Cam Eraser

A young boy inherits a strange item and a task from his great-grandmother. 300 words

Cam Eraser

“Stop looking at me,” Maud Berten ordered pointing a long finger at the devise. A current shot from it and shorted out the traffic camera. With a nod of satisfaction, Maud moved on.

“I know where all those spies are and I’m gonna take out every dang one of ‘em!”

And she did, to the disgust of all, especially the private citizens who owned the most. She seemed to know when they’d been replaced or repaired, because she did the rounds the next day, taking them all out again. A few private citizens just gave up surveillance and hoped for the best.

Others wanted to fine her or arrest her, but they could never catch her at it.

“We have no proof it’s her,” the police said.

“We know it’s her!” the private owners insisted.

“But can you prove it?” the courts asked.

This went on for months then years. Maud grew older and more frail. But she continued to punish any and all cameras.

Then came the day, when Maud could not do her duty of keeping the town private because she died. A small boy began showing up all over holding something odd in his hand and pointing it at the cameras.

“Mind your own business,” he would pipe and point what looked like a twig at the cameras. They shorted and burned out.

“That’s Maud’s great-grandson,” people who saw him would say.

“What’s that thing he’s got?”

Finally, a beat cop caught him. He held out his hand and the boy gave him the item. After staring at it, he gave it back.

“I tell yah, Chief, it was a dried-up finger! I figure must be Maud’s! He says his great granny gave it to him and made him promise to zap out cameras too!”