Archived Stories
Henry Sat In The Bar And Was Odd
I think Benny should give us half off, we put up with this shit. Glass is colder than the beer, Benny. There he is…ignoring me. Not everyone ignores me. I saw some shit the other day. Angela’s kid, drives past the job site everyday, kicking up leaves. Fast like some kind of goddamn race or something. It’s like the kid thinks he’s going somewhere, like he’s gotta get there. I know he drives past so I see him. He started doing it when I started seeing his mom. He sees me working. I know he sees me working....
read moreCaptive
Captive Day 56 On the plane ride home, I’m quiet. The others recover. They seem happy. Several reports on the airwaves describe a covert team that was found and killed. They were lined up, shot, hanged, and skinned. The plane’s radio crackles. There is another story about Taliban weapon strongholds that were abandoned, and loaded with explosives. By my count 15 are dead, not including the covert guys. Day 3 The walls here are silent or loud, depending on the day. It’s never a murmur, never some odd noise. It’s...
read moreThe Confession
The Confession Maryanne relied on confession. Every Sunday, she entered the booth tight and fast, her shoulders in a permanent shrug. On exit, her legs moved without effort; her feet bounced. She said her Hail Marys and Acts of Contrition. In the summer, the skin on her knees clung momentarily to the leather kneeling pad. They made a slight ‘fffip’ sound as she stood. In this church, young angels adorn the plaster ceiling. A chip in the paint created a one-eyed angel. Depending on one’s mood, she either focused or...
read moreBottom Of The Bag
Brad shaves on the weekends. He mows his lawn before it’s needed. He’s standing on my deck, holding an envelope. “Hey John.” He still has all his hair. “Hey.” “What year is the Sienna?” “’07, why?” “No reason, just noticed you’re still missing a hubcap.” He has white teeth like a Disney prince. Last week he mentioned he’d be willing to ‘take care’ of my yard for me. “Yeah, the thing popped off, dealership wants like $300.00 for new...
read moreReconciliation
Our harsh words, forgiven by the sound of my skin touching hers. Normally, I don’t qualify my stories. But, I think the length deserves an explanation. The challenge is to write a 12 word story about sex, but not too dirty. This is my attempt.
read moreHappily
Happily Cinderella’s life coach advises her to outsource the housework. This morning, the help is cleaning up the mess from yet another broken glass slipper. They speak to each other in their native language, ‘How many of these things does she have?’ Prince Charming sits and rests his head against his sizeable chair. This relieves some of the stiffness in his lower back. He groans through pristine teeth. A small pile of envelopes rests in front of him. He calls across the massive table to his wife. “Cindy, is this...
read moreMoney Show
“Thank you for calling The Money Show, this is Bill Oaks.” “Good morning, Bill, I was wondering if I have enough life insurance.” “Okay, first off, how much money do you make?” “I make about $250,000.00.” “And are you married?” “Yes.” “Does your wife work?” “Yes, she does some non-profit work on the weekends, so she only makes about $125,000.00.” “Per year or per month?” “Year.” “Oh, well, okay, does she like what she does?” “Yes” (laughing) “she does.” “Well that’s important too....
read moreDate Night
Todd’s marriage prevents him from picking up women. Tonight’s different. The lights are soft and the servers attractive. Restaurants like this are always packed. This is a class joint, he reminds himself. He watches her come in and sit at the bar. The seat next to her remains empty. His pants hiss onto the leather as he sits. The smell of her hair wafts in his face. He speaks with cocked eyebrow. “You know, my wife always thanks me after sex.” She stares straight. “Why would you say that to...
read moreThe Scene
Everyone in this room wears rectangular glasses and has a boner about their individualism. Ties sit ironically under open buttons. Men’s hair gel is prominent. Faces are unshaved. It takes time and money to be this lazy and poor. Half of the people at this bar work here, but come for a drink on their time off. The other half wants to work here. The cheap beer is overpriced. Mixed drinks are not enjoyed, but sipped for display and discussed. “Who wants to go to Bobby Mac’s?” Someone says, wearing his tight...
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