420 words, ~1.5 minute read time. The accompanying short story is hyperlinked here. I have been reading an essay collection by E.B. White, and one quote has stuck with me: “I do feel a responsibility to society because of going into print: a writer has the duty to be good, not lousy; true, not false;Continue reading “Announcement Re: “CAPTCHA””
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The Ghost Train
I waited on the bench at the train stop, surrounded by fog and darkness, a street lamp lighting me like a little yellow island in a vast dark sea. I had nowhere to be and nothing to do because I was dead. The vehicle on which I waited had no destination or schedule, for theContinue reading “The Ghost Train”
The Consuming Tree
I never understood my mother’s dread of the woods until this Christmas. Winter has always been my favorite time of the year, and I consider myself somewhat of an expert at “decking the halls.” Since I was a kid, I would wake up early on Black Friday to string garlands, hang lights, and meticulously arrangeContinue reading “The Consuming Tree”
The Beast of Banalore
Everything felt alien to me as I gripped the railing on the swaying deck of the USS Dashiell. I fought waves of nausea and tried to concentrate on the chatter of the crewmembers filling the salty ocean air. Several weeks ago, I departed from Charleston, South Carolina, my home, which now only existed in the pristine confines of my memory. I was entering a new world, the unfamiliar island nation of Banalore, with a single objective: to find and document The Beast.
The Trip
Mel looked up at me with a tentative smile. Her eyes did not contain the same endearing nervousness as on our wedding day. They hid something much tenser now. “Are you sure this is going to be okay?” Mel asked. “I’ve read that some people weren’t the same afterward.” “It’ll be fine,” I said curtly.Continue reading “The Trip”
Harold the Squirrel
Have you ever wondered why squirrels dart out in front of cars only to rush back to safety at the last second? Let me tell you the story of Harold the Squirrel. When Harold married his bride Emily, they were as happy as could be. They laughed and kissed and made love blanketed in theContinue reading “Harold the Squirrel”
The Nothingness
I had been snowed-in at my grandad’s cabin for over a week, and I was bored. Sure, it snowed in the city, but not like this. Even the animals couldn’t stand to be around here this time of the year. It was the silence, the nothingness, that I couldn’t get over. No games, no TV,Continue reading “The Nothingness”
Don’t Go Into the Woods With Bobby
“Don’t go into the woods with Bobby!” My mom reminded me when I left the house for school that day. Bobby’s parents were poor, fat and stupid, but, to me, he would always be the kid that offered me half of his sandwich on the first day of school after bullies had taken mine. ThisContinue reading “Don’t Go Into the Woods With Bobby”
I Won’t Let You Leave
I won’t let you leave. Choose one to die. Nancy scrutinized the neon green message on the screen hoping it would reveal the secret to finally leaving the fluorescent lit dungeon. She nervously picked the dried blood from her finger nails and tried to not think about Laurie’s putrefying body in the corner. It servedContinue reading “I Won’t Let You Leave”
Sketch About a Writer Who Can’t Write a Sketch
He stared at the patronizing blank page. It stared back. It was just as blank as it was five minutes ago. Just as blank as it was five hours ago. Just as blank as it was a year ago when his editor had given him a final deadline of six months. His writer’s block didContinue reading “Sketch About a Writer Who Can’t Write a Sketch”
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