“Marty Elmo” by Drew Coles (Fiction ’23)

Marty Elmo

The very first thing on the very first day of school, the teacher brings Marty Elmo to the front of the classroom to introduce himself. He says his full name is Marty Elmo Flood, he is from Newland, North Carolina, there is a ghost living in his attic, and he once hit a bullseye with his rifle from ninety-seven yards away. The teacher asks if anyone has a question for Marty Elmo, and Lily Lawson stretches her hand toward the ceiling. She wants to know his favorite animal. Marty Elmo says deer taste pretty good. He stands with his feet apart, watching us watch him, and I remember an episode of Wild America where a lone wolf finds another pack in the woods, and they stare at each other for a long time before the lonely one decides not to press his luck. Lily sniffs like she’s about to cry, and the teacher points to the empty desk on my left and tells Marty it’s time to sit down.

My mamma won’t let my daddy teach me to shoot a gun. I’ve never tasted deer, and my parents only gave me one name, like everyone else I know. My tenth birthday is in ten months and eight days and I have lived in Hoover, Indiana my whole life. I have seen Marty Elmo’s ghost.