Leena's hand curled around her walking stick as she inspected the hole in her fence. Two holes, actually: each in the shape of an exuberant, jumping garden gnome. Like most ceramic lawn ornaments, the gnomes usually did not move.
"Wassur prollem!" came a voice from Leena's left knee. She didn't hear. It spoke again-- louder. Leena looked down.
A small, blue monkey-like creature was glaring up at her. "Youssa witch?"
She started. "No."
"You send angry men to smash our homes!" It gestured to the holes. "I figure youssa witch."
"I didn't send them!" Leena protested. "It was someone else."
The monkey was unconvinced. "You comin witme to The Forest and bringgem back." Leena laughed.
"Coming with you, huh, bandar?" She raised her cane to point back at the house: a shiny wheelchair waited for her by the door. "Think that’ll make it through the forest?"
"I help." Bandar smiled. "Issa be fun."
Leena looked at the monkey, then out to the woods. Was this real? Did she want to get involved?
She laughed. What a dumb question.
She reached for her phone and began to type.
"Dear Meredith-- No carrom board today, I’m afraid. Must go fetch my gnomes."
Thanks to @thewritersblock for hosting this contest: it's helping me get out of my own writer's block! I'm hoping to continue this story on my blog.
See an expanded version of this story and follow for more updates!