Buzz’d

A flash fiction story about an unexpected day at the office.

Photo by Chris Curry on Unsplash

Stanley sits comatose in his closeted office. His hands bang rhythmically on a computer keyboard. Two tall windows that overlook the courtyard are the only hint of humanity.

Spider spinning a web on the windowsill catches Stanley’s attention. Stanley wonders if Spider knows the design of the web before it starts or if Spider just wings it.

“Can you see in your mind’s eye what you are weaving?” asks Stanley.

“Leave me alone,” Spider said. “Nature always finds a way.”

Spider returns to spinning its web. Stanley returns to banging on his computer keyboard.

The clock ticks.

Stanley spires a Fly buzzing around the computer screen. Like a kamikaze, Fly dips and dodges and zips and zaps.

“What are you doing? asks Fly to Stanley.

“Do you get dizzy flying around like that?” asks Stanley.

“It’s in my nature,” Fly said. “I can’t help it. It always finds a way.”

“What I wouldn’t give to switch places with you,” said Stanley.

“Watch this,” Fly said as he buzzed up the window, twisting and turning, performing two back rolls before it began its descent.

Fly torpedoes down the winder. Stanley’s never seen something so brazen, so courageous, so alive.

…

SLAP!

Fly flails and wails at it tries to break loose from Spider’s web.

Stanley watches Spider tiptoe across the silken lines of its geometric trap until it reachers Fly’s catatonic body.

Fly clings to hope.

Stanley winces as Spider devours Fly.

Stanley collects himself, resumes typing, and whispers, “Nature always finds a way.”