One day, the Dee Man checked into a hotel with his wife

and his one big black bag.

They checked in and walked into the hotel bar,

one big black bag under his arm.

The Dee Man ordered himself a Long Frog,

while his wife ordered a Grasshopper.

Together they glugged and gulped,

— reminding themselves of

never letting even hic hic hiccups

do them part, love.

Drowning in each other’s eyes,

the Dee Man’s grip around his bag slipped

and some people from the next table

pinched

his one big black bag.

They tried to open it,

but they couldn’t. 

They tried to break it,

but they couldn’t. 

They tried to set it on fire,

but they couldn’t.

Soon, they gave up

and ordered a Mosquito.

They slurped it too quick

and tipped some of it,

drenching the bag.

There was a groan and a moan.

Soon after the bag popped,

and out crawled The Other Dee Man

grinning big and fat,

“Is it the weekend already?”

”Oh no!” the Dee Man and his wife said,

”Put him back. ASAP.

He’s allergic to fun,

breaks into a funny dance

trips,

sees things that do not exist,

calls names

that are not.”

“Too late it is,” they said

“The weekend is officinal!”

And for now, the Other Dee Man

calls the shorts.

Yes, those *shorts.*

---

Roopa lives in Dubai, U.A.E., but was raised in Kochi, India, where swatting mosquitoes at dusk is considered a life skill to be honed and perfected. Some of her stories have been published in The Disappointed Housewife, Nunum, Tiny Molecules, Bending Genres, Bath Flash Fiction anthology (forthcoming), and elsewhere and nominated for Best of the Net, Best of Micro fiction, and Best Small Fictions. Her debut middle-grade fiction, Chandu and the Super Set of Parents has been published by Fitzroy Books. She tweets @RoopaMenon1