But Owen’s mom doesn’t see the danger. She just thinks he’s a sad old man who needs someone to look out for him. So every week, she makes Owen go next door and bring Old Man Schneider a hot meal.
Until one week, it isn’t Old Man Schneider who answers the door. It’s his wife.
And she wants Owen to come inside.
This short story is 6100 words long. It can also be found in Mortal Creatures, a collection of stories about grief and magic.
Zoe Cannon may or may not be a supervillain out to conquer the world through writing. When not writing, they can be found perfecting their schemes for world domination, plotting against their archenemies, and staying up too late reading a book. Their secret lair is rumored to be located somewhere in southern New Hampshire. They also write as their mild-mannered alter ego, Z.J. Cannon.