From Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr’s photo prompt, The Unicorn Challenge (04/05/2024). No more than 250 words in length.

“The band will never be the same without Roger,” moaned Cambria from her perch on the front stoop.

“We’ve been playing the same music for eons,” snapped Claudia from her always-center place. “Largely because of Roger’s abhorrence of rock music. I keep telling you! This is where the industry’s at, Babies.”             

“I miss my twin,” sobbed Cambria, tears running into the furrows on either side of her downturned mouth. “This tragedy happened because the mausoleum is insolvent. All the family tombs are in disrepair!”

“Disrepair, disrepair, family tombs in disrepair…” chanted the Leo brothers in their easy bass voices.

“I vote we haunt the family!” In a flash Cambria’s face changed from grief to fury.

“Haunt the family, give ‘em a scare, Doo-Wahhh…” The two snaked their collective heads from side to side. Masonry rumbled and began to loosen.

Another portion of the roofline fell and smacked Claudia on the nose, breaking off another portion. “Dammit!” she hissed. “This’ll ruin my high register for sure.”

“Calm down, everyone,” Jimmie called from the peak of the tomb, his mellifluous baritone ringing out. “We still have the music in us! We have the right number for the perfect band name. I’ve been negotiating with Capizzi and Pickett: a perfect Halloween gig.”

All eyes turned upward, the Leo Brothers’ chant softening to a murmur.

With a shake of the skull between his hands, Jimmie crowed, “Dig this: Rock-and-roll will never die. Introducing us, the Crypt-Kicker Five!”

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2024)