Short Stories

Quid Pro Quo

Early on their day off, Peggy and Michael are interrupted by an unexpected visit from a State Department of Corrections official, who informs them that they have been selected for correction duty. In that moment, they sense that something cold and foreign has entered and settled in their home.

21 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

Therapy

When Amy admits to her therapist what her worst problem is, Jeanne dismisses it as trivial and directs her client’s attention to a matter Jeanne feels warrants real concern.

38 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

Vacuum Cleaner Waltz

Why is the janitor dancing? A grouchy tenant finds out.

4 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

The Insurance Tale

A model prospect applies for the newly touted economical health coverage plan and fulfills all the requirements. The insurance company is not pleased.

6 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

Pandora

When cleaning out an old chest of drawers in the basement one spring evening, Peg comes across a strange wooden box. The challenge of opening it is her undoing.

14 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

Ajar

Sally is assigned to dog-sit for her nephew and his wife when they take a vacation in Italy and finds herself overwhelmed by the responsibility.

18 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

Cecil Greeson Putt

Getting ready to go to sleep just right keeps anxious Cecil up all night long.

3 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

The Way It Wasn’t

Guantanamo Bay was never quite like this. Maybe it should have been.

4 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

Dream Women

Hermann the German relives his memories of the dream woman he almost possessed. Becky is unwilling to follow.

9 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

The Fortune Teller

There’s only one way Bernard the New York City policeman can get the blood pumping through his plump, white legs again: get out of the police car and start walking a beat. But he must prove to the precinct chief that walking a beat is more effective. His only chance – maybe – is to tack up the hide of an old Asian miscreant who has already seen more than his share of hardship.

15 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

The Shoes

Money was tight, but Monica needed a pair of really good black pumps to turn her image around, become cagey, attractive, and Frenchy black in her own inimitable way. She needed those shoes to do it. The ad she sees for used shoes is the perfect way to find them.

18 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

He Through Her

A portrait of a young drummer who thinks he might make it, and then again, thinks he might not.

3 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

The Savage

The savage John Campbell’s presence is depressing real estate values, but how to get rid of him? He owns the land.

8 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

The Fortune

“You say these are supposed to be true?” Dorie teased. “I’ll never show it to anyone!” She folded it into a tiny square, tucked it under her fingernail, and waved her finger at him. “I’ll neeee-verrrr-owwww!” He had reached out and slapped her hand hard. The square dropped onto the table. He slipped it towards himself and unfolded it. “Hey,” he began, but stopped as suddenly as he had started. As he lowered his eyes, his gaze darkened.

9 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

The Actors

Michael’s contract didn’t come in, but they wrote back saying they would keep his resume on file … and enclosed his resume.

6 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

Cage, Stand, and All

Pepe’s owner, Pete, goes to South America for six weeks, giving the little canary to his friend Bob to take care of. When Pete comes back, he wants his bird back.

8 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

Vanity’s Sting

Mr. Hoffmann is a champion of the underdog, a hero for those who need protecting, a man who could fight and would fight and knew how to fight. But the champ, trumped by wounded vanity, is led to a grisly end.

13 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

The Live Ones

Russell was a great scholar of ancient languages, an area he felt very comfortable in. None of those languages wriggled or squirmed, because anyone who had ever spoken them was dead. Then along comes his pesky cousin to put his nose out of joint. Russell decides to joust back.

21 pages. Available online in PDF format free of charge.

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