Short Story - Livewire

Livewire
words: 899

Original Photo by Joey Kyber on Unsplash

“If I don’t cool it down, I’ll burn him up out there.” I turned showing the bag of ice on my shoulder. Garcia just nodded blankly and kept walking. I sat on the trainer’s table, trying to be a good teammate and avoid being aloof. Despite my attempts, I just felt further out of the loop. I was just there taking up space. I used to be important. I wanted to show them the hardware, the rings, but it didn’t matter. That was from another time, a different city.

Short Story - Yarbrough & Peoples Don’t Stop

Yarbrough & Peoples Don’t Stop
Words: 696

I pulled the creased card from my pocket yet again. This was becoming some strange dream, but the words hadn’t changed.

KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS

Short Story - The Pit is a Lie

The Pit is a Lie

Words: 1318

“Kershaw, hurry up!” Arenado watched as his friend wove through the brush, dodging limbs.

Kershaw’s face went slack when he saw it. “You found a cave? How deep is it?”

“I don’t know, I was waiting for you.”

Short Story - Allure of the Laserdisc

Allure of the Laserdisc

Words: 1007

The allure of the laserdisc was too much. Every day after school Eric would weave a path that took him between the aged brick buildings downtown to Archie’s Electronics. He would stare between the painted letters on the window at the gleaming black box in the window with the shiny discs lying nearby. Some days he’d even go inside, but it just didn’t look as mesmerizing as when he was staring through that inch thick glass.

Short Story - Time Past

Time Past
words: 1,061

Gary George stepped into the box, giving the bat a partial swing. A few cheers echoed from the crowd. It wasn’t like the roar he used to generate.

Short Story - I Wish I Could Remember the Other Day

I Wish I Could Remember the Other Day

words: 1087

This story was inspired by the song Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto.

Short Story: Abe Zanarkand Rides Again

Abe Zanarkand Rides Again

[1] INTERIOR. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM. DAY.

We see ABE ZANARKAND's steely face. He's clad in a fedora and trench coat. He asks a question and then another. He raises his voice and asks yet another question.

ABE ZANARKAND:

Where were you?

What happened? 

What did you have for lunch?!

Then we see his foe. Six year old ZACH. Sitting behind a child sized desk. They're in a classroom.

ZACH points out the window, silent, unfazed.

V.O.:

He thwarts my question yet again as he points out the window. 

We've been playing this cat and mouse game for too long. 

I grit my teeth, realizing I won't be able to get any information out of this suspect, 

I ask another throwaway question.

Short Story - They Yearn for the Cup

They Yearn for the Cup
words: 833

Aika forced a smile as he watched his brother Mika walk away into the dim mist of the night. He felt pain in his stomach knowing it would be the last time he’d see his brother. Despite the cheering from the crowd, his parents included, he didn’t share their joy. A pressure swelled in his stomach.

Short Story: Abe Zanarkand’s Merry Quest to Determine Who Marries Mary

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and occurrences are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Abe Zanarkand’s Merry Quest to Determine Who Marries Mary

words: 939

Detective Abe Zanarkand’s entry into the florist shop was accompanied by the clatter of bells hanging on the interior handle door. The florist eyed Zanarkand from behind oversized red rimmed glasses.

Not many people could wear a trench coat and fedora in the July heat and not sweat a drop. The florist knew this meant one of two things, trouble or a lousy tip.

Short Story - Snowball Plight

Snowball Plight

words: 1183

[1] INTERIOR. TYPICAL BIG BOX STORE - ENTRANCE. MORNING.

Close shot on the wheel of a shopping cart as it rolls across the floor. It squeaks with every full rotation. CLYDE shakes his head, wondering how he always gets that one noisy cart. The noise of the wheel is miniscule in a store bustling with patrons and carts.

CLYDE is average looking, wearing neat, non-descript clothing and a dark ball cap pulled low. CLYDE moves towards the back of the store with purpose.

Short Story - Cinnamon Raisins Messing with My Mind

Cinnamon Raisins Messing with My Mind
words: 2176

 Allison inhaled and exhaled deliberately. Her mind was starting to race as she wondered how much oxygen was left. It felt like she was falling asleep standing up, her body going limp and regaining consciousness before she fell. Her knees were near her chest, and she had no room to move.

Short Story - Keeping Up with the Jones or An Odd Love Story

Keeping Up with the Joneses or An Odd Love Story

words: 1431

Veins bulged on Randall’s forehead and neck as blood rushed to his brain, his concentration directed at the unseen sound. Even inside his garage, he knew he would see it soon. An instant later a blue muscle car rounded the corner. The driver accelerated and the car’s engine roared. Randall’s eyes focused, willing a rock from the road to hit the car. His efforts were rewarded when he heard a soft metallic clink. Success.

Short Story - One for the Gipper

One for the Gipper

words: 977

BAM… BAM… BWAP

Reggie squeezed his thumb, hoping to expel the pain and prevent swelling. He kicked the hammer in frustration. It went skidding across the floor. “I don’t need baseboard anyway!”

Short Story - Sitting on a Rocker at the End of the Day

Sitting on a Rocker at the End of the Day

words: 2099

Short Story - That Rare Instance When Imagination Meets Reality

That Rare Instance When Imagination Meets Reality

words: 1678

Short Story - Homerun and Nails in A Smashing Good Time

Homerun and Nails in A Smashing Good Time
words: 1280

Glass exploded, impacting the interior of the car and driver. The woman screamed struggling to simultaneously scramble away and undo the seat belt. Dots of blood began forming on her arms and face from the glass. Homerun used the aluminum baseball bat to remove the remaining jagged pieces of glass left in the window channel. He reached inside the car, snapping the handle off as he jerked open the door. He pulled the woman, now free of the seat belt, out of the car, throwing her to the ground. He sat in the driver’s seat, fiddling with the knobs and buttons on the dashboard. The turn signal began blinking, and sound escaped the speakers. Homerun marveled at the sound, but was unable to control it. He punched the dashboard before he stood back up.

Short Story - Madness Always Lurks Close

Madness Always Lurks Close 
words: 1406

“That’s what I need, you got that.” Ray’s voice crackled over the cell phone.

Donnie’s faced scrunched, processing the request. He checked his blind spot and changed lanes before replying. “You want a thousand pairs of socks in assorted colors?” Donnie wanted to hang up on the old man, but you don’t do that to the man that created a crime syndicate.

Short Story - Wanting What's Mine

Wanting What’s Mine

words: 1496

 [1] INTERIOR. LIVING ROOM. EVENING.

Well dressed guests are shaking hands, hugging exiting the front door. They’re mourning the passing of Tom, the father of Will, Kayla, and Jason. Guests call instructions on storing the food they’ve left. Jason is near the door, his girlfriend Rita nearby. Jason took care of his father who was in failing health. Will is in the kitchen, the older brother, wearing a sharp looking suit. Kayla is on the phone, talking with her husband and kids who left earlier.

Short Story - Want More Toms? Get More Toms!

Want More Toms? Get More Toms!
The story decidedly NOT about shoes.

2084 words

Tom aimed the laser pistol, firing at Duke, Roadblock, and Skeletor. He imagined the figures falling to the ground defeated. He checked the sight, adjusting it before aiming at the figures again. In mid aim, a knock on  his bedroom door broke his concentration.

“Hey, what’s that?” Kate asked, flopping onto the bed. Tom handed her the laser gun. “I used a toy and parts from a toaster. Now it’s a laser gun.” The bright orange gun had toaster coils affixed around the barrel with knobs screwed into the grip.

“When did you do that? I was just here last night.” Kate flipped the gun over, looking at the end of the plastic barrel. “This is pretty cool.”

Tom tilted the barrel away from her face. “Never point the gun at yourself, or anyone else.”

Kate smiled. “If your toy gun fires real bullets, everyone’s in trouble.” Kate handed the gun back. “How do you always get so much done? You’re always building cool stuff.”

Tom smiled. “I wish I had even more time. If there were two of me I could really get some work done.”

“No way.” Kate replied. “Then I’d feel even worse about how lazy I am.” She flicked Skeletor off the bed post. “Get your bike. You can’t stay in your lab all day.”

Tom threw laser pistol on his bed and followed Kate out of the house.

Short Story - The Divide Between Shallow and Deep

The Divide Between Shallow and Deep

1897 words

“Come on teach, why do you always make me wait?” Paul asked.

“We both know I have less time to waste.” Mr. Shear reached inside his satchel bag as he entered the stairwell. “Do you have the cash?”

“Course I do.” Folded bills appeared in Paul’s hand. “That’s two bags, right?”

Shear nodded. As soon as the goods traded hands Mr. Shear grabbed the handrail and bounded up the stairs. “Go the other way.”

“Same time next week?” Paul asked. Mr. Shear didn’t respond. He confirmed the three bills in his hand and tucked them into his bag.