Malcolm and the Magpie
A short story
Back in April of 2021, I had the opportunity to submit a short story to Hingston & Olsen’s inaugural Kids’ Short Story Advent Calendar. The Edmonton-based publisher has been putting out an adult short story advent calendar since 2015 and it has become a valued collectible for any reader. When I submitted, I could never have anticipated that less than 48 hours after submission, my first short story would be sold. It wasn’t until October, when I received my author copies, that I would discover my story, Malcolm and the Magpie was Day 1 of 25. I didn’t realize the enormity of that until a friend pointed out, quite astutely, that everyone who buys the KSSAC will read my story.
“Everyone reads day one, but not everyone gets to day 25,” she said.
I am pleased to share this story with you below.
~ Dana
Malcolm and the Magpie
By: Dana Goldstein
House Number 5 was the ugliest house Malcolm Waters had ever seen. He should know, having already lived in four houses since he was 6 years old. Now that he was 11, he knew the difference between an awesome house and one that needed help.
House Number 1 was across the road from a park with a pirate ship in the playground. House Number 2 was what Malcolm’s dad called the Fun House because the front porch slanted to the left and the back deck slanted to the right. House Number 3—Malcolm’s favourite so far—had a secret space in the basement, a room hidden behind a bookcase that his mom used to store food, but which Malcolm decided was his Secret Spy Lair. They were only in House Number 4 for a summer, so it was good it had a pool.
And now here they were, staring at the front of House Number 5. When they pulled into the driveway, Malcolm’s mom said, “Oh, my” and his dad laughed and said, “Maybe they gave me the wrong address,” but he turned off the car and got out anyway.
