Weekly Short: The Oracle’s Skin

It was failing to fit in, but then it usually did. He watched as the world’s most awkward woman attempted to sneak along a wall. Her stealth was only matched by her humility. Why his mother insisted on keeping her was beyond him.

“The Octopus People are oracles. She can reveal secrets when we earn her trust.” His mother had indulged in a great many fantasies over the years. However, even he was amazed to see the giant octopus crawl out of the sea and then out of its skin. It appeared to shrink as it shed its gelatinous hide, until a statuesque beauty emerged. Dark eyes and sharp features, she glanced around briefly before walking away up the beach.

His mother had moved faster than he thought possible, snatching up the skin and stuffing it into a bag. Then she shouted after the thing.

“It’s mine! You will return with me, my guest, until such time as I have learned the secrets of the sea. Then you will have your skin back.” To his further amazement, the creature nodded and followed his mother.

That was the last command it obeyed. All the creature had revealed so far was how toweringly high it thought of itself. When it did deign to speak to us, it was guaranteed to use as many insults as it possibly could while answering. It searched relentlessly for its skin. He was impressed with his mother’s cunning in choosing a hiding spot, though from her ongoing irritation she was still none the wiser on the “ocean Lore”. At least octo-lady was easy to look at.

Though a vision of loveliness, the moment she spoke all the beauty faded. Her voice sounded like a person drowning. She reacted to her two legs as though they were at fault she couldn’t climb a wall. He chuckled thinking of her last attempt. If he knew where the damn skin was he’d give it just to be rid of her.