Categotry Archives: Fiction
Historical Documents
“Mommy, Mommy, come quick! Daddy found a newspaper in the walls.” “A newspaper? Oh, you mean where he’s remodeling?” Mommy followed her son to the room they were expanding. “It must be very old. The realtor said everything in the house dated back to the 1900’s, right down to the wall paper.” When they walked into the room, they found Daddy reading the newspaper with a scowl. “Honey, what does it say?” “It says the Red Sox haven’t won in […]
Suzie’s House 362 : Fine, Just Fine
As Trent drove off, everyone else on the porch went back in the house, but Drew needed a minute or two, so he sat on the porch swing and stared at his tips of his shoes. It felt like someone took his life vest just as he was about to head into the worst rapids on a rafting trip. His vision blurred a bit. He tried to focus, and sudsy white waves appeared to wash over the top of his […]
Hail the New Revolution
“Sandra, I went to that dentist you recommended.” Matt dropped into the seat across from her at the Butterfly Coffee House. He looked better, but before she could say anything he was talking again. “That place scares me.” He held up a hand to stop her from talking. “Not because I hate dentists. Because of the windows. They had chicken wire embedded in them.” “Yes? So?” “I thought at first it was to keep the molotov cocktails and rocks out, […]
Suzie’s House 361 : Saying Goodbye to the Old Man
Drew followed Trent out to the front porch with a feeling of impending doom. He had to remind himself this was no crisis. It was simply wishing Trent goodbye. He could hardly even gripe about it. “Well. I guess this is it.” Trent straightened his back and lifted his chin. “Yeah. I guess so.” Drew fought down the urge to say that Trent could at least have invited him to come along. They both knew that would be counter productive.
Been There, Done That
PHOTO Copyright – Douglas M. MacIlroy “I mean, the world if full of the most incredible things, isn’t it?” Sandra’s voice sounded distant on the phone. “Have you ever seen Mt. Fuji?” “Sure. Who hasn’t?” Carly lit a candle, then leaned back with her laptop. She googled Mt. Fuji. “Most of the world, I would think. When have you ever been to Japan?” “I haven’t. But I’ve still seen it plenty of times in pictures.” She picked a particularly appealing […]
Suzie’s House 360 : Sonoma Calls
What a fine woman Drew had found for himself. Trent couldn’t help but admire her apple cobbler, and her fried chicken put to shame anything he could sneak past Sonoma. He pushed his plate back and settled an aching leg on the chair on the other side of the kitchen table with a sigh of relief. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like thirds?” Suzie bustled around the kitchen with a spoon in one hand and a mixing bowl in the […]
Graduation
Photo Copyright -Jennifer Pendergast He steps into the future, like walking through a waterfall. One moment, safe in the cocoon of higher education, the next, into the wide world of unemployment, hungry student loans, and too much competition for each job offering. The reality of an English degree but not a teaching certificate strikes hard. Where his Engineering friends are raking in the bucks, he’s facing a quick trip back to Mommy and Daddy’s house. Sometimes he wishes he’d never […]
Suzie’s House 359 : What Gene Wanted the Most
Gene sat on the edge of his bed with his shoulders all slumped and everything. There was Lisa and Ben in the room, too, but Tracy didn’t think they’d want to hang out for long, no matter how meddlesome Lisa might be. Tracy sat next to Gene, but she didn’t’ try to rub his back or anything this time. She couldn’t bear to be shrugged off again.
Drawing the Property Line
“It’s about perimeters,” she said as she leaned against the fence. “What we had before required a certain amount of trust. So I gave you the benefit of a doubt over and over. But you brought HER home. You knew how that would make me feel. The trust we had before is gone. I can’t do much about the fact we are neighbors, but I don’t have to cater to you anymore.” “You’re point?” He pushed up the front brim […]
Suzie’s House 358 : A Tale to Tell
Suzie handed me a cup of herb tea. I’ll admit I might have given it a concerned look. “It’s perfectly fine,” Suzie said in exasperation as she sat across the kitchen table from me. “Just some ginger root I sliced myself and a bit of lemon. Nothing to set off one of your allergies.” “Ah. Thanks. Sorry about that.” The mint tea she’d given me a while back had set off a whole new set of reactions. “It’s getting so […]
Sheepish
“See?” Jane turned her ipad around and handed it to Marg. “You wouldn’t believe how many sheep and goats there were in Mongolia. I swear every time I turned around there were more. What I went there to see were yaks. I saw a few, but no where near as many as the sheep. I wish I’d gone to France with you instead. At least then I could have gotten away from the livestock.” “Really?” Marg grabbed her own ipad […]
Suzie’s House 357: Absurd Developments
Content Warning. Not quite bad enough to put on the newsletter, but Ana better not read this while eating breakfast. Ben followed the others in the back door and through the house with the intention of taking mental notes for future writing. How often did a guy get to see a dead body? Assuming Gene really did kill his dad when he beat him up. Had the place always been this bad? He remembered coming here back in sixth grade. […]
Waves
“I’m telling you, there’s something in the water.” Mack gave his fishing line a jerk. “I hope so. Be a pure waste of bait otherwise.” Lewis pulled in his own line, giving up for the day. “Not a fish, you idiot. It’s like the Loch Ness Monster or something.” “Probably an old tire.” “Feel for yourself.” Mack handed Lewis the rod. Lewis gave the line a tug or two, then handed it back. “Yup. Old tire. I’m sure of it.” […]
Suzie’s House 356 : How to Deal with a Guilty Conscience
“Do you think Gene meant it when he said he killed his father?” Kate leaned toward Justin as the two of them left the practice room and glanced over her shoulder at Gene. The two of them looked totally conspiratorial as Justin glared over his shoulder like he was morally superior or something. Gene tried not to groan, but couldn’t help closing his eyes for a minute. He sat on a drummer’s stool while everyone but Tracy left.
Candles and Moonlight
He placed the candle next to the bed and grinned wickedly. “No. I’m too embarrassed.” She put a hand over her mouth, but could still feel the flush of excitement creep up her face. “You can trust me. I will never laugh at you or take you for granted.” He kissed her fingers lingeringly. ‘All right then.” In the morning he was gone, his side of the bed already cold. She’d have thought it a dream but for the wax […]
