36 Comments
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Jessica Maison's avatar

One creepy way to deal with gentrification! Why'd it have to be roaches?

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EJ Trask's avatar

it’s new york baby

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Saint-Lazare's avatar

This is such a well conceived narration, you feel the character's mad relief at the end 🪳

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EJ Trask's avatar

thank you

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Lauren Salas's avatar

Oh god why. This reminds me a nightmare I had years ago where I went to pour some tea and roaches came out of the kettle instead of water.

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EJ Trask's avatar

terrifying!

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Stephen Littman's avatar

Riveting. This is literally my aunt-my mother’s sister who owned a brownstone in Brooklyn heights that she bought in the late 1970’s as a single woman. Before she died in 1999, I can picture her exactly like Theresa: sweaty, hair tied back. While technically part of the original wave of gentrification, she never could have imagined what the neighborhood would become: Yoga pants, gold chains, and puppies…oh my.

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EJ Trask's avatar

chefs kiss!

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Kimberly B🌴👻🌴's avatar

I don't know why but the clicking made it so much worse 😭🙈🙉

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EJ Trask's avatar

I agree 😂

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Shane Bzdok's avatar

I'm not afraid of any bugs. Spider? Meh. Cicada? Fascinating. Praying mantis? 😍

But roaches? F'n nasty X infinity. I feel like I need to shower!

Loved it!

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Liz Zimmers's avatar

Horrific! Roaches are...not my fave insect, let's say. And still, I can't help but feel that Yoga Pants was a fitting sacrifice. I am sorry about Henry, though.

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EJ Trask's avatar

poor hank

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Ernie Lee's avatar

Your fascination with roaches is creepy.

Your post has been selected as a candidate for the Ernie Award.The award is made monthly for the best article/story/post for the month.The only rules are: 1. Must be an original work (not created by AI) 2. Tasteful AI graphics are allowed. 3. No inappropriate, graphic, sexual references. 4. Writer must be a subscriber to TexasErnieLee.Substack.com free site.

5.The Award recipient receives a $50 cash tip.

Congratulations, the awarded will be announced on or soon after August 1st.

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Jenovia 🕸️'s avatar

" a stack of gold necklaces that belonged on a pirate." This line made me chuckle!

So unsettling!!! Thank you, EJ! 💥

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EJ Trask's avatar

the pirate necklace look is so in rn

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lauriemiller's avatar

I nearly fell over laughing at "Pre war...you can tell by the style" So perfect. And yoga pants would've told her friends....had she lived....

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EJ Trask's avatar

a true new yorker

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Artemis's avatar

This was so creepy and so atmospheric

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EJ Trask's avatar

thank you!

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Bradley Vee's avatar

Well done.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Ridin' the roach wave! Cowabunga, dude! Yucky, wonderful tale.

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Haunts You Later's avatar

I couldn’t stop reading this! So, so good! 👏

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EJ Trask's avatar

ahhh that is the BEST feedback a writer could get. thank you!

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Bette Perkins's avatar

OMG my worst nightmare , brown shiny papery, let me die!!!!!!

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MA Knight's avatar

I hate roaches, but I loved this story. Maybe I should reconsider my relationship with them so they can participate in the tenants’ rights movement

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EJ Trask's avatar

squatters rights for roaches!

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