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Latest Stories

April 25, 2026
Horror Stories Tom Kropp

Night Watch

“What do you mean they never caught him?’ Kay asked her boyfriend, named Scot, nervously. Scot tried to hide his smile in the moonlight. Kay was a beautiful, blond-haired, blue-eyed, athletic figure, eighteen-year-old college student that was new in the area.…
April 25, 2026
Flash Fiction Matias Travieso-Diaz

Perfection

There's no such thing as Perfection. But, in striving for perfection, we can achieve excellence. Vince Lombardi When Maria passed away, her soul ascended to Heaven and joined the scores of others seeking admittance through the Pearly Gates. She noticed that…
April 25, 2026
Romance Stories Ken Gibbons

Losing After Midnight

“Looks like the rain's gonna hold off,” quipped Bill Sandler. “Good. My bones can’t take it,” countered Jackie Delvon. The pair entered the small restaurant that had been in Bill’s family for years. “I’m surprised the new girl wasn’t waiting here for us like…
April 25, 2026
Crime Stories Tom Kropp

Homicide Detective Sharon

Sharon was a very pretty blond-haired, blue-eyed, very physically fit young police officer. She had a good social game and she was literally the most attractive lady cop in Chicago. She was recruited for undercover work and became pretty good at playing a…
April 25, 2026
General Stories Thomas Turner

The Family Wars

Monday January 1st 1990- Candy and Sonny wish each other a happy new year. “Those New Year's Eve parties are becoming louder than the parties in the bars.” Candy laughs. “The kids will be coming home soon. Our daughter is coming home Thursday and our baby son…
April 25, 2026
Horror Stories Tom Kropp

Well Of Despair

Karen looked at Scott and asked her friend Shannon, "Why does he just keep looking down into that old well?"Shannon sighed. "He's just having a lot of problems dealing with it. It's not every day you find out that your father was a serial killer and had a…
April 01, 2026
General Stories Matias Travieso-Diaz

Spared By A Sign

He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust. Psalm 78:46 Once, in a remote corner of the world, two tribes dwelt in nearby settlements along a plain that opened beneath towering mountains. The land was fertile but its expanse was…
April 01, 2026
Crime Stories Tom Kropp

Violent Lunch Date

"No Foxy! No!" Lil yelled as Foxy darted down the alley after a fleeing rat that had a chunk of pizza in its mouth. As Lil charged in the alley, she stopped and stared in surprise. Foxy was snarling and savagery shaking her head with a dead rat flopping in…
April 01, 2026
General Stories Thomas Turner

Finding The Truth

Written by Thomas Turner, Sonny Turner and Curt Chown: January 1986- Sonny and Candy are celebrating their daughter's fifteenth birthday. Candy’s parents are there with their daughter’s new boyfriend Don and her brother is there too. After it is over,…
April 01, 2026
Crime Stories Eloise Smith-Ferrier

The Hunt

By the time Ben Walker arrived, the water had already gone still. It shouldn’t have. Not with the low mechanical churn of the fountain still running, not with light shivering across its surface in fractured blue from the police cars. The fountain held itself…
April 01, 2026
Mystery Stories Matias Travieso-Diaz

The Little Girl And The Monster

Though she be but little, she is fierce! William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream The twin moons rose over the empty valley, casting their faint light over the monster, a beast the size of a horse that strode in and out of the shadows. It was a huge…
March 20, 2026
Crime Stories Tom Kropp

Dead Redemption

Pablo crept through the Honduras slum’s back alley with all the stealth he could muster. The alley was narrow and crammed with crates and dumpsters that stank of fish and rotting things. The dark clouds rolled overhead, fulminating with fury and rain pattered…

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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