Hello, and welcome to Drabbletober. This is episode 4, for Friday the fourth of October 2024.

New Tricks

by Elizabeth Guilt

Girls love a boy who's spliced in dog DNA. They can't wait to ruffle Hugo's fur, fondle his ears. Sylvie doesn't notice that the hand curled around the glass is too much paw these days. Doesn't see him when his money's run out, snapping and snarling over bones in the gutter.

"You'd look cute with a tail," she says.

"That's not for me," I murmur.

My changes are minute, easily hidden. Fly DNA for reflexes. Tarantula and scorpion for stealth and defence. Enough to pull off the deals to pay for more splices.

This isn't about girls. It's about survival.