Fantasy, Humour, Short Fiction

Rock and Roll Lamb School 666 by Leila Allison

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Obnoxious is What Obnoxious Does appears to be the student motto at The Lamb School of Saragun Springs. A superior percentage of the juvenile Ewes and Rams at Lamb School are spoiled, mouthy brats who show no appreciation for their homeland. You can tell them that if they were born anywhere else but Saragun Springs, they would neither talk nor think beyond the undemanding standards nature has set for Sheep, and they will laugh at you. And dare toss the prospect of New Zealand at them, they merely fake a yawn and launch into a new groundless complaint to counter your empty threat.

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Short Fiction, Writers Reading

Writers Read: The Dead Zone by Stephen King

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The Dead Zone by Stephen King

1979

The Dead Zone was the first SK novel I ever read. The first book of his that I read, given to me by a neighbor, was a short collection called Night Shift. Lots of good stuff there, my favorite being Gray Matter. It made me double check my beers for a long time.

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Latest News, Short Fiction

Week 523 – Dio / Bonnet /Turner, Music Induced Wrath And ‘The Poseidon Adventure Wasn’t Mentioned Because Of The Polo-Neck!

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Here it is, Week 523 which follows on from last weeks 522! Not much of a surprise!

First off, Leila made me realise something, I’ve lost an old skill. She mentioned a song of a favourite Rock Group of mine, ‘Rainbow’ and I realised that I didn’t know it. I was pleased (For my own sanity) that I’d never owned the album it came from. That was what made me think. If you love music and are of a certain age, albums and their included songs came to you hand in hand. This happened in a split second. As soon as someone mentioned a song you blinked and in that time you saw yourself opening the album cover and taking out the record. You then would state:

‘This Night’? – That’d be Billy Joel’s ‘Innocent Man Album.’

‘Spread Your Wings’? – That’d be Queen’s ‘News Of The World’ album’

‘Dirty Water’? – That’d be ‘The Quo’s ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’ Album’

Those three came to me and there would be a lot more but there is probably double that amount that I’d not know when at one time I did.

Continue reading “Week 523 – Dio / Bonnet /Turner, Music Induced Wrath And ‘The Poseidon Adventure Wasn’t Mentioned Because Of The Polo-Neck!” →
All Stories, General Fiction

Girl on a Trampoline by Christopher Ananias

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                                                                                                                                                                                                               Night falls black and starless. His eye is drawn to the cemetery. A chill runs through him. Young sees his breath in the porch light. He takes the air into account—the change. Things will have to be shut off soon and covered, other things will have to be turned on. He hears footsteps and the slamming of cabinet doors. Young thinks, are those snowflakes? I hope not. Trinity’s rusty black Chevy Cavalier has the trunk lid standing open.

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All Stories, Humour

The VW Starter Motor Catastrophe by Michael Bloor

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Drummossie, Aberdeenshire – January, 1976.

Because I couldn’t afford the necessary welding repairs to my Morris van til the end of the month, I was getting a daily lift into Aberdeen, with my friend and neighbour, Stewart. Aberdeenshire is the cold shoulder of Scotland and it was a hard winter. Normally, if you’re getting a lift into work, it would be churlish to object to push-starting your friend’s car. But, in a week of snow and ice, push-starting a VW beetle first thing in the morning involves a major (nay, crippling) effort. So, come Friday, I was pleading with Stewart: we would have to replace his starter motor that weekend. Stewart readily agreed, little knowing the pain and humiliation that would ensue.

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All Stories, General Fiction

The Weight of Nothing by Kip Knott

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Sam doesn’t like sunsets. Sunsets for Sam are a daily reminder that death is just over the horizon. Sunrises aren’t much better for Sam either because they just start the clock running again, marking time until the next sunset. Even now, as he stands outside his mother’s house smoking a cigarette while the hospice nurse tends to his dying mother, Sam is unpersuaded by the light of one of those sunsets in which people swear they see Jesus’s outstretched arms in the iridescent rays that beam between clouds. Sam just shakes his head in disgust, then turns and walks inside.

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All Stories, General Fiction

Swordfish by Graham Mort

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Swordfish laid out in the supermarket, next to tuna steaks and mackerel. Marlin, the guy behind the counter offers, wiping bloody hands on his white jacket. Mussels laid on a bed of samphire. You can almost taste the salt. Call me Ishmael. A wide Sargasso Sea. Wind over waves. Barnacles on the hulls of schooners, where a man could be keelhauled. As it happens, I’m shopping for other things. Breakfast cereal, yoghurt, pineapple, white wine. The list written out on a scrap of cardboard torn from a tissue box. So, yes, move on.

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All Stories, General Fiction

Love Handles by Susan DeFelice

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After his anxiety attack in the barely cold sea water, Barry walked to the outside European-style tiki bar where a woman with a roiling accent was singing Sinatra, with just a stand-up bass and conga player accompanying her.

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All Stories, sunday whatever

Sunday Whatever: Roughing It by Dale Williams Barrigar

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Roughing It Dale Williams Barrigar

From the ages of twelve until sixteen, I was raised on the banks of the Mississippi River.

I first got truly intoxicated via alcohol on the banks of the river. (Alcohol would later become a major passion, until I had to give it up.)

I first tasted cigarettes on the banks of the river. (Same.)

I first tasted the sacred ganja (weed), too, on the banks of the Mississippi River. (Also a major passion, not given up so far as of this writing, except in the smoking form; medical edibles are stronger and more long-lasting anyway…)

I first held the hand of a girl on the banks of the river.

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