June 2018

To pass by Richard, you must solve his riddle (See? Nothing too crazy). You are only allowed to try
once every two weeks and the riddle is different every time. The riddles are spectacularly difficult, and Sean
has never come close.
Sean has studied and crammed. He's read every book on riddles ever made, some two or three times.
There have only been nine books written on the subject and none have ever turned a profit. Although
no one has ever connected this, every author who has written a book about riddles has died under very mysterious
circumstances. I'm not saying Richard is definitely responsible, but I am saying Richard is probably responsible.
Don't read books about riddles.
“Ready?” Richard asks. His grotesque face arranges itself into an expression of helpful concern. Nice
try, Richard. No one is buying it. Sean wipes his palms on his jeans and nods. He is ready.
“Great. Good luck. Here is the riddle. I am always on but never off. My voice is the mocking laughter
of time. I married sadness and on the final day, my scream will mark the end of everything. What am I?”
Shoot. This is a tricky one. Richard has the hardest riddles. Sean rubs his chin although he doesn't have
a beard. He sits down to get a really good think going. The sun moves higher in the sky and Richard waits patiently.
He is in no rush. For a being of pure evil, he is kind of nice.
Think, think, think. Eventually, Sean stands and licks his lips. He is ready. He feels a moment of excitement
because he believes he has the right answer this time. Those books on riddles did not help. This is all
Sean. His hands tremble and he bobs up and down on the balls of his feet. He is going to paradise. He is going
to get past Richard. Holy smokes. He closes his eyes and speaks the last words he’ll ever say on this Earth.
“Are you the Sun?”
Richard’s putrid eyes that are ever so slightly too far apart widen in surprise. Sean's throat closes with a
rush of hope. There is a pause, and in that space, you could fit a universe of optimism.
“Nope.” Richard says. Not even close.”
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