Archive for Short stories
A Good Day for a Ride
The bike path was wide and well engineered. Designed by experienced bikers, Eric thought. Not a racing circuit, but shady and scenic; the noise and combustion of Houston was far way. The bicycle, generously offered—graciously accepted—was a Serotta, with a fixed, single gear. Not his normal ride, but it was light, and whisper-quiet. A joy […]
The Mission: Apology (part 2)
It took five minutes for Ginny to learn that the president of Coastal Mapping and Survey was Maxwell Madden, a retired Air Force officer with a distinguished career, and a decorated fighter pilot. Ginny spent a lot of time during the next week with her head in her hands. Would she never learn, she thought. […]
The Mission: The Elevator (part 1)
Ginny watched the man on the other side of the elevator for ten full seconds, then said, “You’re thinking about flying, aren’t you?” The ramrod straight, gray-haired man stared through her, then he slowly raised one eyebrow in response. “But you are, aren’t you—thinking about flying?” she insisted, flashing a blinding smile. ” I was,” […]
The Road Trip
Richard Gillette waited until his family had been eating about ten minutes, then raised his voice slightly and announced, “I’ve decided that when we drive to Grandmother Lovey’s house this weekend, we won’t listen to the radio or CDs, or iPods, Elizabeth. Instead, I want you girls to read aloud, from any book you choose.” […]
What Do You See?
“OK, John. Close your eyes now, and tell me what we just passed in the field,” said his Dad. John’s dad was the sheriff, and this was a game they played, called “Observations.” “Horses. Eight horses, one with a rider. Two dogs.” “What kind of dogs?” “Border collies,” said John. “What color were the horses?” […]
U.S.S. Sudden Jerk
At 0500, the XO called out a new bearing and the helmsman turned her, heading home to Bastia harbor. The night had been warm, moonless, and star-lit. The patrol was uneventful this time—no sightings, no encounters with the enemy, nothing at all to chase. Dawn gave way to the sunrise, until finally the sky was […]
A Night at the Theater
James couldn’t concentrate on the play because the woman sitting in front of him was losing a hair pin. It was pretty, jeweled and sparkling, and slowly working out of her sleek French roll. Every time she moved, or tilted her golden head toward her unworthy date, it slipped out a little more. It was […]
Keeping Up With the Joneses
My name is Greer. I rarely talk about myself, because then I need to explain about my sister, my twin Greta, and our older sister Claudette. We think our little brother, Taylor, got off easy. No one notices anything unusual about someone named Robert T. Jones, Jr. He could have been so rotten, but Tay […]
The Friends of the Library Book Sale
Dr. Pakensen arrived early, carrying a book bag. His textbook was no longer in print, but in college towns he could usually find one or two each time he went to a book sale. The fundamentals of chemistry never changed, but his Chemistry for the Non-Chemistry Major was dumped after five years. Stupid departmental politics. […]
Sauerkraut Dreams
“You ever eaten a hot sauerkraut sandwich?” asked Max Dolje. “Um, I don’t much care for sauerkraut.” “This is Mama’s sauerkraut,” he said. “Sit there.” Max pointed to a chair at the bar dividing the kitchen from the den. Tony was there to install a new dishwasher. He should have been back in town by […]