Comment from rjpurdy

Excellent

You have spun a nice mystery my friend. And yes, it does have tones of the great Edgar Allen Poe. No need for apologies. The story provides a lot of information in so few words. It flows well and although the end is not a complete surprise, it leaves the reader guessing. nicely done. rj

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Thanks for that, rj. I needed to hear something as positive as what you've just stated about it. You are very kind. :}

reply by rjpurdy on 20-Nov-2014

You are quite welcome. The accolades are well deserved. Rod

Comment from a.w.brooks

Exceptional

I see the parity of edgar alan poe a great story and I am a big fan of poe love the story and great writing. Truly a work of art.

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Thank you, Mr. Brooks. I really appreciate you taking time out to R&R this for me, my good man.

Much obliged! :}

Comment from LIJ Red

Excellent

Since it is customary to groan horribly and grimace at a pun, register a ghastly contortion of my facial muscles and a bovine lowing noise. Tell tale Bart, indeed.

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Ha-ha, thanks, LIJ Red...I think?

I appreciate the review, buddy. :)

Comment from rosehill (Wendy)

Excellent

Enjoyed the read and the Shaggy Dog ending to your cat murder story. Wasn't sure where the shout,"Evildoers," came from, but enjoyed the mental dialogue from your killer. - Wendy

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Well, Wendy. If you google Edgar Alla Poe's Tell-Tell Heart, of which this is a parody, and read the very end of the story, it will come to you...

Thanks so much! :}

reply by rosehill (Wendy) on 20-Nov-2014

Hello again, I understood this was a direct parody of the final lines, I should have been more clear too ;) What I meant was, I wanted a bit of a lead up to that shout to give it a frame of reference. In the original, he thinks they are teasing him, wickedly, and so the scream has a basis. Here, while a wickedly clever ending to the piece, not so much. That's all. I still loved it. - Wendy

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Thanks, Wendy. I wish I'd had more words I could have used, so I tried to include what I felt was the most suspenseful portion of that awesome story. Unfortunately, it didn't work out as well as I'd planned, LOL. :(

Comment from TheWriteTeach

Exceptional

OMG! This is absolutely awesome. I love it. What a wonderful play on Edgar Alan Poe's piece. You did a fantastic job with this. I don't think you could possibly improve it. Good luck in the contest, this is a contender for sure!

Suzanne

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Thanks, Suzanne. I'm really glad to know there's someone out there who still knows of Poe and his fabulous stories. As far as this being a contender, not hardly. It's getting crushed in the voting. Still, it was fun, and I'm very happy you saw the humor in it.

Thanks again! :)

reply by TheWriteTeach on 25-Nov-2014

Know of Poe? Are you kidding? The man is my hero! I teach my 9th grade English class Amontillado every year. We read the short story and then watch the movie. The students love it that Fortunato gets bricked up behind the wall. Please believe me when I say that if Tell-Tale Bart got crushed in the voting, it wasn't because of bad writing. There is no accounting for personal taste . . .

Suzanne

reply by the author on 25-Nov-2014

He's my literary hero too, Suzanne. I can't get enough of his work, I am still studying "The Raven", because the rhyme scheme is so elegantly intricate...

Comment from sibhus

Excellent

Grante dyou have taken liberities with Poe's orginal tale of The Telltale Heart, but at least it was a weel written liberty that is good in it's own right. Damn cat. You probably didn't get buried deep enough. Good piece that makes for an excellent entry and good luck.

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Thanks, sibhus, I'm glad you think so, at least, LOL...

I appreciate your thoughtful review. :}

Comment from Tatarka2

Good

Well, it was a twist, I guess. For me, this seemed a bit obvious and, unfortunately, not as exciting as I had hoped it could be, given the challenge. Admittedly, there was a word limit. Still, I think more could be made of this idea, still staying within the word limit. And yes, it does seem to draw on Poe quite heavily. Maybe that's the problem. I wonder what would have happened had you decided to come up with something entirely new and horrifying on your own? It might have been even more horrific!

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Yeah, well, I wasn't going to enter this at all, Tatarka2, so...

I guess parody isn't as appreciated as it once was, 'ey?

Thanks...

Wait...don't those horror movie parodies make millions? Hmmmmmmmm...just sayin'...

Comment from butterfly4265

Excellent

I really like how you picked up the pace right from the beginning and held it there all the way to the end. Very dark and creepy! Is this guilt I hear? I can't write anything remotely horrific or chilling, so have much admiration for those who do.

Very well written, and the best of luck in the contest,

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Thanks so much, butterfly, I sincerely appreciate that.

This short story is a parody of Poe's, "The Tell-Tale Heart", and you can google Poe's story, and read it, if you care to see the parallels in the ending I've created here.

It is much harder to write horror, and especially flash horror, than most people think and do so effectively. However, challenging ourselves is what it's all about, right? Well, that, and hopefully scaring the bejeezus out of anyone who cares enough to read it, LOL.

Thanks for your kind comments and encouragement. based on the way things are going now, I am going to need all of the luck that I can get! :}

Comment from joann r romei

Excellent

very good, and the picture seals the deal. It did have a Poe like theme to it, and that works for such a short entry. good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Thank you kindly, Joann. By the looks of things, I am going to need all of the luck that I can get, my friend. That being said, I do appreciate your encouraging review.

Thanks! :)

Comment from mmjg65

Excellent

Well, you could have taken a more scatological parallel. I'm sure Poe will forgive you. Thank you for starting out my day with a laugh!

 Comment Written 20-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

I seriously hope so, mmjg65. I would hate for the Ghost of Poe to start haunting me, LOL!

I glad it made you laugh, and I appreciate your review. :}

reply by mmjg65 on 20-Nov-2014

My first comment to you was going to be:
"CATegorically, it wasn't supPOsed to be that way."

But I changed it so he wouldn't come after me... or you either, for that matter:-)

reply by the author on 20-Nov-2014

Hah! I love it! :D