Horror Story Review: "Dummy" by Simon MacCulloch

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“Hi, I’m Fred, this is Ed. Say hi, Ed.” Ed responds with a four-letter refusal that’s not allowed on myLot. Fred is disgusted that such a mindless routine still gets laughs, but it still does. He’s disgusted with Ed. He wants out. After the season is over, he takes Ed home and resolves to burn him on Bonfire Night when the neighbors won’t notice anything is amiss. He’s a rotten limb and it’s time to cut him off. Bonfire Night is just a few weeks away. The reader sees Fred start to come apart at the seams. It’s not that he’s tired of his Foul-Mouthed Schoolboy bit. He hates the dummy. He wants to see him suffer. He wonders which parts of Ed will burn first… Of course, things don’t quite go to plan. Just when the reader can’t get creeped out anymore— I could not find an online version of this story. _____ Title: “Dummy” Author: Simon MacCulloch (b. 1960) First published: 100 Creepy Little Creature Stories 1994 Source: ISFDB _____ *An earlier version of this review appear on another site. It has been expanded and updated for its inclusion on myLot*