincerely, Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Brian Warner           Â
PIECE BE RESISTANCE
When the fork eats the spoon,
and the knife stabs
the face reflected in the plate,
dinner is over.
STAINED GLASS
In the wooden silence
genuflecting fornicators
seek penance and
false-toothed idealists
throw grubsteaks on the offering plate.
light a candle for the sinners
light a fire
Self-pronounced prophet, parable-speaking Protestant
preaches his diatonic dogma,
disemboweling indiscreetly.
supplicate
congregate
the world looks better through stained glass
light a candle for the sinners
set the world on
Lynsay Sands
Sophie Stern
Karen Harbaugh
John C. Wohlstetter
Ann Cleeves
Laura Lippman
BWWM Club, Tyra Small
Charlene Weir
Madison Daniel
Matt Christopher