Dale Williams Barrigar has been a blessing to every writer on the site since his arrival last summer. I dare anyone to find more sincere comments or an even more learned mind on the subject of literature on the site (although Gerry Coleman satisfies that condition as well!) Thus it is fitting that a painting The Old Guitarist should have at least partially inspired Dale’s first site story, today’s rerun.
Continue reading “Literally Reruns- The Old Guitarist by Dale Williams Barrigar”
Today we present a small tribute to our late friend Tom Sheehan (1928-2025). Tom was a friend of our site since the early days and published an astonishing total of 228 stories with us, by far the highest sum in our eleven year existence. Below you will find links to five of his stories, which will shine a light on the man, who is someone who earned the right to be remembered long and well.
Continue reading “A Tribute to Tom Sheehan”
Another week closer to another year!
I’ve been thinking on smoking. I see that some programmes have trigger warnings. Or to be more precise, ‘A Nonsensical waste of words by fuckwits for fuckwits!’
There was an old panel game called ‘Joker In The Pack’ which is being repeated and you can hardly see the contestants due to the fog of smoke.
The amazing Comedienne, Dave Allen sat at his chair with a pack of cigarettes and a large whiskey. (I didn’t spell that incorrectly, he was a proud Irishman.)
‘The Wheeltappers And Shunters Club’ was filmed in a Working Mens Club and you could hardly see the audience!
Anything that was filmed early 2000 and beyond had smoking restrictions. Before that actors and / or their characters puffed away happily.
Continue reading “Week 563 – It’s Amazing What Can Smoke, R.I.P Another Legend And All The Very Best To You All!!”
As his hearing receded into the ethers, Frank’s days filled with numbing despair. He was going deaf, there was no denying it. He’d tried with what inner strength he possessed to stave it off, first by denying it completely like any sane person would do, then by telling himself he was only forty-two, things like this aren’t permanent at this age, of course it will pass.
Continue reading “Hear, Hear by Karl Luntta”
“What’s it like, being imaginary?” asked Lisa Hannigan.
She sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed, gazing down at her imaginary friends, Sally and Qney, who mirrored her posture on the carpet below, knees tucked neatly beneath their chins.
Continue reading “Imaginary Friends by Gareth Vieira”
A Friend
Dear Readers
Before we start this week’s silliness, I must relate the news of the passing of Tom Sheehan, who died 16 October, at age 97. Tom holds the site record of 228 stories. He and I coincidentally debuted on LS in August 2015, and Tom nearly doubled my output in less time, even though he was thirty-one years my senior. I doubt anyone will catch him.
But more importantly, Tom was a fine human being: A husband, father, grandfather, historian of Saugus, Massachusetts and a veteran of the Korean War. It is not my object to create sadness because 97 is a damn good run and Tom was still writing till the end. His final submission, an acceptance, of course, The Decoration occurred this past spring.
We will be running a far more fitting tribute to our friend in times ahead, so please keep an eye open.
Leila, Diane, Hugh
Genre
I am not powerfully educated nor will my pride allow me to google every little mystery, but I feel that I have a fairly clear-minded grasp of genre.
I hear the word and Western, Science Fiction, Fantasy (not just impossible S.F.), Crime (or CMT), Mystery and so on pop into mind. In that regard “genre” is a useful list of things, and I highly approve of lists.
Continue reading “562- Remembering a Wonderful Friend and Some Goofiness Regarding Genre”
The two men sat in the dim kitchen. Drinking. Dark clouds hung low in the gray sky like they wanted to open their bellies. Cigarette smoke curled from a glass ashtray. Larry Miller got up from the yellow Formica table and pointed at a steak bone on a plate in the sink. The white plate was smeared dark with A-1 Steak Sauce. Larry said, “That was Jenny’s last supper. A T-bone steak, a baked potato, bread n’ butter, and a Coke.” He seemed proud to Thurman like he wanted Thurman to appreciate it.
Continue reading “Death on a Full Stomach by Christoper Ananias”
Here we are at Week 561.
A few things have come to light throughout the past couple of weeks.
Firstly – Following on from Leila’s comments about the submissions we received a few weeks back:
Continue reading “Week 561 – Keep Your Distance, Gregory And Lawrence And Remembering The Hurricane.”
James IV, king of Scotland from 1488 to 1513, was a Renaissance Man. He was fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, Flemish and Gaelic. He ordered the construction of The Great Hall in Stirling Castle, arguably the first renaissance building in Britain. He issued the first ever compulsory Education Act (albeit only for the first-born sons of landowners). He introduced the first printing press to Scotland. And, like some other monarchs of the day, he appointed a court alchemist, one Father John Damian.
Continue reading “Kenny Drummond’s Parchment by Michael Bloor”
The Legend of the Devil’s Brew
Gleefully unfit for the beige, and honest to the marrow, Hugh Cron has had the Mature Content tag applied more often than any other writer on the site. Although I haven’t checked, I’m willing to venture that he has more of those than all combined writers on the site.
I think that is something to be proud of!
A lot of those tags are due to Hugh’s direct opinion on religion. His writing reminded me of my time in a tenth grade Mythology class I took at age sixteen. Upon reading myths from many societies I had to wonder why something as clearly mythic as the Bible (and Koran and etc) is treated as real and the others as fiction, even though they too had been real at one time. I was not the only one who wondered that–a classmate raised his hand and pretty much asked the instructor the same question. He smiled and said, “I’d tell you but I don’t want to get fired.”
Although Hugh does not need to worry about getting fired, I believe he’d say what he thinks no matter what. Another thing to be proud of!
Let’s ask a couple of questions:
Q-1: Although it didn’t happen here, you have often been attacked (well, in the wimpy online fashion) by Christians who object to you using your right to speak your mind. I’m all for people having faith, if it helps them, but what has been your reaction to those incidents?
Q-2: I think if it were possible, The Devil’s Brew would take over every pub and tavern in the land. Do you agree?
Hi Leila,
Thanks so much for choosing this and thanks for the questions – These are a blast to do!!
Qu. 1 – I just laugh!! Not for the reasons that folks might think. I have the same attitude to staunch supporters of politics or royalty. If they believe what they spout, then there is nothing that I could say that should bother them. If they believe that their faith or loyalty is absolute, then there is fuck all that I say should matter. I think on it this way – What causes more trouble, belief or opposing reaction?
Qu 2. If it would get folks back into pubs, what are a few souls to keep an old and once cherished industry flourishing??
My own Devil’s Brew is quantity not specifics. When I was younger I had a phrase about being ‘five haufs in’ – That meant I was at the stage where I didn’t give a fuck but was still in total control. Over the years, unfortunately, that has increased to ‘twelve haufs in!’ I do have the curse / salvation of the quick drinker – Three quarters of the night I’m sober, it never builds, one drink later I want a kebab and a sleep!!
Thanks again Leila, these are always fun!!
Hugh
literally stories 