Short Story
Coming Home
Gramma always said the house had “character”. I didn’t remember ever being to the place as an adult. I’m not a young person anymore, so I may be wrong, but it does seem to me that I couldn’t have been more than eleven or twelve the last time I laid eyes on the place.
By Paula Shablo3 years ago in Fiction
Blue Rose
Rachel had finally finished her last session of the day. Today had felt like it went on forever, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. She knew today was going to be hard, it would have been his birthday today. Rachel says goodbye to her client and swiftly closes the door behind them. With one deep sigh, she rushes over to her journal to process her emotions. She always got taught to practise what she preaches. He taught her that. This should make her feel better. It has every other time.
By Shauna Mullen3 years ago in Fiction
A Conversation
Sitting here in the neighborhood coffee shop, I see all these people being “social.” But there’s never any interaction. We’re attached to our phones and tablets, talking and texting, but never having a traditional conversation. It’s all about the latest email or text from that one friend or coworker or whatever.
By Megan Stewart3 years ago in Fiction
The Busboy part III
Monday, 1 June 1981 “Hey Tracy. You ready for your last book report of the year?” “I am, Cy. Let’s go,” she responded as she took his arm and walked out to his car. She waited a moment while he opened the door. She slipped into the seat, setting her supplies down on the bench between them, as she always did.
By L. Lane Bailey3 years ago in Fiction
The Winning Game. Top Story - June 2021.
The décor of the Summit Centre was just as pretentious as the awards show itself. Everything had been meticulously chosen in the same shade of cream; the lighting, the tablecloths, the dishware, the flowers. Ruby sat at her assigned table staring at her nameplate in front of her place setting. She wished that Joel had come with her, at least it would have been someone to talk to. Instead, his nameplate and empty seat beside hers would be a reminder of how alone she really was. She was surprised he hadn’t at least called or sent a text. After 10 years of marriage, one would think he’d have wanted to say good luck, for the moment put the divorce aside, especially since it was so new. Ruby awkwardly scrolled through her phone even though she had been told not to do that at events like these. She hated these things.
By Christina Hunter3 years ago in Fiction
Unknown Caller excerpt
Jack was doing something he loved doing, but seldom had the opportunity to do anymore. He was driving by himself, slapping down the highway miles on a solo road trip. Partially solo, anyway. He was driving from Virginia to Florida. He was going to pick up Amy in Jacksonville, then they were driving together the rest of the way to Key West.
By L. Lane Bailey3 years ago in Fiction
Deference Due
The great ornate hall was filled with men beyond their prime, their finest thick suits hanging from their broad shoulders along with their ties choking them in the humid space. The quiet rumble of words was silenced by the sound of confident footsteps stalking through the door from the side of the stage, echoing through the hall. As the auctioneer crossed the stage the potential buyers comfortably resumed their murmurings, disregarding the presentation platform until the proceedings were scheduled to begin.
By Eloise Robertson 3 years ago in Fiction
The Red Butterfly
For John // The house was yellow, as it had always been in dreams, blurred as if behind thick glass, and in stories both written and never written, half-remembered, caught in glimpses on sleeping neighborhood streets, through floats of pale fog that wafted above the street lamps like ghosts.
By Jaye Nasir3 years ago in Fiction
The Cliff
The adults gathered near the edge of the cliff. Of the thirty boys and ten adults that had camped on the mountaintop, ten of the older boys and four of the leaders were rappelling down the face. It was a hundred and fifty-foot rappel, and they had been practicing for months. Aside from the mental challenge of stepping off a cliff, they had to deal with the logistical challenge of getting fourteen backpacks down the cliff face. The boys had redistributed a lot of their stuff to other boys in their patrols, so they weren’t carrying tents, but they did have sleeping bags, clothes and other essentials. The packs were mostly about twenty pounds or so.
By L. Lane Bailey3 years ago in Fiction
Lucinda's New Life
Lucinda stepped off the elevator into the parking garage. Her head was still spinning. She wasn’t accustomed to decisions, much less making them under pressure. After taking the envelope, Mr. Stamps had just disappeared. She’d walked out of the conference room into the office, but it was empty, not so much as a sheet of paper on a desk or a sign on the wall.
By L. Lane Bailey3 years ago in Fiction