The Fates Manifest at the Bodega
by Gene Mederos
The rooster, having escaped being sacrificed on the Santeria altar in the basement below the store, has scratched out a summons to the Fates on the linoleum floor, and once they appeared, concluded a bargain for its life. Since a life was fated to end at this store, on this day, at this hour, the Fates cast about for another to take the rooster's place.
Perhaps their eyes alight on the hapless boy ineptly working the meat slicer in the back, or the aged woman whose trembling hand pauses as she reaches for the Pepsodent. Recognizing the three who have suddenly appeared at the end of the aisle, her weak heart begins to beat arrythmically as she wonders if the thread about to be cut in the sharp shears of the Crone is her own...