Author: Ron Riekki

A Neighbor

A neighbor drilled a hole in my bedroom wall. I think to sneak peaks at me. What an idiot; there’s something called windows. He could have just looked in one of those. But he actually drilled a hole. He could have gotten electrocuted. Maybe that was the goal. Ron Riekki has been awarded a 2014 Michigan Notable Book, 2015 The Best Small Fictions, 2016 Shenandoah Fiction Prize, 2016 IPPY Award, 2019 Red Rock Film Fest Award, 2019 Best of the Net finalist, 2020 Dracula Film Festival Vladutz Trophy, 2019 Très Court International Film Festival Audience Award and Grand Prix, 2020 Rhysling Anthology inclusion, and 2022 Pushcart Prize. Right now, Riekki’s listening to El-P’s “Deep Space 9mm.”

I don’t believe in ghosts

“I don’t believe in ghosts.” “Why?” “Because it doesn’t make any sense.” “What?” “Everything.” “About ghosts?” “No, everything about everything.” “OK, so you’re saying you don’t believe in anything?” “Kind of, but mostly ghosts.” “So you like to pick on ghosts?” “They just never appear.” “They do to a lot of people.” “But people who are drunk. Or high. Or a little stupid.” “My Dad saw a ghost.” “Well, he was probably drunk.” “He doesn’t drink.” “Or high.” “He doesn’t get high.” “Well, I’m just saying that I don’t care about ghosts. There’s other things. Like wars.” “Which turn people into ghosts.” “Yeah, they would. If ghosts were real, but ghosts are nothing. You know how someone says they’re going to ‘ghost’ you. What’s that mean? It means you’ll never hear from them again. That’s what ghosts are. Just nothingness. They bore me.” “That’s probably why they don’t appear to you.” “Why? Ghosts only like to appear to people who get scared?” “I’ll give an example. I used to work at a haunted house. Years …