Short Story: Uncle Vernon's Lie
This story received an honorable mention in The Year's Best Science Fiction, 24th Annual Collection.
Benji is sent to stay with his Uncle Vernon for his summer holidays.
"Your Uncle Vernon will only tell you one lie in your whole life," his dad tells him.
In his uncle's house Benji will find secrets that are frightening and wonderful. And the lie will break his heart.
Extract
Uncle Vernon, Benji discovered, didn't use teabags. He used whole leaves that had rolled up into tight, almost-black balls when they dried. He tipped a single teaspoon into his teapot then poured in the boiling water. ("Always fresh, boiling water," he said as poured. "Always.") Benji watched, fascinated.
"Why are there bubbles?" Benji asked.
"Ah," said Uncle Vernon, leaning across the breakfast table. He had thick, white eyebrows, and these rose as he leaned forward, as though they were attached to the ceiling by strings. "Now that's a secret, but I shall tell you anyway. Then we'll both have a secret. Would you like that?"
"Okay," Benji said.
"Well," said Uncle Vernon. "There's a tiny little man wrapped up inside each tea leaf. When the boiling water hits the men, they scream. That's what makes the bubbles." He waggled his eyebrows.
Benji sat back, satisfied. He might have been young, but he wasn't stupid. One lie.
- From Uncle Vernon's Lie. Read the story free online in Serendipity.
Free Online
Read Uncle Vernon's Lie free online in Serendipity.
Publication Details
First published in Realms of Fantasy, February 2006.
Republished in Serendipity, Issue 2, October 2007.
Reviews
This tale will grab you, touch you emotionally, and leave you thinking about it long after you've read it.
- Scott M. Sandridge, Tangent Online.
Read full review.
The revelation of the actual lie is beautifully set up, and the story is both enjoyable to read and 'true'.
- Richard Horton, Locus.
Credits
The story illustration is by J.K. Potter.