“...and in local sports, the Mets and Yankees both dropped road…” Debbie Morris automatically switched off the alarm radio she’d carefully set last night to turn on later than usual and glanced at her wristwatch.  Satisfied she was now, as planned,  exactly ten-minutes behind schedule,  she nodded and went back to re-checking her hair and make-up. As usual, she didn’t like what she saw in the small make-up mirror on her...

Peen slipped through a gate in the wire mesh fencing, between pink oleanders, and out onto the deck of the swimming pool. He stood proudly in the simmering heat of the summer sun. His splayed feet were shod in sandals. He wore a cabana shirt dotted with green sea turtles. Added to that were Bermuda shorts in a purplish plaid pattern hanging loosely. A straw hat with pompom dangles completed his sartorial splendor.  He sli...

Nikolai reached his hand into his pocket and felt the knife. He had worked for weeks on it, slowly grinding down the stone blade day by day. He only had one chance to take out the guard when he reached the perimeter. From there he would have to rush to the lake and assemble the raft he had made out of drop cloths he found lying around the prison camp behind the officer’s quarters. He thought about his wife when she woke u...

So the next day Tina registered for the contest and was informed that because she was under eighteen that her parents would have to sign off the entry form. She informed her parents of her intentions at dinner that evening and was surprised when her Dad reached grabbed the parent permission form and signed immediately. He then offered to pay for whatever she needed because. In truth he was happy that his little girl was h...

She stepped back and admired her handiwork. The painting had taken her months to complete. Someone in her grieving group had suggested she go back to painting after her husband died, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. She hadn’t painted in years, rarely finding the time after the kids were born. Now that she was alone again, she certainly had plenty of time. Time, the thing that seems so precious to some, and now...

I have entered so many contests, And I’m starting to wonder why, Just sitting here thinking about it, Makes me want to cry. I always try to do my best, To make my words compelling, I make sure not to use text speak, And I even check my spelling. But it seems that whatever I do, My words just get neglected, And though I start with high hopes, I always end up feeling rejected. I wish I knew the judge’s address, Or at least...

NOTE: This was a contest entry for the World Healing, World Peace 2012 poetry contest sponsored by Inner Child Press...it made the Top 30 btw, and is included in the recently released print anthology...I Had A Dream...  I had a dream just the other night, That people would no longer fight, No more wars to be lost or won, That everyone could live as one. I had a dream just the other day, Of streets where kids could safely...

Stories Space celebrates its first year,Congrats to Lisa and her crew,But it’s the members of the site,Who have reasons to celebrate too.Miss Sprite took first place in a contest,And Xuani won money as well,Lady Sharon sold a couple of stories, And so did Miss Clarabelle.DirtyMartini got a story in Bare Back,Which he thought was really cool,But he’s not the only one around here,For so did Don Abdul.Cowgirl sold stories to...

Maria would never amount to anything. Girls like her never did. It wasn’t like she really had any choices, that’s just the way things were and everybody with any sense knew it. To think otherwise would be mere folly. Girls in her part of town never amounted to anything. The best she could hope for was to find a good husband some day, and hopefully escape the welfare system life she knew all too well. Growing up in a third...

In the mood for something to read?Then of my advice you best take heed.If it’s worth reading, you’ll find it here,On a site that’s celebrating its very first year. Looking for adventure that packs a thrill?Or a crime drama that ends in a kill?You can find a romance about a heated affair,Or a horror story guaranteed to scare. Supernatural stories if you’re so inclined,Musings that will exercise your mind,Science fiction fr...

She did this every year, so the call came as no surprise. In fact, I had been expecting it for the last few days. The only surprise was that it took so long. I was sitting with my wife having our coffee after dinner when the phone rang. As I got up to answer, my wife gave me a knowing glance but did not say a word. It was as if we both knew instinctively. “Hello.” I started into the phone, “Oh, hi Mom. Yeah, I’d been expe...