In a city close to its’ center resides a neighborhood. A major street runs through the middle of the neighborhood. On the north side of that street stand two buildings.
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Lance Corporal Louis Cussins
A young Lance Corporal arrived in South Vietnam. They assigned him to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force. This young eighteen-year-old’s unit got sent to the Quang Tri Province. During his short time in the military, he received numerous commendations and awards. On that sad day in …
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Warning From the Naked Trees
This story came to me on a dreary day in late October. I was sitting at a table on the second floor of my local library. I could not help but look out the window and the barren trees. Through gloom and disaster, I wanted to end on a positive note. I wrote this as …
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Making the Persecuted Stronger
This morning while watching the morning news, one of their lead stories were about PRIDE flags being removed along Harrison Blvd. The story focused on how the LGBTQ community banning together to put flags up that were taken down by vandals. I had to step back and think about other persecuted groups. The Jews who …
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Who Really Did It?
Jeff puts the key into the lock. He turns it. He walks into the house that was his parents. Entering the security code gets the alarm disabled. He takes off his overcoat and hangs it on a hook. Walking from the foray past the stairs. He enters the large living room. A strange feeling haunts …
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Read and Comprehend
Summer travel means more people moving about. A lot of those people rush off to a relaxing vacation. After a few days, they hurry back home to get back to work and their daily grind. Getting lost while rushing from point A to point C, having to ask directions. Signs become a blur. The meaning …
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Cemetery Loyal to the Town
Rays from the morning sun kiss the tallest gravestones first. The warmth of the sun’s rays slowly fills the cemetery. Marble slabs reveal the names of those who lay beneath. The town below stirs. Some head to work at the sawmill, while other head to the schools and shops. For more than a century, …
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Tone of Voice
“Jeff, have you seen my keys?” Deb asks, looking Jeff straight into his eyes. “No, where did you see them last?” Here we have a simple question and answer. The readers can imply emotion in the text, but without knowing what has come before and after, they will not know the emotion of the …
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First Job After Home
In the breakroom of Big K Enterprises stands alone security guard. He savors the coffee from a Styrofoam cup, while not wanting to spill it on his uniform. An older, slightly overweight security guard strode in. “I see you had no trouble finding the coffee machine.” “I always start my day with a good cup …
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Two Powerful Words
Two powerful, simple words our parents taught us in our formative years. As we grow older, many of us stop saying thank you. We may still feel a level of gratitude, but the verbal expressions slip out of our vocabulary. I know for myself I had stopped saying thank you even though I felt gratitude …
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