Yellow Mama Archives

BAM
Home
Adair, Jay
Adhikari, Sudeep
Ahern, Edward
Aldrich, Janet M.
Allan, T. N.
Allen, M. G.
Ammonds, Phillip J.
Anderson, Fred
Anderson, Peter
Andreopoulos, Elliott
Arab, Bint
Armstrong, Dini
Augustyn, P. K.
Aymar, E. A.
Babbs, James
Baber, Bill
Bagwell, Dennis
Bailey, Ashley
Bailey, Thomas
Baird, Meg
Bakala, Brendan
Baker, Nathan
Balaz, Joe
BAM
Barber, Shannon
Barker, Tom
Barlow, Tom
Bates, Jack
Bayly, Karen
Baugh, Darlene
Bauman, Michael
Baumgartner, Jessica Marie
Beale, Jonathan
Beck, George
Beckman, Paul
Benet, Esme
Bennett, Brett
Bennett, Charlie
Bennett, D. V.
Benton, Ralph
Berg, Carly
Berman, Daniel
Bernardara, Will Jr.
Berriozabal, Luis
Beveridge, Robert
Bickerstaff, Russ
Bigney, Tyler
Blackwell, C. W.
Bladon, Henry
Blake, Steven
Blakey, James
Bohem, Charlie Keys and Les
Bonner, Kim
Booth, Brenton
Boski, David
Bougger, Jason
Boyd, A. V.
Boyd, Morgan
Boyle, James
Bracey, DG
Brewka-Clark, Nancy
Britt, Alan
Broccoli, Jimmy
Brooke, j
Brown, R. Thomas
Brown, Sam
Bruce, K. Marvin
Bryson, Kathleen
Burke, Wayne F.
Burnwell, Otto
Burton, Michael
Bushtalov, Denis
Butcher, Jonathan
Butkowski, Jason
Butler, Terence
Cameron, W. B.
Campbell, J. J.
Campbell, Jack Jr.
Cano, Valentina
Cardinale, Samuel
Cardoza, Dan A.
Carlton, Bob
Carr, Jennifer
Cartwright, Steve
Carver, Marc
Castle, Chris
Catlin, Alan
Centorbi, David
Chesler, Adam
Christensen, Jan
Clausen, Daniel
Clevenger, Victor
Clifton, Gary
Cmileski, Sue
Cody, Bethany
Coey, Jack
Coffey, James
Colasuonno, Alfonso
Condora, Maddisyn
Conley, Jen
Connor, Tod
Cooper, Malcolm Graham
Copes, Matthew
Coral, Jay
Corrigan, Mickey J.
Cosby, S. A.
Costello, Bruce
Cotton, Mark
Coverley, Harris
Crandall, Rob
Criscuolo, Carla
Crist, Kenneth
Cross, Thomas X.
Cumming, Scott
D., Jack
Dallett, Cassandra
Danoski, Joseph V.
Daly, Sean
Davies, J. C.
Davis, Christopher
Davis, Michael D.
Day, Holly
de Bruler, Connor
Degani, Gay
De France, Steve
De La Garza, Lela Marie
Deming, Ruth Z.
Demmer, Calvin
De Neve, M. A.
Dennehy, John W.
DeVeau, Spencer
Di Chellis, Peter
Dillon, John J.
DiLorenzo, Ciro
Dilworth, Marcy
Dioguardi, Michael Anthony
Dionne, Ron
Dobson, Melissa
Domenichini, John
Dominelli, Rob
Doran, Phil
Doreski, William
Dority, Michael
Dorman, Roy
Doherty, Rachel
Dosser, Jeff
Doyle, Jacqueline
Doyle, John
Draime, Doug
Drake, Lena Judith
Dromey, John H.
Dubal, Paul Michael
Duke, Jason
Duncan, Gary
Dunham, T. Fox
Duschesneau, Pauline
Dunn, Robin Wyatt
Duxbury, Karen
Duy, Michelle
Eade, Kevin
Ebel, Pamela
Elliott, Garnett
Ellman, Neil
England, Kristina
Erianne, John
Espinosa, Maria
Esterholm, Jeff
Fabian, R. Gerry
Fallow, Jeff
Farren, Jim
Fedolfi, Leon
Fenster, Timothy
Ferraro, Diana
Filas, Cameron
Fillion, Tom
Fishbane, Craig
Fisher, Miles Ryan
Flanagan, Daniel N.
Flanagan, Ryan Quinn
Flynn, Jay
Fortunato, Chris
Francisco, Edward
Frank, Tim
Fugett, Brian
Funk, Matthew C.
Gann, Alan
Gardner, Cheryl Ann
Garvey, Kevin Z.
Gay, Sharon Frame
Gentile, Angelo
Genz, Brian
Giersbach, Walter
Gladeview, Lawrence
Glass, Donald
Goddard, L. B.
Godwin, Richard
Goff, Christopher
Golds, Stephen J.
Goss, Christopher
Gradowski, Janel
Graham, Sam
Grant, Christopher
Grant, Stewart
Greenberg, K.J. Hannah
Greenberg, Paul
Grey, John
Guirand, Leyla
Gunn, Johnny
Gurney, Kenneth P.
Hagerty, David
Haglund, Tobias
Halleck, Robert
Hamlin, Mason
Hansen, Vinnie
Hanson, Christopher Kenneth
Hanson, Kip
Harrington, Jim
Harris, Bruce
Hart, GJ
Hartman, Michelle
Hartwell, Janet
Haskins, Chad
Hawley, Doug
Haycock, Brian
Hayes, A. J.
Hayes, John
Hayes, Peter W. J.
Heatley, Paul
Heimler, Heidi
Helmsley, Fiona
Hendry, Mark
Heslop, Karen
Heyns, Heather
Hilary, Sarah
Hill, Richard
Hivner, Christopher
Hockey, Matthew J.
Hogan, Andrew J.
Holderfield, Culley
Holton, Dave
Houlahan, Jeff
Howells, Ann
Hoy, J. L.
Huchu, Tendai
Hudson, Rick
Huffman, A. J.
Huguenin, Timothy G.
Huskey, Jason L.
Ippolito, Curtis
Irascible, Dr. I. M.
Jaggers, J. David
James, Christopher
Jarrett, Nigel
Jayne, Serena
Johnson, Beau
Johnson, Moctezuma
Johnson, Zakariah
Jones, D. S.
Jones, Erin J.
Jones, Mark
Kabel, Dana
Kaiser, Alison
Kanach, A.
Kaplan, Barry Jay
Kay, S.
Keaton, David James
Kempka, Hal
Kerins, Mike
Keshigian, Michael
Kevlock, Mark Joseph
King, Michelle Ann
Kirk, D.
Kitcher, William
Knott, Anthony
Koenig, Michael
Kokan, Bob
Kolarik, Andrew J.
Korpon, Nik
Kovacs, Norbert
Kovacs, Sandor
Kowalcyzk, Alec
Krafft, E. K.
Kunz, Dave
Lacks, Lee Todd
Lang, Preston
Larkham, Jack
La Rosa, F. Michael
Leasure, Colt
Leatherwood, Roger
LeDue, Richard
Lees, Arlette
Lees, Lonni
Leins, Tom
Lemieux, Michael
Lemming, Jennifer
Lerner, Steven M
Leverone, Allan
Levine, Phyllis Peterson
Lewis, Cynthia Ruth
Lewis, LuAnn
Licht, Matthew
Lifshin, Lyn
Lilley, James
Liskey, Tom Darin
Lodge, Oliver
Lopez, Aurelio Rico III
Lorca, Aurelia
Lovisi, Gary
Lubaczewski, Paul
Lucas, Gregory E.
Lukas, Anthony
Lynch, Nulty
Lyon, Hillary
Lyons, Matthew
Mac, David
MacArthur, Jodi
Malone, Joe
Mann, Aiki
Manthorne, Julian
Manzolillo, Nicholas
Marcius, Cal
Marrotti, Michael
Mason, Wayne
Mathews, Bobby
Mattila, Matt
Matulich, Joel
McAdams, Liz
McCaffrey, Stanton
McCartney, Chris
McDaris, Catfish
McFarlane, Adam Beau
McGinley, Chris
McGinley, Jerry
McElhiney, Sean
McJunkin, Ambrose
McKim, Marci
McMannus, Jack
McQuiston, Rick
Mellon, Mark
Memi, Samantha
Middleton, Bradford
Miles, Marietta
Miller, Max
Minihan, Jeremiah
Montagna, Mitchel
Monson, Mike
Mooney, Christopher P.
Moran, Jacqueline M.
Morgan, Bill W.
Moss, David Harry
Mullins, Ian
Mulvihill, Michael
Muslim, Kristine Ong
Nardolilli, Ben
Nelson, Trevor
Nessly, Ray
Nester, Steven
Neuda, M. C.
Newell, Ben
Newman, Paul
Nielsen, Ayaz
Nobody, Ed
Nore, Abe
Numann, Randy
Ogurek, Douglas J.
O'Keefe, Sean
Orrico, Connor
Ortiz, Sergio
Pagel, Briane
Park, Jon
Parks, Garr
Parr, Rodger
Parrish, Rhonda
Partin-Nielsen, Judith
Peralez, R.
Perez, Juan M.
Perez, Robert Aguon
Peterson, Ross
Petroziello, Brian
Petska, Darrell
Pettie, Jack
Petyo, Robert
Phillips, Matt
Picher, Gabrielle
Pierce, Curtis
Pierce, Rob
Pietrzykowski, Marc
Plath, Rob
Pointer, David
Post, John
Powell, David
Power, Jed
Powers, M. P.
Praseth, Ram
Prazych, Richard
Priest, Ryan
Prusky, Steve
Pruitt, Eryk
Purfield, M. E.
Purkis, Gordon
Quinlan, Joseph R.
Quinn, Frank
Rabas, Kevin
Ragan, Robert
Ram, Sri
Rapth, Sam
Ravindra, Rudy
Reich, Betty
Renney, Mark
reutter, g emil
Rhatigan, Chris
Rhiel, Ann Marie
Ribshman, Kevin
Ricchiuti, Andrew
Richardson, Travis
Richey, John Lunar
Ridgeway, Kevin
Rihlmann, Brian
Ritchie, Bob
Ritchie, Salvadore
Robinson, John D.
Robinson, Kent
Rodgers, K. M.
Roger, Frank
Rose, Mandi
Rose, Mick
Rosenberger, Brian
Rosenblum, Mark
Rosmus, Cindy
Rowland, C. A.
Ruhlman, Walter
Rutherford, Scotch
Sahms, Diane
Saier, Monique
Salinas, Alex
Sanders, Isabelle
Sanders, Sebnem
Santo, Heather
Savage, Jack
Sayles, Betty J.
Schauber, Karen
Schneeweiss, Jonathan
Schraeder, E. F.
Schumejda, Rebecca
See, Tom
Sethi, Sanjeev
Sexton, Rex
Seymour, J. E.
Shaikh, Aftab Yusuf
Sheagren, Gerald E.
Shepherd, Robert
Shirey, D. L.
Shore, Donald D.
Short, John
Sim, Anton
Simmler, T. Maxim
Simpson, Henry
Sinisi, J. J.
Sixsmith, JD
Slagle, Cutter
Slaviero, Susan
Sloan, Frank
Small, Alan Edward
Smith, Brian J.
Smith, Ben
Smith, C.R.J.
Smith, Copper
Smith, Greg
Smith, Elena E.
Smith, Ian C.
Smith, Paul
Smith, Stephanie
Smith, Willie
Smuts, Carolyn
Snethen, Daniel G.
Snoody, Elmore
Sojka, Carol
Solender, Michael J.
Sortwell, Pete
Sparling, George
Spicer, David
Squirrell, William
Stanton, Henry G.
Steven, Michael
Stevens, J. B.
Stewart, Michael S.
Stickel, Anne
Stoler, Cathi
Stolec, Trina
Stoll, Don
Stryker, Joseph H.
Stucchio, Chris
Succre, Ray
Sullivan, Thomas
Surkiewicz, Joe
Swanson, Peter
Swartz, Justin A.
Sweet, John
Tarbard, Grant
Tait, Alyson
Taylor, J. M.
Thompson, John L.
Thompson, Phillip
Thrax, Max
Ticktin, Ruth
Tillman, Stephen
Titus, Lori
Tivey, Lauren
Tobin, Tim
Torrence, Ron
Tu, Andy
Turner, Lamont A.
Tustin, John
Ullerich, Eric
Valent, Raymond A.
Valvis, James
Vilhotti, Jerry
Waldman, Dr. Mel
Walker, Dustin
Walsh, Patricia
Walters, Luke
Ward, Emma
Washburn, Joseph
Watt, Max
Weber, R.O.
Weil, Lester L.
White, Judy Friedman
White, Robb
White, Terry
Wickham, Alice
Wilhide, Zach
Williams, K. A.
Wilsky, Jim
Wilson, Robley
Wilson, Tabitha
Woodland, Francis
Woods, Jonathan
Young, Mark
Yuan, Changming
Zackel, Fred
Zafiro, Frank
Zapata, Angel
Zee, Carly
Zeigler, Martin
Zimmerman, Thomas
Butler, Simon Hardy

Crimson

 

By BAM

 

Gangsters owned Brooklyn, New York in 1939. Lister Blunt, the largest money launderer in town, was one of them. He had a soft spot for his seventeen-year-old, Matilda.

Lister Blunt loved his daughter too much, freakishly. She ran. He had paid off a pair of fuzz detectives, Clyde and Dick, to find her. “Bring her back.”

The two wound up at a well-known brothel called “Crimson.” It was supposed to be an easy job.

          “I hate prostitutes—bats, the lot of ’em,” Clyde said.

They marched toward the door. “Your mother one?” Dick cackled.

          “Yeah. Ma loved dope. Some pimp overdosed her. That’s why I joined the fuzz.”

          “I didn’t know, Clyde. Sorry. Some are earners. I met a few who was gonna be nurses.”

          “Lines they told you to get yer dough. Soulless broads. They’ll murder ya over two dollars.”

          “But not Audrey. Madame here.”

            “She’s Madame Larue now. How’d you two meet anyway?”       

“When she started turning.”

          “One of her regulars, were ya?”

          “No. I pistol-whipped her pimp good for leaning on her too hard. She never thanked me. Still we got history, us two. Audrey’s the marrying type. Trust me.” 

          Clyde banged on the door. “Keep dreaming, pally. I’d better do the talking.”

          A man twice the size of both detectives glanced down at them. “Got an appointment?”

          Clyde flashed his badge. Dick stepped up front. “We need to ask Audrey about a missing girl we heard was here.”

          “Audrey? Madame Larue, you mean.”

          Dick slicked his greasy bangs. “We go way back.”

          They heard a raspy yet gentle voice through a speaker, “Officer Dick Binghymer? Long time.”

“Detective now.”

“Let them in, Hector.”

          The doorman stepped aside. Mahogany stairwells spiraled around the walls. Both led to the center of the second floor where there were red rooms galore. The men were led up to meet Madame.

          “I take it there’s tricks in all them bedrooms with a bunch of cheap bats.” Clyde tightened his tie.

          “Bats?” Audrey squinted her fiery auburn eyes. Her vermilion dress glistened when she rose from her seat. “We have demitasses here. They are all syphilis-free and happy. That’s how I keep the lights on. I pay the bills with happiness.”

          A man moaned loudly from one of the rooms.

“See?”

          “We only care about one of your bats. Matilda Blunt. You know? The minor you got working for ya.” Clyde stared Audrey down.

          Madame shook her head at her doorman, approaching. “No need, Hector. Back. Little Miss Maddie happens to be eighteen. I’d never hire a minor. She’s here of her own volition. The girl did live under my protection while she was seventeen.”

          “Lies!” Clyde gripped her arm. “Tell us which room she’s in. Her daddy needs her.”

          “I’ll prove her age.” Audrey yanked her arm away and pulled Matilda’s identification out of a drawer from her desk. “Here you go.”

          Dick confirmed what Madame said. “Well, if she’s doing this willingly, and is legal, there’s nothing we can do. Sorry to have disturbed you, Audrey.”

Clyde grabbed her thin elbows and shook her. “Tell me where Matilda Blunt is, whore! I’ll search every room if I have to.”

          Hector rushed, then froze when Dick grabbed Clyde and spun him around.

Clyde punched Dick in the eye and went for his gun.

Dick chopped the pistol from Clyde’s hand, which fell near Madame. He grabbed his firearm.

Clyde sprinted forward.

Dick shot his partner dead. “Clyde! What have I done? Mr. Blunt’s gonna kill me.” He bent to his knees and covered his welling eyes.

Audrey lifted Clyde’s revolver and pulled the trigger.

Dick took a slug to the back, and fell to his stomach.

“We can’t have a bunch of unwelcomed fuzz coming and going. Return their bodies to that vile child molester, Mr. Blunt, as a warning.” She held her wounded wrist.

Hector nodded.

Dick reached up for Madame. “Audrey, I saved your life. How could you?”

“What you did was leave me on the streets penniless after you scared my pimp off. And the name’s Madame Larue. Bye now, Dick.” She shot him in the forehead. “Thank God we have crimson carpeting. Clean that up.”



Samurai Santa

 

by BAM

 

 

“A long time ago.”

 “Like the 1980s?”

 What? The ’80s weren’t a long time ago.”

Ya-huh.”

“Geez. A long time ago this local in Nagano dressed as Santa Claus. His katana sliced through a head.”

Oh, no. I’m scared.”

“Of a pumpkin.”

“Hmm. Uh-huh. And then?”

“He cut through intestines.”

Yuck.”

“Meaning naughty children’s present boxes.”

“Tsk. I see.”

“They called him, ‘Samurai Santa.’ ”

“Papa, Japan hasn’t been doing Christmas long. I don’t believe a word. Tell me a different story.”

“You want Samurai Santa to destroy your presents?”

“No. Please tell me his story.”

“His name wasn’t always Samurai Santa.”

“You don’t say?”

“Smart aleck.”

“Whatever. Go on.”

“His name was Purettsu Kurisu. His day job: fireman. Kurisu san was trapped in a blaze caused by bad children. He died a violent death when an inflamed bookshelf crashed on his skull.”

“Would Mommy be okay with you telling me this story, Dad?”

“Semantics. Ever since, his spirit would appear. All of the bad children in Nagano found destroyed presents on Christmas Day. His blade was so thin you wouldn’t see the steel until your new bike was diced into pieces.”

Daddy. Did you say I got a new bike?”

“Shh. No. Lie down and close your eyes while I finish the story. Legend tells he waits until Santa Claus makes his rounds, then Samurai Claus . . .”

“I thought you said his name was Samurai Santa.”

 “Eh-hem, Samurai Santa does his business before everyone wakes up. He’s a fast ghost. No one sees him. Bad children face his wrath when he mutilates body upon body of presents. One time, a child found the remains of his box below the Christmas tree. He didn’t do his chores.”

“What’d he find?”

“Red liquid and a massacred gift.”

 “I’m screaming for Mommy in five, four—”

No. No, wait. They were tomatoes from his grandmother.”

“Phew. What about good kids?”

“The ones who do their homework, go to bed after their first bedtime story, and study hard to make perfect grades?”

“Yep. What do we get?”

“He blesses good children with one more year of luck.”

Luck?”

“Did I hear an echo?”

“You mean not a thing?”

“When I was a child, a blessed year of luck was a huge deal.”

“This isn’t the ’80s anymore, Dad.”

“Thanks for the reminder. Go to bed.”

“Okay, I love you—Samurai Santa.”

Who?”

“C’mon, Dad. You’ve got that long katana sword in your study and you love anime. The character is you. This was a trick to get me to be good for another year.”

“A coincidence. We’re both avid sword enthusiasts. Besides, he’s a go-go-ghost. Now go-go-go to bed, or Samurai Santa will slice away your gifts.”

“Merry Christmas, Dad.”

“A ho, ho, ho, and a stab, stab, stab to you, Kiddo.”

 

 

 

Bertram Allan Mullin aka BAM's noir story, “Crimson,” can also be found in Yellow Mama. His works are with various journals, magazines, and anthologies such as HellBound Books’ Shopping List and MacKenzie Publications Two Eyes Open Anthology. Website: bamwrites.com

In Association with Fossil Publications