The Geek from I.T.By Tony Radford I was working away – was a most-fruitful day, the best that I’d had in a while, I’d made quite a dent with the time that I spent on a huge architectural-file. The version of CAD that my company had was a little bit ancient – it seemed. My pace would increase with the latest release but for now – that was only a dream. My vintage display caused my eyes to decay so I got up to grab me some...

Aimee It all begins – a group of friends – a trip in early May to a launching ledge at river’s edge where locals come to play. She took in hand the line that spanned the rushing, blue-divide, prepared for flight – she held on tight to reach the other side. She took the leap and raised her feet – the line began to dip and as she flew, it broke in two – then Aimee lost her grip. First a splash and then a gash from jagged ro...

No Yesterday By Tony Radford She woke every morn like the day she was born with no knowledge of prior events, she couldn’t recall Sunday’s trip to the mall – or the flowers her granddaughter sent. Like an angel she slept, but nothing was kept, her memories fizzled away, none would remain – all her joy and her pain would only exist for a day. Her kids were all grown, so she sat all alone in the house that they build long a...

KC Murphy and the Dog from Hell The oldest one of Murphy’s sons – the one they named “KC”, would rise each morn to the task he’d sworn – tossing papers for a fee. He’d hit the road with a basket load he rolled the night before, for a five-mile ride through the countryside – a fairly daunting chore. He’d make the trip at a modest clip – almost all the way, but a dreaded trial on the final mile would always spoil his day. I...

by Tony Radford It was early fall when he hit the mall – a year past Y2K, at a jewelry store on the second floor – was a final bill to pay. He’d bought the ring that he planned to bring to his love – a big surprise, some wine, a rose, romantic prose – then a question would arise. They’d set the stage at an early age – on the playground after class where he won her hand with a plastic band and a diamond made of glass. Agai...

The Drive In By Tony Radford Some friends and I were driving by when we passed the old marquee and it spelled outright that the show that night was a flick we’d planned to see. It was ’69 and the storyline – starring Fonda, Jack and Hopper, was a tale of blues and a Cajun cruise on a patriotic-chopper. Our plans were set – that night we met at our normal rendezvous, then we climbed aboard my souped-up Ford to catch the gr...

The Knife By Tony Radford A missile-flash, a chopper-crash – a field of charred debris, a team of five are burned alive – and that leaves only me. A stranded man in hostile land – my radio is cracked, a uniform that’s soiled and torn – at least I’m still intact. A dire strait – I’ll lie in wait until it’s safe to go, a star-less night, no moon in sight – thank God the clouds are low. I take a fix – it’s twenty clicks from...

The Yard by Tony Radford On a quietblock in Antioch there lived an evil man, a mind so vile – a pedophile who hatched a wicked plan. Behind his place he’d make a space and plant a shrub or two, a natural veil that might curtail a nosey-neighbor’s view. He then commenced to build a fence to keep the sleuths at bay and in the back, he built a shack, for what – he wouldn’t say. All the while, a precious child – a little blon...

The Neighbor’s Wife By Tony Radford A gorgeous lass of angel-class and curly auburn hair, a lovely prize with pale-blue eyes – one couldn’t help but stare. She came alive at half past five when her day at work would end, and through the glass, I’d watch her pass – then gracefully ascend. Was so unfair – she’d take the stairs that were right outside my door and return to life as a neighbor’s wife up above on the second flo...

A Sailor’s TaleBy Tony RadfordThey left the port of Aberdeen in eighteen fifty three,a crew of ten courageous men on the good ship Anne Marie.Of Clipper-class, with triple masts, her colors for the Queen,a heavy hold of Spanish gold, and tons of British tea.In command was Herbert Mann, a captain tough as nails,a driven man with worker’s hands, his place below the sails.“Weigh the anchor, take the helm, we best be underway...

The View By Tony Radford An institute was built to suite some folks that most don’t know,a place to send our wounded men with no place else to go. In a room of white, all day and night two injured souls would layand never tread, confined to bed, forever both would stay. A window there the two would share, but only one could seepast walls of white, their captive plight, how life out there would be. One man lay too far away...

Survivor By Tony Radford The story starts with racing hearts in a room with lots of chairs where patients wait, anticipate, so little talk – just stares. On the wall, a clock has stalled and time is standing still, a silent room, with thoughts of gloom the mind begins to fill. It finally came, they called her name and led us to a space, “Please take a seat,” the doc would greet with a kind but solemn face. The doctor spok...

  With a face begrimed, an old man climbed from a tattered cardboard box to a sight he knew - was an alley’s view, beneath the loading docks. The morning light would end the fight he always had to face, though just a dream, it always seemed so real it left a taste. But soon that taste would be replaced with a little shot of rye, some needed aid he took in trade at a little bar close by. On his flask was an image cast of o...