Old Nick

By Mark Giglio

Old Nick is a short story that is part of the "Triptych Series Vol. 1" book of short stories by Mark Giglio.

Franco is disillusioned with his wife, Carol Ann, and vice versa. He’s got a dead end job and the only bright spot in his day is a visit to Flannigan’s bar on the bus ride home. She soothes her woes with chocolate pudding and reading.

After their daily argument Franco finds his way to Flannigan’s and commiserates with uninterested Jack the barkeep who is addicted to the daily Lotto.

The normalcy ends when Nick, a handsome and charismatic stranger graces the bar. Nick and Franco hit it off, and one drink leads to another until Franco is bleary-eyed and susceptible to Nick’s suggestions. A cup of strong coffee leads to a moment of sober clarity and Franco signs the classic contract, a soul for the winning Lotto numbers and Franco never having to be bothered with Carol Ann’s nagging and lazy ways.

At home, in the wee hours Franco reads over the contract more closely and finds his loophole, Nick isn’t that particular on whose soul is delivered. Franco follows the instructions to a T and literally by a slight of hand he gets Carol Ann’s hand to sign.

He’s off to work early, buys his Lotto ticket and finds himself back at Flannigan’s at the end of the day. His ticket is a winner. $32,000,000! Will he get to spend it? After all, he did make a deal with Nick.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Giglio
• Release date: May 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9780990387930

Mark Giglio

Mark Giglio is a writer and artist living in San Diego County, California. His education in creative writing and lifelong interest in history bring him to writing the "Alchemist Gift" book series today. From a long line of artists and craftsmen, he has the vocation of Furniture Maker and is the creator of the award-winning Alchemist Series of Art Furniture. On a suggestion he merged his love of writing, history and art and created the novel "Alchemist Gift".

Book preview

Old Nick

Mark Giglio

Copyright 2015

ISBN: 978-0-9903879-3-0

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Old Nick

Appendix

About the Author, Mark Giglio

Alchemist Gift first in the Alchemist Series

Alchemist Gift Art Furniture

Acknowledgements

The Triptych series thanks Mary Ellen Wilson for editing, cover design and book interior design.

Old Nick

Carol Ann sat across from her husband Franco at the kitchen table cluttered with library books. She teased a spoonful of chocolate pudding out of the last, single serving plastic container knowing Franco had his eye on it since he got home from work. Carol Ann licked her lips in anticipation, took the spoonful of pudding in and pushed the sweet glob against the roof of her mouth with her tongue until it melted. Then she moved her jaw quickly from side to side as a wine connoisseur might, to cover her pallet, and swallowed.

She dabbed the corners of her mouth with the tip of her tongue, hoping to ferret out any last little bits of pudding residue. Franco, you mailed off the electric bill, right?

Franco felt a flush of impatience. She gave it to him that morning. It was in his back pocket.

"As long as it has Tuesday’s postmark there’s no late fee.

Damnation, Carol Ann, Tuesday was yesterday.

Was it? I thought today was Tuesday, oh well.

Another twenty bucks shot,