Ferlin has a minion!

Finster the Knitsy

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A wiser person may have had the decency to ignore the open window of a stranger's house. You, unfortunately, are not all that wise. When you happen to see the lapse in security while out on one of your walks, the inside of the house seems to call your name.

Like a robber in the night, you crawl through the window and into the empty home.

The family that had lived here is gone - whether on vacation or some brief errand, you aren't sure. Despite the risk of them returning to the house at any moment, you explore the house at leisure, walking about as if you own the place. It's not that the possibility of getting caught excites you - you just lack in proper sense.

The house is filled with the property of strangers. You have the nerve to think it feels cozy.

Photos line the walls, but the faces blur in the dark. You're smart enough to know not to bother with the lights. As you pass through the kitchen, you pause to admire the silverware before shoving handfuls into your coat pockets. Souvenirs, of course.

Looking down the hallway, there's one room that stands out among the others. The door is red.

You open the door slowly, imagining someone waiting for you on the other side. There is no one. Instead, you see a bedroom filled with soft toys and delightful baubles. The bed you plop your fat bottom on is trimmed in lace. Fancy.

Everywhere you look in this room is a new, interesting sight. Origami figures hang from the ceiling and crayon drawings cover the walls. On the bedside dresser, a few marbles are scattered next to a stuffed sheep and darkened lamp.

A shiny ring with a blue stone sits right on the dresser's edge. Score!

When you reach for the ring, however, the sound of someone's voice startles you --

"Don't touch that."

You scream out, jumping so violently that you fall off the bed. Springing back to your feet, you whirl around, eyes darting. "Who -? Who's there?"

Something hits you square in the back, and you scream out again. Twisting around, you desperately search for the one who had thrown something at you - but the only thing there is the stuffed sheep.

Your eyes bulge when you see it talk.

"Get outta here. I'll beat you up."

The clipped voice definitely came from the stuffed animal. You feel like you've gone mad. As the sheep stares demurely up at you with its shiny eyes, you can do nothing but gawk.

The stare-off lasts for several minutes. Then, in awe, you watch as one of the sheep's little hooves begins reaching for one of the marbles. The action proceeds as if in slow motion. The sheep grabs the marble. The sheep lifts the marble.

Then, the sheep throws the marble at you with surprising force, nailing you right between the eyes.

You slap your injured forehead and squeal, tumbling back through the house to get far, far away. You scrape your knees as you leap back out the open window.

On his nightstand, the sheep sits, triumphant.


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Layout & Artwork by NoDakota