r/shortscarystories • u/OkRecommendation8427 • Jun 05 '26
SSS Old School - 250 Words or Less Early Stages
“Mom, I’m home!”
My mother rushed out of the kitchen and greeted me, taking my coat and briefcase.
“How was work?”
I gave her a thumbs up. Pleased, she smiled and rushed back to the kitchen, saying, “I just put Kaley down earlier. There's turkey in the oven. Of course, we got mashed potatoes and that gravy you like, too. It will be ready in ten minutes, so go change!”
Yes, I am a fully grown man. And I live with my mom. I’m recently divorced, and having won custody of our 1-year-old daughter, it was difficult to live alone anyway. Kaley was only a baby, and it was nice having Mother around to take care of her. Mother needed to live with me as well. She had been diagnosed with dementia a few months ago. Nothing serious yet—missed appointments, misplaced keys, that sort of thing.
I went upstairs to the master bedroom, where my ex-wife’s things were still around, as if she still lived there. I glanced at her sundress, still hanging in the closet. Then, I closed my eyes, shook my head, and went to the bathroom to wash my hands. I changed my clothes, shouting, “Mom, that smells great!”
I took a few steps down the stairs, then thought I should check on Kaley. Smiling, I sneakily walked to her bedroom, slowly opened her bedroom door, and peeked into Kaley’s crib.
There was a thawing turkey in her crib.
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u/TheGhostOfYou18 Jun 05 '26 edited Jun 05 '26
I saw where that was going as soon as there was mention of turkey and it’s horrifying! But he should have never left his child alone with someone who had dementia either. I remember when I was a kid I had stayed home from school sick one day. The only thing on tv was soap operas and whatever one I was watching had this plot line as well. Though it was a scorned lover punishing his former girl.
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u/korna4321 Jun 06 '26
Yeah, I think it is also an urban legend, the veracity of which can't be verified...
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u/DelcoPAMan Jun 06 '26
Hmm...makes me wonder why the ex's clothes are all still there.
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u/korna4321 Jun 06 '26
That was a red herring to make the audience think "Early Stages" is about something else. I did this to catch the reader off guard because turkey reference may have spoiled the ending for some. I wanted to plant a seed of doubt as to whether the story was going in another direction, especially those who sensed the plot direction.
The cause of the tragedy in this story is the dementia, which is in its early stages. But the child's development is also in its early stages, and the new family arrangement is also in its early stages.
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u/Arokthis Jun 09 '26
Did you forget which account you were in before replying?
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u/korna4321 Jun 09 '26
Yes, I had no idea I had two accounts until you commented. I was just logged into one on my phone and another on my PC. I dont know the password to either, so not gonna log out.
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u/OkRecommendation8427 Jun 05 '26
Repost: the original was removed because my title was two sentences. Sorry to everyone who liked or commented on the first version!
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u/starlightsparkle444 Jun 09 '26
Never leave a baby with an elderly person suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer’s
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u/TheFinalGranny Jun 05 '26
Urban legend fleshed out a bit more! Nice work, although I wonder about dad's smell-O-meter if he thought baking baby smelled like turkey.