Mr. Templeton's Toyshop: Prose Poems and Short Fiction

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Thomas Wiloch's Grimoire lasted six issues, offering "nihilistic pablum for a mediocre society." Despite its short life it made an impact and won't soon be forgotten. His own prose miniatures have graced the Ace Books anthology Elsewhere (World Fantasy Award winner) and many small journals of surrealism and horror. His collection Stigmata Junction (prose poems and collages) was issued by Stride in Cheshire, England, with a second collection pending. Portions of "Mr. Templeton's Toyshop" appeared in All the Devils are Here edited by David Deyo, Jr., a landmark anthology from the Unnamable Press folks, who started out as a letterpress publisher of macabre poetry.

The Porcelain Doll

Mr. Templeton's toyshop is quite unique. He has glass animals, lead soldiers, and wooden ships. There are paper kites, crystal rings, marbles, and music boxes. And high on a shelf is the beautiful Alice, a porcelain doll so dainty and lifelike as to rival even the little girls in the village. The old woman buys Alice. "It will be a gift for my granddaughter," she explains. "I'm sure she will enjoy it," Mr. Templeton says politely. He carefully wraps the doll and takes the money she hands him. It is late and he is closing shop and she is the last to leave. They say goodnight and Mr. Templeton closes the door behind her. As she walks home in the darkness, the woman fancies a movement in the package she carries. There seems to be a wriggling. She is surprised when a tiny hand pokes out of the paper. She is even more surprised when the hand pushes a little knife into her throat. She can only gurgle incoherently as she falls. Later, we see Mr. Templeton in his toyshop window. His eyes are gleaming with expectation.

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