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Latest Stories

March 05, 2026
Poetry Paweł Markiewicz

Eternal Dawn

The beautifully feathered, dreaming albatross told Mary the dreamiest story about hereafter: There are four amazing horsemen of the apocalypse: small wolf, a fawn, a wildcat, as well as a piglet. They will drink from four charming goblets of paradise, drunk…
March 05, 2026
General Stories Thomas Turner

The Trying Years

Summer 1984- A day after they dropped off their oldest child to Candy’ s parents house for the summer, they are on a train to Poughkeepsie, where Sonny’s mother resides after Sonny’s father's death. His mother lives with her oldest brother and her brother’s…
March 05, 2026
Poetry Markus J

The Aliens

the aliens with purple hair are invading from another world even though their hair might be fluorescence deep their ideology is shallow the seeds are sown tic toc and through time their bloom of freedom will grow will it be a flower or a weed and will the…
March 02, 2026
Horror Stories Tom Kropp

Werewolves & Demons

Scot and Shannon hesitated in the forest brush, watching a modern-day demon move across the clearing. The demon they were looking at stood approximately 14 feet tall; it had dark, scaled skin, but it was very female. It was actually darkly beautiful, with a…
March 02, 2026
Mystery Stories Markus J

Too Good To Be true

The 2/4 time beat of the metronome and the guitar`s sledgehammer assault emanating from the Marshall stack, filled the vast and lonely room . A full stereophonic sound played by a starry eyed dreamer, a forlorn figure with a Gibson in hand and hopes that rock…
March 01, 2026
General Stories Thomas Turner

Training Session

By T J Tuner, Sonny Turner and Curt Chown: 1979- Sonny is promoted to General Manager and is in charge of the business section of his job in lower Manhattan. His work hours are ten to six. He loves it. One Monday morning, a new employee comes in. His name is…
March 01, 2026
Poetry Paweł Markiewicz

The She Pirate In The Tavern II

/11/ The fervent tavern was full of graceful mice. They ran around indoors the like charm-like ghosts. One sensed the odor of the dead, gentle rat, which a cat seemed to be catching, this morn. The spiderweb adorned dainty tavern. The spider slept immensely,…
March 01, 2026
Fantasy Stories Matias Travieso-Diaz

An Encounter By The River

Trolls are slow in the uptake, and mighty suspicious about anything new to them. J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit The afternoon was overcast, the air thick with dew and mist. The horses' hooves plodded through the mushy forest floor. Everything was hazy, wet,…
February 26, 2026
Horror Stories Sparrow

It Lurked In Darkness

Ray enjoyed investigating abandoned places with his friends. It had become a hobby now that they had all started, as just a fun thing to do when they spent time together. This weekend, they would be visiting Halloran Manor, a long-since-abandoned home that…
February 14, 2026
General Stories Robert Pettus

Pine Mountain And The Bear

After Jamal panted. Saliva, if his body had been capable of producing it, would have painted the still lush summer forest floor as he spat dryly to the dirt. The three of them now felt safe from the previous danger. They had stumbled down the side of a…
February 14, 2026
Crime Stories Barbara Stanley

Reprieve

The scream came from beyond the canyon walls that loomed over the campsite, splitting the night silence in two. Nick was already seated when Denny bolted up from his sleeping bag. “Dude, whuu…” Moonlight picked up the silver in his shaggy brown mop. Above…
February 14, 2026
General Stories Matias Travieso-Diaz

A Donkey's Tale

The following narrative is based on a presentation given by Boaz Ben-Frenkel, the head archeologist at the Israel government’s research facility in Ma'ale Adumim's industrial park, five miles from Jerusalem. The presentation arose from the analysis of a…

Dear Harold,

It was real good to see you the other night. Not many guys would have bought a girl pretzels on a first date. To me it was a real sign of you. Like a statement, I guess you would say.

Anyway, I think you should not be too embarrassed because your fly stuck open at the dance. I don't think people noticed. They looked at you and laughed because of that funny joke you told I am sure. I felt bad you had to explain it three times to those dummies at our table. But some folks just are not too swift you know.

Thank you too for your real sweet apology. I have to admit I have never danced with a man who sweat so much. And you are right. It was uncomfortable when it rolled down my shoulder. But a strapless dress is a risk and I do appreciate your concern.

You also don't have to worry about how the corsage got pinned. It didn't go too deep and the dress is washable. Cold water works wonders.

You are an unusual man, Harold. I have never known anyone like you before. I think sometimes people do not appreciate eccentricity for the gift that it is. Doing rumba moves to that waltz might be frowned on in some circles, but believe me it sets a person apart.

 

Also, I have to say I enjoyed the special effort you made to make the evening magic. I really did not mind changing the tire, so please don't worry about that. I know you couldn’t see that Don't-Back-Up sign because of how fogged up your glasses got.

Well, Harold, I'm running out of time. And of things to say. It's not often I do this with someone after only one date, believe me. When your hardware convention comes to town again, please look me up.

Your friend, Roseanne

 

Dear Harold,

It was nice of you to send me the can of mixed nuts and I only hope you’re not making some sort of statement about me and my friends. Knowing you, however, that is not likely so I guess it is just me. In any case, I should know by now that this is just right in keeping with the you of you, as my friend Swami Phil says.

I’m real sorry to hear that the tie I gave you got caught in the key making machine. I cannot believe people laughing at you about that, Harold. It is a shame they do not know you the way I do.

Did you like the box of chocolates I sent?

I look forward to your visit.

Hugs, Roseanne

 

 

Dear Harold,

Gosh, if I had known that your were allergic to macadamia nuts I would never have sent that particular can to you. Has the swelling gone down? Is the rash still there? People can be so cruel laughing because your scalp got bigger and the toupee wouldn’t fit right.

Well I must go.

Love, Roseanne.

 

Dear Harold,

When you don’t write I think it is because you are angry. And if you are not then you should say so.

I liked the camping trip although it upset me that you forgot the tent poles and that the branches poked a hole in the side. Telling me the warranty would cover the damage after it started to rain did not make me feel better.

I have always said you were different, Harold, and you are.

All the best,

Roseanne

 

Dear Harold,

It has been a long time since I have written, I know, but I have my reasons. Like I told you when I drove you that extra 100 miles to the airport because you could get a cheaper flight from there, that about did me in.

I’ve come to feel you’re taking advantage of me. Now it was nice of you to give me the canned ham at the airport and all, but as I told you before it’s against  my religion.

Sometimes it seems you don’t listen to a thing I say. I’m going to a doctor here, well a counselor, and she says every person in the world, how many ever that is, has a different way of looking at things. But I don’t think you understand that because thinking back I recall that when I say something mostly you say ‘ah ha’ and then keep on as if I said nothing. Which really is not the way it is supposed to be.

Thank you for the fruitcake. But, Harold, if you send presents you ought to examine the package. I found a note in it from your Aunt Mildred written three years ago saying Merry Christmas.

I’ve concluded that you are so different as to be weird, something some of my friends have said for a long time.

The truth is I am fed up. So goodbye.

Roseanne,

PS: I loved you

 

End

 

www.cambriacreations.com

THE CUSTER CONSPIRACY

A Kindle Book tinyurl.com/mph4a3n

http://cigalelitmag.com/lorin-cary---silver-lining.html

http://www.decompmagazine.com/ice.htm

"Obsession" is in Torrid Literature Journal XII

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