The Residents of Hazelwood Drive Grapple with the Responsibilities of Community
By Laura Cody
How did things get so out of hand?
Monday, we peered through curtains as the town took Miss Dotty’s 113 cats and moved her to a hotel.
We thought she had maybe twenty, but …?
Tuesday, we drew our blinds as the exterminator bug-bombed her place. “Fleas, cockroaches pouring from the walls,” he said. “Worst I’ve ever seen.”
We’ll help her.
Wednesday, we walked dogs as hazmat suits filled dumpsters with decades of debris.
A fundraiser?
Thursday, displaced vermin flooded our houses. Roaches in cupboards, rats everywhere.
Friday, we met the mayor to brainstorm.
“BURN THAT SHITHOLE DOWN!” we demanded.
Laura Cody is a forensic psychiatrist, fiction writer, and lover of books. Her short fiction has appeared in journals, online lit sites, and anthologies. She lives in New York and is a proud member of the UDLW Writer’s Group. Her first novel, Call Game, is a medical thriller released in October 2025. Visit her at www.twodocswriting.com.