Mind Your Manners

Some customs should be followed no matter the circumstances

"You forgot something, boy," the old man croaked. The old man's head had a large lump on it, and his nose was bleeding; his leg turned at a nasty angle at the knee, and his left hand was a gnarled, twisted mess. Amazingly, the man smiled at his mugger. "You forgot to say please when you stole from me. Fate doesn't smile on you."

"Shut up, you old fool—"

The old man rumbled strange words gutturally: "Unbaght. Tlighth n'dungt. Sulfat ingil n'dungt. Ulah!" He laughed maliciously, closed his eyes, and died.

The kid looked shocked. "I ain't need no murder rap! Hell wit' dis shit!"

He loped off, limping, wincing at a sudden pain in his knee.

@-----@-----@

"What's wrong wit' you, Hodap?"

The hood limped over to his mate, Kipe. "Messed up my leg workin' over that old bastard on Thirteenth."

Kipe's expression changed. "You mean the old guy that's always there? You shouldn't oughtta done that. Not him... Homie got a hoodoo or somethin'"

Hodap scowled. "You trippin. 'Sides, he dead now. He was just old, man." He paused, rubbing his hand gingerly.

Kipe looked at him closely, brows furrowed. "Is your hair fallin' out?"

Hodap touched his scalp, wincing as he touched a large bump just above his left ear. His hand came away with a handful of hairs. With a mounting fear, he felt something on his lip. When he wiped it away, his nose was bleeding. His knee was suddenly excruciating, and he collapsed.

Kipe watched, horrified as Hodap transformed into a hag of a beaten old man. "...Hodap?"

Hodap looked pleadingly at his friend. He opened his mouth to ask for help, but all that came out was one guttural noise: "N'dungt!"

As darkness took him, he wished he had said please and thank you.

NOTES: ▼

Word Count: 300
Submitted for "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt: Use the phrase "You forgot something."