Worthing Flash

In a World of the Few By Garry Engkent The Few guffawed and then marvelled at what they were seeing and hearing. Millions of people were protesting the perceived government’s secret campaign to spread super-microchips into all liquids that consumers would drink and use daily. These conscientious alarmists warned: “Don’t drink the water! Don’t drink the beer! Don’t even wash your hands and face. These chips can burrow through your pores!” The Few were in awe that so many millions believed in such nonsense—Do they not know that every baby born has already been injected with microchips galore? “ Somebody had to do it,” said the Few with glee.     Garry Engkent, Chinese Canadian, has taught at various universities and colleges, co-authored three college writing texts, and currently, writes literary stories. e.g. “Why My Mother Can’t Speak English” “Acceptance”, and “Paper Son”.   He dabbles in the SF/ horror genre, e.g. “I, Zombie: a Different Point ...

 “If Winter Comes, Can Spring Be…” By Garry Engkent Once upon a time, 1923, a young immigrant grumbled about the snow, so much of it. Jack Frost overheard and said: “If you don’t like it here, you can go back where you belong.” Once upon a time, 2001, an immigrant’s child complained about the snow, piles and piles of it. Santa Claus overheard and said: “If you don’t like it, just go back where you belong.” Once upon a time, 2030, a senior citizen from an immigrant family moaned about shovelling the mounds of snow. A white neighbour overheard and said: “Go back where you belong!” 

By Garry Engkent [ Prologue: This is a true story—okay, not quite. I changed a few facts and details even though my therapist suggested the whole truth and nothing but the truth as a kind of confessional to ease the stress. “Confession is good for mental health.” I insisted on not giving real names, not in first person. Just Tom, Dick and Harry. To give some distance, perspective. My female therapist sighed. It has been a tough six months for both of us here in the institute .] On a Wednesday, he killed his three closest friends—violently, mercilessly, deliberately. Why? Twenty years ago, he and his buddies played a childish game on an old woman. “Hey, your shoelace is undone,” he said, pointing down at her shoes. Automatically, the old lady looked down. “Made you look!” he laughed, and his pals joined in to humiliate the white-haired woman more. When this trick was played, many times before with his friends taking turns, the tricked person looked embarrass...