— Reading time: 2 minutes I’ll be brief. But twice as long as that. I’ve been absent as I finished a massive edit to my work in progress. Now, I begin my search for a couple beta readers. Meantime, back to the present. I mentioned more than a few times that my theme for the A […]
Because everyone loves statistics (when someone else compiles them), we present the final tally to wrap up the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge on this blog: Most Viewed Letter Award: S for Shoplifter A record-setter for my blog (begun in February, so not much data yet), this post had 81 views the day it […]
ZOOKEEPER Natalie loved her job as much as she hated her boss, but Charles was 20 years from retirement, so she took matters into her own hands. When her experimental Platurtlepus used its tail to whack a groundhog into submission, Natalie knew she was on to something. A few early tests failed: Rhinoseal was just […]
YOGA INSTRUCTOR Detective Grossman gazed beyond Cheryl, focusing on something in the distance, maybe his retirement, and said “take me through the sequence one more time.” Cheryl nodded, knowing she’d skip the first part of the sequence when she found the text on her husband’s phone from his high school sweetheart. “Curt and I woke […]
Xylophonist Four cellos and two violas swayed in, and my anxiety soared knowing my moment was fast approaching. And her moments on Earth, this Madeleine, this French xylophonist, her remaining moments hung in the balance. Like Tchaikovsky before me, I would send the French to her deserved death, and the entirety of the percussion populace […]
Reader, you have an assignment following today’s piece. Stay tuned after reading. WRITER – Version 1 Ringmaster P.T. Ringling juggled bowling pins on his way toward the grandstand as the two-horned Unicorn loped off stage, the spotlight dimming with its exit. “Ladies and chain smokers,” P.T. barked over the catcalls, dodging an errant tomato from […]
VALET Jimmy the Valet had one thought about Mondays: Ugh! Last night, he went to park his first car of the evening, and ran the Tesla over the curb and into a fire hydrant. Realizing he had no time to lose, he sped off to Dent Wizard without looking and drove over a pedestrian. Jimmy […]
UPHOLSTERER The detective weighed the butcher knife in her hand as she weighed her Sergeant’s question, finally responding, “I keep a list of names.” “I don’t want a list, Reid,” the Sergeant barked, “I want one name and I want it on my desk when I walk into work in the morning.” They stood behind […]
Taxidermist Hunter welcomed the private investigator to a chair, said he’d put on some tea and answer the man’s questions. Asked his guest if he wanted something to eat, to which the investigator shook his head, said, “No thank you, I’m stuffed.” Under his breath, Hunter muttered, “You’re getting a little ahead of things, sir.” […]
SHOPLIFTER — Bernie, ready to move up in the world, planned one final shoplifting adventure before attempting his first B&E. Decided to kill two birds with one stone, taking the till from Barnegat Books on East Eleventh, and purloining the latest Donna Everhart bestseller at the same time. He helped himself to a hardcover at […]
JD Frain 