Game Night: The Quickie

Brynn’s cellphone chirped and buzzed from its place next to the keyboard. He saved the data query on his screen; saving his work whenever he was interrupted was a habit he had developed after many lost files and documents. The phone buzzed again before he picked it up, tapped a button to wake the screen.

Regaining My Life

Two years ago, my wife passed away. Processing the grief has been difficult because it has forced me to reconcile with my new identity as a widower. Supportive friends, neighbors, and colleagues have tried to help get me out of the house and away from the memories. Asking me to join their social events like fundraisers, parties, and cookouts have […]

Two Halves Try Making a Whole

“It sounds like a terrific resort,” Josh had told her. “Sun and sand, lazing by the beach, all meals included. Just the two of us for a week, away from our troubles.” Cassie wasn’t at all sure their troubles were the sort of things you could get away from by going to Mexico. But Josh pitched it as his way […]

Friends Help Friends

Call me naive. Or better, call me Rod, which is my name: I’m Earl Cornfeld, to be precise, but everyone calls me Rod. Don’t ask. Even at the beginning, I knew it was too good to last. I had fallen for Melissa Bock, hook, line, and sinker. We were sixteen and off at a summer boondoggle for around six weeks, […]

I was an Easy Target

It was the 1970s. I was a young bachelor living in a small Midwestern city, beginning my career as a writer. I bought a modest home on the edge of town. The house next door was a rental property that changed renters every year, it seemed.

Best Friend’s Crush Falls for Me

I was driving as we left the Chinese restaurant. Dave held the bag of food in the passenger seat while Bethany sat in the back seat. It was a rainy fall evening. The restaurant had told me that I was their last order, that they were closing for the evening, and that we better hurry up but what can I […]

Nightstick

Patrick (Pat to his friends), one of New York’s finest, a NYC Cop, spent as little time as possible at the precinct station dealing with paperwork and the like, he much preferred to be out ‘on the job’, doing what he liked doing best, being on the streets, looking at people, observing and dealing with situations that perps and crazy […]

A Swedish Cabin

Friday morning I woke up to the sound of bird chatter and a ray of sunlight piercing our bedroom. First morning without any alarms and I couldn’t care less what time it was, I felt completely refreshed. Turning over I see my beautiful 27 year old girlfriend Rebecca sleeping, her red hair laid on her white pillow and her mouth […]

Beach House Vacation

My family rented a beach house for the summer in a cozy little beach community. It was set back in a section of town that was nice and quiet as it was not directly on the beach and not on the main drag. My sister Lori and her friend Michelle were allowed to have the house for the week after […]

Noisy Neighbour

Not too long ago, a young man moved into the flat next door. He seemed kind enough. He’d smile and say hello whenever he passed me in the hallway, and once he even helped me carry my groceries up to my flat when one of my shopping bags broke. That’s when he introduced himself as Darren. He’d be a great […]