Celebrations!We guys were up pretty early on this very important day. After getting washed and dressed, we fairly raced to the eating hall only to find that the girls had beat us there. There they were, calmly eating as they grinned at us. Kori waved at me to hurry up and sit down. Everyone started talking at once about how our day was going to go. Soon our speculations were quickly put to rest. Both Andros and Duris came...

Random acts of dialogue.Dialogue in any book is great storytelling. Right after the hook to reel the reader in, dialogue is the mover and shaker of any novel.Dickens might have argued that narration and flowery descriptions were the backbone. However, I beg to differ with him.I thought of this scene where two former lovers meet again after 30 years.Setting: a seedy bar in the downtown area of Toronto. Characters: Stephen...

Chapter 2 I got in my car, and stopped at Timmy’s. When in shock there’s nothing better than an extra large double-double and a sour cream glazed to put things right. Okay, so in this case, there were a lot of ways things could be improved, but coffee and a donut was a good start. Gerry offered to tag along, but I needed time to collect my thoughts, before heading to my employment agency to let them know I was available f...

Chapter 5 Gerry had agreed to keep his eye on the comings and goings to the building and help keep the police abreast of any strange faces around the neighborhood. Later that same evening, Inspector Gibbons called to check up on me and to see if I recalled anything important. Right now the case was lukewarm at best and they were working on the list of leads they had. Right in the middle of the conversation, there was an e...

Chapter 3 My appointment at the police division was for 3 p.m., and I hoped not to bump into anyone I knew. I took my longtime friend Elaine with me for emotional support. We have been buddies since our college days when we used to raise hell and get drunk. She is perpetually single, and loves it. She says it would be a frosty day in hell before she does the ball and chain routine. Call it commitment phobia. Seeing me and...

Chapter 7 Sunday morning came along, and I found myself cocooned in Gerry’s blankets with chipmunks buzzing around in my head. I swore to myself that there would be no more beer—until of course the next time. Somewhere in the apartment the phone was ringing. I struggled out of bed and answered it. It was Gibbons calling to report that the car was clean—no outstanding warrants on the driver—and to ask me if I knew a man by...

Prologue May 15, 2005 / Delivering the Goods “C’mon man, can’t we just leave the package on the balcony?” The short stocky youth was trying to drag an item off the rental truck. “Nope, we have specific orders to deliver the ‘goods’ right to the apartment — I have instructions right here, Dawg.” “How we gonna get in there without getting caught?” He was anxious about this aspect of his initiation exercise. “Rebo, brother.....

I miss our time togetherNight after night, we layDreams we shared, wishing them trueI need you back, I'll do all I used to do for youEntangled in the sheets, pillows like fortsPiling on extra in the winter's coldKicking them off and giggling in the heatSocks on and off, hands, feet, cold, repeatI daydream at my desk, work crawls byTime marches on and I miss you stillThoughts drift in and out, my mind wandersI want you bac...

It was finally celebration week!Our first day seemed to go so very slowly but eventually we found ourselves at the dinner table discussing what we should do that night. There was a pile of ideas being discussed, all at one time, but eventually, we settled on going as a group. I thought this would allow the people to recognize us by the black and gold colors of our outfits. The group saw that the idea was good, being proud...

Gus’s Life ---A dog's eye view of his world. Intro Okay here are the bare facts. The ugly truth; I am a dog! I guess it could have been worse; I could have been born a cat. Now there’s a bad attitude and a waste of fur if ever I saw one. With dogs, you always know where you stand. Cats have a hidden agenda. Always appear like they couldn’t care less. Let me tell you this people! IT’S A FREAKIN’ BIG LIE!!!!!!!!!! CATS DO C...

Have you ever seen God?! But I have seen many times!!Now my father is doing absolutely fine but few years ago, that morning around 5.45 AM, I got a phone call from my cousin who said my father is sick. What could happen to a person with whom I talked, in fact, debated on various topics hardly 6 hours ago? He was fine then.Must be "Heart attack" I guessed much before her confirmation. "We are yet to talk to doctors, but we...

Through the Ages - Chapter 9 Festival TimeThe weeks and months went by while we all became truly wonderful athletes. Duris would meet weekly with Andros and contemplate our progress. I came to understand that Andros was the overseer of the entire religious complex, and our schooling was but a small part of his responsibilities. Under the tutelage of Duris, our leaps and landings became smooth and effortless. He watched ou...

Back in 1971, there were no text messages or emails or even pagers. If you wanted to talk to someone you had to find a pocket full of change and a pay phone that worked. Or wait until later. I was stationed in a barracks with a couple of hundred men give or take a few. We had two pay phones on the floor and when it rang it was like a bunch of outhouse parrots all squawking the name of the person the call was for. 45. An o...

"I don't understand why I have to be there," Teagan whined from where he sat at his desk. Textbooks and note pads surrounded him, along with empty snack bags and soda cans. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him through narrowed eyes. He couldn't be serious, right? There was no way. "Are you for real?" I demanded. The look I got in return told me he was. I uncrossed my arms and slammed my hands down onto my hip...

Shooting Blanks By Ray Bentley I started to really doubt myself that morning when I went about the task of shaving. No, I’m not talking about your normal morning shave. The pre-surgery instruction specifically stated the patient was required to shave the “pubis and scrotum.” Say What? I stood straight, naked in front of the full-length bathroom mirror and took a deep breath. This was the do-or-die critical moment – my las...