Pandora’s Box by Arlo Evans

rms Without notice, warning, or even abatement in symptoms, the storm I stopped. The cars, cats, trees, swings, dogs, pigeons, flowers, sun chairs, pushchairs, bins, shoes, benches, umbrellas, towels, and pigs came crashing without elegance to the ground. I stood speechless. The rain returned, gentler this time. As before, the rain droplets were not rain droplets. I stepped from underneath my shelter to investigate: vanilla ice cream. The rain was millions of vanilla ice creams falling to the ground. Mind boggled, I eagerly tried to catch the ice cream droplets before they touched the ground. Everyone in the park was stupefied by the tonnes of ice cream the storm had given to us, cold, sweet, sticky ice cream on a summer’s day. Ice cream was just the thing I needed after a storm like that! Now, storms are very different from what they were before. There is no rain, wind, clouds, thunder or lightning. Instead, there are ice creams. Hundreds and thousands of ice creams falling from the sky. Depending on the month, the flavours change. My favourite month for storms is June, as my favourite ice cream, chocolate chip, falls from the sky - I always make sure to be outside and catch as much as I can stomach. Storms aren't so bad anymore as they bring a treat each time.

The rain droplets filled the cracks in the ground, creating puddles of thick, creamy liquid that splashed stickily and sluggishly onto legs and feet. A brief pause, then the storm’s intensity picked up. Gusts of wind pulled trees from their roots and people from their feet. The smell of the cream, milk and sugar wafted through the air, cloying, sickly. The storm's severity kept growing, making cars, cats, trees, swings, dogs, pigeons, flowers, sun chairs, pushchairs, bins, shoes, benches, umbrellas, towels, and even pigs fly away into the air.

By Melania Chukwu

Writing the Gothic &Weird hosted by Rosie Garland

“In 1974, Angela Carter said, ‘we live in Gothic times’. It has never been more apt. From subculture to high culture, the Gothic can be found in art, films and literature today. Aimed at writers of fiction or poetry, or any point in between. So, with lantern held aloft in trembling fingers, explore the haunted labyrinth & discover the surprises within…”

Rosie Garland writes long and short fiction, poetry and sings with post-punk band The March Violets. Her novel The Night Brother was described by The Times as “a delight…with shades of Angela Carter.” In 2019, Val McDermid named her one of the UK’s most compelling LGBT+ writers.