I am at the wheel of my rusted, two-decades old Chevy pickup. We have pulled off the road since we're in sort of a rain white-out, a blinding storm with whipping winds that are beginning to rock the truck itself. I shouldn't be surprised. Storms like this, coming in from the Atlantic, are not infrequent on Hatteras, part of the Outer Banks island chain alon...
I'm still early, and the people at the airport desks are not yet ready to take in our suitcases. I have to wait behind a rope until the staff allows me to come; nervously I watch the time go by. Once more, I check the tickets and passports—time and date on the tickets are correct, and the names are spelled exactly the same way as in our passports. Fortunat...
She closes her computer and looks longingly outside, it's sunny and hot. She looks down at her legs and thinks about how long it has been since she has been able to lay out. She misses her pool when they lived in a house, misses the time sunbathing topless or nude, the times her husband would come outside and caress her warm naked body and then how he would...
The forge is hot. I'm sweating through the cotton shirt and leather pants I'm wearing. My feet are slowly seeping into the muddy ground of my father's open forge, and I squelch my toes around as I prepare to pull down on the rope attached to the bellows. As I pull I can feel my body strain against the counter weight and push of the heat from the heart of the...
"Honey, I'm home!" Steve's voice echoes up the stairway, prompting Miko to jolt awake and leap to his feet. "Whose car is parked in front of our house?" I don't know what to think or do. This wasn't part of the plan. Miko is scooping up his clothes, yanking his shirt over his head, and that's when I notice the gaping black darkness of the closet behind him...
Three weeks ago, while working the night shift, a patient was having a stroke. 911 got called and as usual the Fire Department showed up first to take his vital signs. She was having a bad night, but she was not working as the manager on duty that night. She was on her way to make sure the newly promoted girl had everything in order, but she was too late. Th...
After several days of seemingly-nonstop winter rain, The Old Pueblo is graced once again with its trademark sunshine. Like so many Tucsonans, I have come out on this Sunday afternoon to do some shopping at one of the malls. My purchases made, I sit at Tohono Tadai Transit Center, patiently awaiting the next bus headed south toward the university. I am typi...
The beginning of a new week for the working guy. Thanks to everyone who has added constructive criticism. I appreciate the help from users on here who actually write the great stories. I am honored to have my stories read by some of the greats and their feedback means a lot to me. Any resemblance to biker gangs, biker rallies, restaurants, or websites on Ea...
White Island, Antarctica Bathed in red light with sirens blaring Mason and Bridges have their weapons up scanning the area for something to shoot. They aren't expecting the hands reaching out of the ground suddenly grabbing them. They turn their weapons toward the ground not letting panic seize them and pelt the ground. Snow and chunks of ice fly up. The ha...
Submission Contract I, Annie, promise to obey and serve Mischelle in any and all ways she deems appropriate and necessary. This commitment includes the following stipulations. At any time Mischelle has the right to add to this list and Annie cannot reject new demands without voiding the contract. The only way Annie can void this contract is if new stipulati...