Meat
The patty flipped, then sat back down on the grill. It’s a hot summer day, causing the man holding the spatula to sweat more than he’s comfortable with. Nothing a fresh burger and a cold beer can’t fix.
The meat sizzles, he stared, it’s probably the same temperature as his body. Is my meat cooking?, he thought. I bet I’d taste phenomenal, a classic Jeff stream of consciousness.
Giving the patty a press, some juice seeps out and onto the flame. Looks ready to me, his mind continued during the beef’s final flip onto the bun. Add a little ketchup, some yellow mustard and good to go. Sitting down in a lawn chair Jeff hears the kids next door shouting at their mother.
Artist: Will Pottorff
“I SAID I want to play video games! I’ll force someone to do my homework for me on the bus!” can be heard through the open window. Must be Brock, the oldest of the three, only 12, but a bigger piece of shit than most 21 year olds. “But honey, you’re not going to know the material if you just keep getting other kids to do the work for you,” pleads his mother, Patty. One hell of a woman; nice as the day is long and not to mention a body that awards are modeled after. She means well, but dang do those boys take advantage of her.
Taking a bite from his masterpiece of meat, Jeff can now see them through the window. “Why would I ever need to know this... STUFF?” continues Brock as he picks up a textbook from the table, staring at it as if it was an alien item. It’s doubtful he could read the title if you put a gun to his head. “You’ll need to know that stuff one day sweetie, its math.” Patty continues her plea.
“Pffff, not with my calculator app I won’t”. And with that he hucks the book out the window. “HONEY! You can't just do that, you need to return that book to the school at the end of the year. They will charge me an arm and a leg again if you don’t. You know we’ve been tight on money since your father...left”.
“I don’t give a shit about the book, and I sure as hell don’t give a shit about Dad.” Brock huffs out of sight.
Damn this burger is good. Licking his fingers Jeff sees Patty come out to retrieve the book. She’s looking fine as ever. Jeff slowly removes his pinky finger from his lips to yell over “Hey Patty!” loud enough for her to hear him even with a full mouth. A little bit of burger falls out as he shouted. Luckily, Jeff’s had plenty of practice in these situations and caught it before it tumbled off his chest. Quickly popping it back from whence it came, still good.
“Oh hey Jeff”, she responds. “Didn’t see you over there. Hopefully we weren’t being too loud.” The sound of exhaustion is clear.
“Nope! No problems here, just enjoying a burger and a cold one on this scorcher. Hey, want to come enjoy some with me? I’ve got plenty more meat and beer.” As the words come out Jeff quickly does the math and thinks he only has enough for three more burgers, which was supposed to last him the night, but he would easily give her one just to see her rip into it with those pearly whites.
“No thanks, I gotta feed the kids soon and will just eat with them. Appreciate the offer though. Maybe another time?” her voice always sounds genuine, but the offers never are.
“Of course! You’re always welcome to join me, even if it’s just to talk or something.” Any reason to be with you is fine by me, Jeff thinks but could never say. “Sounds perfect, see you later Jeff. Enjoy the sun, hopefully will go down soon,” she says, turning towards her house.
“Patty wait!” Jeff throws the last bit of ground beef in his gullet and start hoisting himself out of the lawn chair. Not an easy task once you hit the 250 lbs mark.
She waits patiently as he gets over to her, what a saint. “Thanks for holding, I wanted to let you know I’m sincere about my offer to come over and talk. I know with… (She averts eye contact while I clear my throat) Mark leaving you have had a lot on your shoulders. So wanted you to know you have someone to turn to. Not that you need it! But just in case.”
“I appreciate the sentiment Jeff, but I’m ok. Just have a lot to do with the boys, but thank you.” Jeff gives her a look, “Ya, those boys seem like a lot sometimes. Don’t know why you let them talk to you that way. You’re their mother and they should have some respect for you.” his mind wanders thinking about what a respectful little turd he’d turn Brock into. Two hours in a windowless room. Brock would know how good his life really is after that.
“I know, I know,” Patty says breaking Jeff’s concentration and extinguishing his smirk. “But I have to be careful how I act, we wouldn’t want, you know who, getting custody. That would be the end of me. I couldn’t go on if I lost any of them.” Her eyes well up some.
“No, no, of course not. It’s just, I see how hard you work to provide for them and do right by them. Just hard to watch them use you as a doormat.” That last part might have come off a little harsh. Jeff could see her get into defense mode.
“Well I wouldn’t say that, but thanks for looking out for me I guess. OK, really need to go. The kids get irritated if they aren’t fed.”
“Gotcha, well OK. Just remember, I’m right next door. Just a textbook’s throw away.” Trying to make light of the situation, which didn’t seem to land since she just gave a half hearted laugh, snagged the book and headed in.
“Nice job Jeff” he says out load, giving himself a verbal kick in the ass. Slurping down the last of his beer and throwing the can into the bin. “OK, time for round two!” Clapping his hands and rubbing them together like devilish little sassmongers. Once inside Jeff opens up the fridge to size up his load and see what will sizzle next. “FUCK” comes out of his mouth instead of the drool he anticipated. Jeff is now eyeing a meat drawer that’s barron. This can't be. Jeff runs to his freezer in the garage where he keeps his reserves which he finds just as empty. Did I go on another blackout feast frenzy?, Jeff thinks to himself.
Walking back into the kitchen, rubbing his head. “This just won't do,” Jeff mumbled to himself since no one else was around to hear. While scratching and thinking, Jeff hears a screen door slam. Looking out his window Jeff sees Troy run out and jump knees first into Patty’s garden. He’s piss ant number two, just nine years young and has been expelled from two of the three elementary schools in the area. Jeff keeps watching as he laughs and pulls up all the flowers Patty just planted this past weekend. He knows this because he spent a sloppy, meat filled, afternoon watching her bent over covered in sweat and soil. Jeff recalls his slab of choice being a 48 oz tenderloin, lightly salted and roasted to perfection. Basting it in its own juices, and maybe a little of his own juices, every hour really helps make the flavors spring to life. Only a fine piece of meat would do while viewing such a fine piece of human. That was a memorable filthy weekend delight.
Staring at Troy fuck off and ruin yet another one of his mother’s pleasures made Jeff wonder how his little meat sack of a body would taste. It’s hard to believe anyone would actually miss this future taxpayer burden. Before thinking anymore Jeff yells out, “Hey Troy, want to come help me for a minute!?!”, “Fuck you” he replied without even looking up from his latest mud pie bouquet.
Little piece of... “I have plenty of hamburgers if you lend me a hand!” Which won’t be a true statement until he gets his little porky pig ass over here. “Did I stutter!?! I said Fuck YOU!!!” He retorted.
“I have things you can light on fire.” and like that he bounded into Jeff’s house without even waiting for him to get the door.
“Brock, Troy, Denis, dinner is ready!” Patty yelled as she starts to lay out the ‘fine China’, which is what they like to call their paper plate table setting. In runs Denis, the youngest of the bunch, at 4’ 1” he was tall for a six year old, but couldn’t hold his own with his brothers. This was quickly confirmed with a stiff arm from Brock as he ran into the room past Denis, “first round is mine fuck-tard!”
“Hey! Don’t talk to your brother that way!” Is all Patty had the nerve to say, but she did walk over to help wipe off Denis as he got to his feet. “Geez Brock, I would’ve let you go first anyways.” Denis makes his way over to the pot of gooey Mac and cheese. The coast clear since Brock was already half way through his first serving.
“Where’s your brother boys?” Patty says as she looks around and moves to the hallway, “Troy! Dinner honey!”
“I think he went outside earlier Mommy. He mentioned something about showing the flowers his power,” Denis says while spooning noodles into his face. “You gotta be kidding” Patty moves to the back window and spots the plant massacre. “I just did all that work! Fine. No dinner if he doesn’t come!” She moves to the counter, grabs her plate and with a tear in her eye starts to scoop up that liquid gold.
Troy’s eyes flutter as he begins to wake up. The room is dark and the cement floor is cold under his bare feet. “Wha... what? Where am I?” he stammers putting the words together. There is only one light on above him. Ropes tight around his torso, holding him to the back of a chair. Squinting around the room he struggles to make sense of the shapes. Moving his gaze he lands on a pair of dirty New Balance shoes that are just at the cusp of the black. Looking at them they move.
“Finally decided to wake up from your nap?”
Troys eyes adjust more, “Jeff?”
“That’s Mr. Hedgewink to you! God damn little shit, no respect for anyone.” As he yells, Troy cowers back into his seat. His sweat is starting to collect. Fantastic, just need to get him going a little more then let him marinate in that perfectly salty liquid. “You know, I’ve been your mother’s neighbor for longer than you’ve been alive. And by the looks of it, I’ll be here a lot longer after you’re dead too.” Jeff begins to walk around him, his fear can be smelled in the air. “Not such a big boy after all it seems.” Touching the back of his head, Jeff notices the crotch of his pants getting darker. Just another addition to the broth. “I’m going to leave you here for awhile. You be good, OK? Hahaha, that was more of a joke. I know you are incapable of that, but nothing to worry about, this room is child proof. Meaning no child can get out or be heard from inside.”
Walking to the door Jeff hears him sniffling. Just let that snot roll down your face, he thinks. Opening the door, Jeff turns to get another look. “You know, only if you were a little nicer to your mother. Oh well!” And with that he slammed the door behind him.
“It’s 7pm where the hell is Troy?” Patty mumbled to herself as she paced in the kitchen.“Hello?” Comes across the receiver. “Yes, Hi, this is Patty, Troy’s mother. I was wondering if you have seen him today at all?”
“Oh, hi Patty. No, no Troy today, but hold on. Billy!?! Have you seen Troy today!?!” Patty can hear a low response back from Billy. “No, sorry Patty. Billy hasn’t seen Troy either. Is everything OK?”
“Well I haven’t seen him since early afternoon so just getting a little concerned. I’m sure he is just getting into trouble somewhere, but not like him to be so late.”
“OK Patty, if we hear anything or see him I’ll make sure to get a hold of you,” Billy's mother continues with a hint of sympathy.
“Thank you. Please do,” Patty says before ending the call.
“Brock! Can you go next door to Jeff’s and ask if he’s seen Troy at all? He was outside today so might of seen where he ran off too.” Patty yells down the hall. No response.
“Brock please!” She shouts a second time.
“I don’t want to! Jeff always smells like the butcher’s shop and he’s fat.”
Brock comes back.“BROCK YOUR BROTHER IS MISSING GO NEXT DOOR!” Patty snaps as she clenches the wash towel in her hands tighter.
“OK... Geez Mom...” Brock mutters as he heads out the back door.
---------
Entering the back room turned child dungeon, Jeff flips on the light. Troy is sitting there, clearly exhausted from all his meager attempts at loosening the ropes. Between his struggles and the fact that Jeff turned the heat up to over 100 degrees in there, he was basting up nicely.
“Hmmmm, for a tough guy like you it must be pretty upsetting that you’re not strong enough to execute whatever plan you have devised in that dumb little head of yours.” Jeff says with a chuckle. He moves closer to the boy and pinches his thigh. “How much you weigh anyways? I’m guessing about 80 pounds.” Pinching Troy’s cheek, “should be enough for at least a week's worth of meat.” With those words Troy’s eyes widen and fill with more liquid... perfect for my basting.
“You... You can't do this... my mother's going to be looking for me. There’s no way you’re going to get away with this. If you let me go now I promise not to say anything.” Troy’s lips quiver while tears and sweat flowed down his face.
“That’s an idea. But I think I’m going to stick with mine. Plus, a few months of a little extra peace and quiet over there will do wonders for your Mother. I’m sure she will be thrilled that I took you off her plate and placed you on mine.” Jeff couldn’t contain his smirk.“JEFF!!!” Knocking on the door now becomes audible in the room.
“JEFF IT’S BROCK!!! Get your fat ass over here to let me in! Troy is missing and I want to see what you know!”
Troy yells as loud as he can, “BROCK I'M IN HERE!!! HELP!!!! HE’S GOING TO EAT...” Jeff hauls off and slaps Troy, knocking him out before he could finish. “I guess desert couldn’t wait.” Jeff says as he leaves the room and shuts the door.
Opening the back door Jeff can see Brock brooding behind the screen. “Well hello there. How can I help you little boy?”
“You heard me yelling. How long does it take for you to get off your couch? Troy is missing and Patty wanted to see if you know anything or saw where he went.”
“Missing?” Jeff says with a laugh. “He’s not missing, he's here. He saw my cooking and wanted to stay for dinner. Come on in, should be finishing up soon. I’ll give you boys a doggie back to go.” Jeff opens the screen door and in walks Brock. “He’s just in the back there, last door on the right. Head on back and I’ll get the food ready for you.”
Brock gives Jeff a quizzical look and heads to the back. He hesitates at the door Jeff mentioned and looks back. “Yep, just in there. Head on in, don’t be afraid.” Jeff says from the other end of the hall.
The door knob is warm to the touch. Brock swings the door open and walks in. Finding the switch on the wall he flips it on. With light taking over the room Troy starts to come too, looking up at his brother he uses the last of his energy to move his freshly broken jaw to say the words, “Helpppp...” Brock opens his mouth to scream, but before a sound could find its way out of his throat Jeff closes it up with his belt from behind, lifting Brock off the floor. “I’m sorry, I misspoke. I meant to say I am going to have Troy for dinner.” Jeff whispers into Brock’s ear before his eyes fade to black.
Artist: Will Pottorff
“It’s 10pm now. Where can he be?” Patty is pacing the kitchen, hands moving frantically from head to hips, grabbing at the phone, starting to dial, then remembering she already tried that number. “OK, OK. Think Patty, you can't call the cops, at least not yet. A missing person isn’t considered that until at least 24 hours and not to mention what (ex’s name) would do if he found out this had happened.”
Denis comes in the room, rubbing his eyes. “Mommy, can you read me a story yet? I’m getting real tired.” Patty realizes what time it is and she hasn’t even put Denis to bed. “Oh baby I’m sorry, Mommy is real worried right now. Can you please go to bed alone this time and I promise I will read you two stories tomorrow night.”
Denis looks up, eyes red from rubbing, “I can't sleep without a story, just a short one, please?”
Patty puts the phone back on the hook, looks at her watch, and rubbing her forehead, “OK baby, a real quick one and then Mommy has to figure things out.”
———-
Brock and Troy stay in the back room as Jeff sharpens his blades and gets the meat grinder prepped. It's got a long night of slaughter ahead.
Jeff is whistling This Little Piggy to himself, donning his apron that reads ‘Kiss the Cook’. The excitement for what’s to come has brought him more joy than he’s felt since the BBQ tour of the country he took ten years ago. Matter of fact, that’s where he snagged his beloved apron.
The boys can hear what’s going on in the other room. Sounds of metal on metal, along with grumbled hums and whistles, fill the air through the vent. That and heat come pouring in the room on a constant basis. “We can’t let this fat fuck eat us, no way.” Brock says this while struggling with the ropes. Troy stays still, staring at the ground. “Troy, Troy! Stay with me. We’ll need to work together to try and get out of this.”“
There’s no point. He’s got us.” Troy doesn’t take his eyes off the ground. Staring at his dirty shoes from destroying his mother’s garden. “Maybe we deserve it.”
“Troy! Snap out of it! We don't deserve this. No one deserves this.” Brock can’t believe his ears. “Look at me.” Troy’s head remains down. “Troy! Look at me.” He doesn’t flinch. “LOOK AT ME!”
Troy’s head slowly moves up, eyes still fixed forward. Pupils dilated and glossy. “We are going to get out of this. Mom told me to come here, it’s been at least two hours since then. She’s gotta be coming over soon.”
“You really think we’ll be ok?” Troy’s eyes start to well up. “Yes, we’ll be ok. Plus you’re my little brother. I won't let anything bad happen to you.” Brock said this with such sincerity it convinced Troy and even got a little smile out of him.
Just as Troy’s lips started to curl up the door swung open and Jeff came in. Staring at the boys he starts walking over.
“You can't do this!” Brock started in. Jeff moves forward. “You’ll never get away with this.” Jeff continues forward. “Mom will be here any minute.” Now stopping in front of the kids.
“Good. I’m about to have more food than I’ll know what to do with.” As he finishes his sentence the clever lifts up and strikes down just above the knee joint on Troy’s thigh.
The scream is louder than anything Jeff’s heard before. With the door open the sound travels clear through the hallway and out the open window he used to call his pray over.
Patty’s eyes shot open. Curled up with Denis she could have sworn she heard Troy. “What... what time is it?” She mutters while starting to get up. Looking at her watch, “Oh my God. It’s 11pm! I must have fallen asleep. Shit, shit, shit!” Patty gets down the hall and swings open Troy’s door. Empty. “Fuck!”
“Brock!” Patty yells heading further down the hall. “Brock! What did Jeff have to say...” swinging the door open her eyes are met with another empty bed. “What the...”
“This doesn’t make sense,” Patty thinks to herself as she moves down the hall back to the kitchen. “Where is my family disappearing too,” she continues. Reaching for the phone receiver again, picking it up she looks through her window and sees Jeff still has his kitchen light on.
“I sent Brock over there hours ago…” placing the receiver on the hook Patty moves out the back door and across her yard. As she approaches Jeff’s door she hears what sounds like a blender on full blast.
Reaching for the door handle, curiosity and confusion take away the fear for her children that has been building. Something in the air feels like all answers are just behind that door.
Floating now, the door swings open and she doesn’t even feel her feet move. Gliding into the kitchen Patty sees plastic everywhere. Floor to ceiling, thick plastic. Her head twists slowly from one wall to the birth of the sound. She had the feeling she shouldn’t have made this trip without her gun.
Jeff’s back can be seen, he’s wearing a white coat. Maybe a doctor’s coat? Why would he be in that? He is hunched over his counter, you can see his back flexing as if he was trying to shove a square peg in a round hole and refusing to take no for an answer. As the blade spun it emminated a sound clearly straining to tear apart whatever product Jeff was feeding it.
Stopping to wipe the sweat from his brow, Jeff turns seeing his newest house guest in the door. “Oh Patty! You startled me. A little earlier than expected, but make yourself at home.” Now having his front visible Patty can see he is wearing a cooking apron over his coat. Thick black gloves raise up to remove the goggles on his face. He is covered in red…
Not knowing what she is looking at Patty is able to let the words escape her already gaping mouth, “What's happening here?”
“It will all make sense very soon. Here, have a seat.” Jeff moves to the table and pulls out a chair. “Dinner is almost ready.”
With those words Patty’s eyes move back to the counter to see what is left of a foot protruding out from the top of a meat grinder. Having bathed her children far too long into their pubescent lives, she instantly knew the foot had once belonged to Troy. The realization brought an overwhelming sensation of pain and concern rushing back into her body, that was followed instantly by black.
Watching her body go limp and hit the ground was definitely a surprise for Jeff. He shrugged his shoulders, went over, hoisted her up off the plastic and into a chair at the kitchen table.
Artist: Will Pottorff
————-
Patty’s eyes stutter awake, fragments of light strobe in as she regains focus. Her head feels like it’s been hit by a truck. She tries to move her hand to assess the damage, but she can’t move. Coming fully to, Patty realizes she is tied to a chair. Her eyes clear up and she is in the plastic covered kitchen sitting at the table.
Looking around she sees the slumped over heads of her two babies. Patty’s eyes go blurry again, this time from tears, “Brock? Troy?” She gets out in between whimpers.
“Bet you’ve never seen them this quiet before?” Jeff moves into the room with a serving plate covered with a tin top. “You know, if I didn’t live next door to these little monsters, I wouldn’t think they were so bad. As long as they stayed in this state.” He places the dish down and picks up a bucket from the floor. “It’s really only when they start to talk that you get to witness how horrible they are.” Jeff thrusts the bucket forward in two quick moves, releasing water from the top and onto the faces of the boys.
Barely fazed by the water Patty can hear little gasps for air.
“Boys! It’s OK! It’s going to be OK. Mommy is here now.” Patty tries to console them as they frantically look around and start to scream.
“Listen to your mother boys, she’s right.” Jeff moves around the table and is now standing behind Troy, “Everything is going to be fine now that she’s here.” Sliding Troy’s chair back from the table and into the view of Patty.
Her eyes go wide. She is staring at her little boy, tied to a chair, face pale, covered in blood. Both legs missing from mid thigh down.
“NOOOOOOOO!!! What have you done!?!” Patty’s face contorted with sadness and rage her body has never had to express before. “My little boy…” she sobs.
“I mean, he is a little smaller now if you think about it.” Jeff says through another smirk as he shoves Troy back into the table with a slam. “Now who’s hungry!?!” Jeff continues, slapping his hands together and rubbing them. “Not sure if any of you are aware, but I happened to have procured some Grade A meat today.” Pausing for a minute Jeff holds his bloody finger to the bottom of his chin in a contemplative manner. “Wait a minute, what grade are you in Troy?” Jeff points over to the boy who is now sitting with his head slumped down paler than before.
Patty cries out, “TROY!?!” No response… “OH NOOOOO! TROY!?!” Still nothing.
Tears streaming down her face she turns to their crazed host and pleads, “Jeff please! These are my babies! My world! Please call the paramedics! He is bleeding out! There is still time to save him if you call now.”
Walking over to the stove, Jeff puts on his oven mitts and responds, “Call the paramedics? But then I would have too many people over. I want all the leftovers for myself and with them here there is no telling how hungry they would be after a long day of saving lives.” Opening the oven door, smoke bellows out and the smell of cooked flesh fills the room. Turning around Jeff is now weilding a pan with what looks like a roast of some kind. “So why not let this one,” nodding towards Troy, “slip away so we can have more?”
Plopping the tray down on the table it is clear to the dinner party that laying in the pan are the legs of a once sprightly Troy. Cuts from ankle to mid thigh. Jeff jabs one hunk of meat with a thermometer and reads, “145. Perfect!”
Looking down at her child’s legs, over to their now lifeless previous owner, back to the legs. Patty can’t breathe, “I am not going to eat that, I think I’m going to be sick.”
“No?” Jeff responds surprised. “Not a thigh woman? OK! No problem at all.” Jeff walks back around to the other side of the table where he had placed the platter he walked in with. Removing his mitts, “what kind of host would I be if I didn’t have options.” Lifting the metal lid, Patty’s eyes are met with a red mass laying on a bed of lettuce. It took her a moment, but the silence in the room brought it all together. She was staring at Brock’s heart.
Her eyes darted to the other side of the table where her oldest sat, motionless, the middle of his shirts soaked with blood. His eyes, once a deep blue,stared blankly into hers, now only small pupils surrounded by ice blue.
Patty’s mind went numb. She was so shocked by what had happened to Troy she didn’t even notice that her other child was already gone.
Stabbing a fork into the thigh and cutting the flesh with a butcher’s knife, Jeff breaks the silence. “Now that we are all on the same page. Let’s feast!” Slicing off a piece that could have been confused for a Christmas ham, “Now I know you said you weren’t going to eat this, but as the chef I must insist you at least take a nibble.” Holding the piece in the air Jeff begins to make airplane noises. “Vroooooaaaghhh! Open up for the airplane.”
Tight lipped, Patty stays still, turning her head at the last minute the meat hits her cheek. “That wasn’t very nice. You have to try it. I slaved over this meal for hours. I probably spent the same amount of time giving these little shits a delicious exit as you spent pushing them into this world.”
Gripping the fork tighter now, Jeff’s eyes narrow as Patty’s shut, “SO YOU MUST EAT!” Bringing his arm back, he thrusts forward and BANG!
The fork drops to the floor, followed by a strong thud.
Patty opens her eyes to see no one force feeding her anymore, but instead a small child in the doorway staring straight ahead. Denis stands there, silent, a small stream of blood coming down his forehead and a smoking gun laying next to him. Denis might have known how to point, but his hands were too weak to hold the gun after the bullet left the chamber and the recoil made him pay for his heroics with a hot barrel to the middle of his forehead.
But he didn’t cry, he couldn’t do much of anything after pulling that trigger. Nothing but stare at the fully plastic wrapped kitchen and what was left of his family.