Eastfist

The Robot And The Cat
By Chongchen Saelee

In a dank alley, a sanitation robot made its routine cycle tracking stray cats, containing them, and if the pound was overpopulated to exterminate them on site. This particular evening, it was extra cold, and a male cat had scavenged a half-eaten Whopper to eat. The crackling sound of dry leaves, paper, and plastic garbage bags did little to comfort or remind the alley’s inhabitants of the sound of warm burning kindle.

The sanitation robot’s sensors detected a heat signature hidden behind a collapsed cardboard box. The robot uses automatic homing system to lock onto the heat signature and fires 2 tranquilizer darts at the target. There is a shrieking meow and then silence, only rustling of cold wind and paper.

Clank, clank, clank. The male cat wakes inside to dark metal box. It starts clawing for a way out. (more…)

The Robin And The Frozen Nest
By Chongchen Saelee

Miles Longman found joy bathing in golden yellow sunlight early in the morning overlooking his many acres of wooded land covered in snow. He particularly enjoyed the friendly robins chirping even in freezing temperatures, as though there wasn’t a care in the world. Miles would dress in heavy winter clothing and trek up the snowy hills to visit some local robin nests. The robins had grown familiar with him in their habitat that they expected him every morning. Miles had watched generations of robins grow in his backyard for over 20 years.

This particular morning, Miles found a frozen robin’s nest dangling off a branch. It seemed as though a snowball fell into it, melted and refroze as ice. The nest was pretty much an ice cube with tiny frozen blue robin eggs inside. However, Miles witnessed a strange phenomenon. The mother robin would continue to nurse her frozen nest. She would return with twigs or leaves and continue to build the nest. Miles heart would sink as he watched. He wondered if the robin knew her eggs were dead. (more…)