Scenes From A Not-So-Natural Disaster

In a chemistry classroom somewhere along the Gulf Coast, students struggle to complete a laboratory experiment involving colorful liquids in glass test tubes while their teacher looks on. A mounted television monitor is tuned to the weather channel. The sound is muted, but it’s clear from the map that a major hurricane is headed towards the city.

*

Stiltski (“it’s Polish,” he tells everyone, even though he is clearly not of Polish descent), the smallest boy from the chemistry class, wanders the aisles of a grocery store. All the non-perishables have been cleaned out. After some indecision, he finally selects a half-gallon of coffee ice cream from the freezer aisle and places it into his basket.

*

All alone in a tiny house, Stiltski lies awake in bed, listening to the storm come ashore. Meanwhile, his lab partner Angela sits at the vanity in her own bedroom as strong winds rage outside. She tries on a selection of cheap jewelry from a small chest that sits open on the table.

*

At the breakfast table the next morning, Stiltski is eating half-melted ice cream straight from the carton. The windows are open. From the speakers of a small battery-powered radio, a talk jockey is warning residents not to drive anywhere unless absolutely necessary. Uprooted trees and downed power lines are still strewn across the roadways, traffic signals all across the coast are out, and gas station pumps may not be refueled for quite some time. Additionally, many low-lying areas remain underwater.

*

By candlelight, Stiltski prepares a tuna salad sandwich for dinner, cutting it in half diagonally with a serrated knife. No sign of his parents anywhere. The same radio is still on, tuned to the same station. This time, the talk jockey is shouting with excitement about a local used car salesman who claims his daughter Angela can turn the floodwaters into gasoline. For the first time, Stiltski perks up at the words he’s hearing.

*

High school classes are back in session. Stiltski sits in chemistry class, measuring out more colorful liquids in a series of glass beakers. The seat next to him is conspicuously vacant. Stiltski looks at the empty space for some time before making a note on his lab sheet. All the other people who bothered to show up, including the teacher, are charging their phones and scrolling through news feeds instead of conducting the experiment.

*

Stiltski rides the bus across town. Traffic is a nightmare, winking red lights as far as the eye can see. Uniformed police officers are out in full force with whistles and portable stop signs. On the left side of the mayor’s freshly manicured lawn is a campaign sign for re-election. A tall, balding man answers the door when Stiltski rings the bell at the gaudy McMansion. At first, the man pretends not to know what Stiltski is talking about when he hears Angela’s name, but eventually he allows the boy inside the smart home. Motion-activated security cameras follow his every movement.

*

That night, by the light of noticeably shorter taper candles, Stiltski prepares a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dinner, once again cutting it in half diagonally. On his right ring finger, he is wearing an emerald ring that was last seen in Angela’s treasure chest. His lips curve upwards in a slight smile.

*

The candles have grown even shorter the next night. Stiltski prepares a spam sandwich with thousand island dressing for dinner, once again cutting it in half diagonally. In addition to the emerald ring, he is now wearing a delicate tennis bracelet on his wrist. His new smile is slightly larger than the last.

*

By the following night, the candles have nearly melted down to the base. Instead of his usual sandwiches, Stiltski prepares an elaborate feast that involves all the non-perishables left in his cupboards, slicing each individual item in half with his serrated knife. He appears to have acquired no new jewelry, but as he is preparing the food, he stares wistfully at a small, handmade plaque hanging on the kitchen wall. It is made out of popsicle sticks that have been glued together. A small, human handprint made from bright green paint is in the center, with the words “Rumpelstiltskin, Age 4” written in black script underneath. Stiltski seems sad for a moment but then smiles even wider than he did the previous night.

*

A considerable amount of time has passed. The city is back to normal and bustling with life. Damaged structures have been replaced, and roofs have been repaired. Stiltski rides the bus back to the mayor’s house. He is no longer wearing the jewelry but is sporting new clothing. On the right side of the lawn, a sign that proclaims, “It’s a girl!” A lot of colorful helium balloons are tied to the stake. On the left side, where the campaign sign used to be, there is only a patch of undisturbed grass. Once again, the mayor himself answers the door. He looks more or less the same except he seems to have lost even more hair.

*

Later that day, Stiltski storms out of the mayor’s house, his hands empty. Once again, the security cameras swivel to follow his movement. “I wouldn’t get too attached to your baby if I were you!” he shouts at the open front door. “You’ll never in a million years guess my full name!” The door slams shut.

*

Angela uses her new connections at the mayor’s office to help her hack into the high school’s computer system and quickly uncover Stiltski’s full name. With a blissful expression evident on her face, she rocks her sleeping baby in her arms.

*

Back at the mayor’s house, Angela reveals Stiltski’s real name the very next day, which sends the disbelieving boy into a rage. “Do you really trust this ridiculous man with your baby?” he yells at her. “I would be a much better father than he’ll ever be!” The offended mayor launches into a tirade full of offensive slurs before slashing Stiltski’s face right down the middle with a boning knife from the island counter in the kitchen.

*

In court, the disgraced politician pleads self-defense but ultimately ends up in prison anyway for statutory rape. Unfortunately, the hate crime charges are dropped on a technicality.

*

The whole town pitches in to help Angela raise her child, allowing her to return to school and graduate with the rest of her class. Months, then years, pass. Stiltski receives reconstructive plastic surgery, begins cognitive behavioral therapy for anger management, becomes a godfather, legally changes his name to Stillhere, and most importantly, scores an A+ in his advanced chemistry class when he reveals his secret formula for transforming rainwater into gasoline.

Susan L. Lin is a Taiwanese American storyteller who hails from southeast Texas and holds an MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts. Her novella GOODBYE TO THE OCEAN won the 2022 Etchings Press novella prize, and her literary/visual art has appeared in nearly a hundred publications. She loves to dance.  

Image credit: Kelly Wright via D-ALLE, Ideogram, and Midjourney