STORY SHOWCASE #20

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ICE CREAM IN THE WOODS

by Dillon B. Hendrick

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A little taster…

Drooping over the clearing like an enormous glowing spiderweb were dozens of overlapping strings of light. Lining the strings in every direction were birds. So many birds. Blue jays, robins, cardinals, pigeons, woodpeckers, and many birds that Tony didn’t recognize – all singing, chirping and tweeting at once, creating a cacophony of noise. In the center of the clearing, covered in hundreds of birds itself, was the ice cream truck. A giant, plastic ice cream cone filled with pink ice cream and littered with bird feces sat on top of the large white truck. Holes had been drilled into it, transforming it into a giant birdhouse. Multiple perches stuck out of the truck like growths, each crowded with a different bird species. The side of the truck was lined with paintings of different ice cream flavors and treats. The serving window was propped open, but Tony couldn’t see anyone inside of it. In front of the truck were four wooden picnic tables with red and white striped umbrellas jutting out of the center of them. Unsurprisingly, these were also cluttered with various feathered creatures. Despite the impossible number of birds, the air smelled chocolatey and sweet.

A barred owl swooped within inches of Tony, causing him to snap out of his trance. The owl fluttered onto the sill of the service window and pecked a small metal bell tied to the top of it.

“W-what the fuck is going on?” Ethan asked.

“I don’t know, man, but there better not be bird shit in my ice cream or I’m gonna be pissed,” Miguel responded.

About the author

Dillon Hendrick developed a love for the macabre the first time he picked up a Goosebumps book all those years ago. Now, when he isn’t reading twisted tales, he is writing them. He works as a mental health nurse and spends his free time with his beautiful wife and two children. His work has been featured in Ink Stains: An Anthology and Year Six by Dark Hare Press.

We asked Dillon …

K&R: What was the spark or idea that led you to write this story?

DBH: I live in Texas, flat, mundane terrain for miles, but a couple years ago I took a nursing contract in Maine and had the pleasure of living there for a couple months. During that time, I fell in love with the luscious pine forests and the abundance of wildlife (especially the birds). They also had a ton of ice creams stands in Maine, which my family and I did not shy away from. It was really this overall experience that left an impression on me and sparked my idea for the story.  

K&R: What’s next for you as a writer?

DBH: My dream is to write and publish a novel someday, but for the time being I will continue to chip away at short stories of all genres to continue to improve my craft. 

K&R: What does “trashy fiction” mean to you, and what do you love about it?

DBH: Trashy fiction to me describes fiction that doesn’t fit into the normal standards that are placed on genres. That may mean that the fiction is highly peculiar, unique, or just outright whimsical in a way that typical fiction may not capture. It can truly make for some interesting stories!

K&R: Hit us with your own favourite “trashy” fiction recommendations!

DBH: The Awakened trilogy by James S. Murray immediately comes to mind. It’s a gritty, B movie-esque, monster horror trilogy that really captures the essence of what trashy fiction is all about, and I loved it. 

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