Dangerous Smiles

Trenton Coleman III lived on a secluded estate in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  If one were to ask his chauffeur or bodyguards, they'd say that Trenton never smiled -- ever.  But that's not quite true .  Trenton smiled when he'd bested someone at their own game, or taken advantage of a legal loophole that resulted in a substantial financial gain.  He had just done exactly that: taking over a key-chain factory that had gone into receivership due to his agents' political maneuvering behind the scenes.

He'd just spent the day touring the little factory, so he wasn't really surprised when a tiny smiley-face began to torment his dreams.  He just turned over, and went back to sleep.  The trouble was, the darned thing wouldn't leave him alone.  He'd just start to drift off, and a light would glimmer near his eyelids.  He'd open his eyes, and that glowing little smile was hanging in the air a few feet from his face.

Finally, Trenton couldn't take it anymore.  When the little glow came again, he sat up suddenly, lashing out at the sickly yellow smile.  Whap!  The little fellow hit the wall, and slid down it behind his bed.  The glow dimmed, and went out.

"Yes!"  He clenched his fist in celebration, and went back to sleep.

An hour later, the room came alive with light, instantly jerking Trenton from his slumber.  "What?"  He sat up, knowing he was in danger when his head entered a swirling cloud of glowing smileys -- hundreds of them.  They dashed back and forth through his body like it wasn't there, pain rippling from each penetration.

No one heard the screams, but they found his body the next morning.  He lay sprawled across the bed with a smile on his face, dead.


Dallas D'Angelo-Gary 02