HOUSEKEEPER For the fifth time this shift, Betty Jean knocked on Room 12, back of the building, far from the freeway. Do Not Disturb dangled from the doorknob, but it was near seven o’clock in the evening and the room hadn’t been cleaned yet. Ominous, was that the word people use? Gloria, motel manager on […]
GARDENER Mary Cavanaugh brushed the red hair from hey eyes, glanced at the big blue circle on her calendar, and allowed herself a smile. Only two more days. It had been arduous with six kids, but she knew life was about to change dramatically. Seven years, the insurance company had told her, and if there’s […]
Fisherman “Starboard, lads, double time, she’s crashing down on us!” The sea was a tempest, rocking monstrous waves and unleashing its fury on our courage. “Hold fast,” I called to anyone who could hear above the squall as salt bit into my scarred lips. Safety an afterthought, I gripped the nets to pull in our […]
I’m participating in the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge. My theme: Six-Sentence Stories. Hemingway is credited with introducing six-word stories (“For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.”) and since I can’t steal his idea, I’m taking the easier road with six-sentence stories. That said, it’s a much tougher road than I’d initially thought. Day 5. Comes forth, […]
DIETITIAN Devilin gave a look of surprise to his wife Angelica, the famous dietitian, and said “I get to drink a Pepsi with your prescribed diet?” She said, “A little reward for you is the best way to keep you on your diet.” She didn’t say, And a big reward for me is that it’s […]
CARPENTER The unshaven slob shoves my mother aside and slides his Smith & Wesson .38 into my ribs from behind, demanding my wallet. “How tall are you?” I ask, measuring my enemy without getting a look at him. “Six-two,” he spits out, “what the hell you need to know that for?” I ask a second […]
BARBER My barber blames his old job as a mafia hitman for why he names all his instruments. “This one here, I call her Karma,” he says as he caresses his gleaming scissors. “Summer cut,” I say, mostly ignoring him, “so take a little off the top and everything off my neck.” He leans my […]
Friends challenged me to complete the Blogging A to Z Challenge. Since I never know what’s good for me, I accepted. My topic, because I have to choose one: SIX SENTENCE STORIES. Hemingway is credited with writing a six-word story. (“For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn.”) Many have attempted the art since. Hemingway was way […]
Reading time: 2 1/2 minutes — You can learn a lot from a trip to the mountains. I learned you can’t use your cell phone and you can’t get an Internet connection. And when you’re not cursed with those (in)conveniences, you learn a lot of other things. A Long Way for a Card Game Which […]
Reading time: 2 minutes — Few people are as adept at getting lost as I am. Unfortunately, one of those few people is my wife, so together we make cartographers cry. I’ve detailed here before how often I drive right past my exit on the highway. Or miss a turn at an intersection. After cruising […]
JD Frain 