Lizard Got Your Tail?
By Mac Lamb
My world cracked as I turned the corner. Two versions of the long, drab hall appeared. In the first the human janitor slopped water on the floor and mopped disinterestedly. The other janitor, in an identical, depressing hallway, dipped a long, scaly tail in their bucket and swiped it back and forth on the laminate.
They turned my way, human and reptilian faces. I stumbled, briefly uniting the worlds. I righted myself and the worlds slipped out of phase again.
“What’s the matter? Lizard got your tail?” Both janitorial mouths moved.
“Isn’t it ‘cat got your tongue’?” Why did I say that?
“Cat tongue, yum.” The reptile licked his lips.
I tried to flee but from what reality? I screamed as I lost my balance and fell.
“Are you okay?” Man, lizard, man, lizard. Their appearance changed each time I blinked.
My heart thundered. I certainly wasn’t okay. For the first time I thought maybe I shouldn’t be a doctor at the Jeffson Institute for Psychotic Episodes. Maybe I should be a patient.
Mac Lamb lives in New England with her wife and children. She has published ten novels and one novella with Bold Strokes Books writing as Jesse J. Thoma. Her novels have been finalists for the Lambda Literary Award and the Golden Crown Literary Society’s Goldies.
This is bizarre and awesome and so clear with the parallel worlds. Nicely done!