Three Books There were three books that had a big impact on Hudson. The first was Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card. Hudson picked it out at the library during one of their reading periods in fifth grade. It was the first time he realized that books could actually be interesting. After that, he read…
Tag: fiction
Pantheon Search
Pantheon Search The air was greasy with the tang of raw adoration. The audience was already rapturous, and the excess worship was making Larry giddy. A cherub pointed, and he was on. “Welcome to Pantheon Search,” Clotho, one of the judges, said. “You are . . . ?” “Larry.” The audience tittered. “Truly a divine…
Beauty Killer
Beauty Killer Every day I go destroy the most beautiful things in the world. I’ve seen murals that made me cry from sheer awe, moments before my flamethrower melted them out of existence. “Eighteen buildings cleansed,” I say. My boss nods, impassive. “How many new occurences?” “48 yesterday, just in your area,” she says. We’re…
FunBoat™
FunBoat™ Never get a rental for a heist, especially a FunBoat™. I turned sharply. Spray drenched us. The police boat was getting closer. “Excess speed violates your rental agreement,” FunBoat™ repeated. “Silence that!” Megan screamed. I hit Mute. Silence. “Your allotted time has ended,” FunBoat™ said. “Insert $20 to continue.” We started slowing. I fed…
Amid the Raindrops
Amid the Raindrops After weeks of running, I found myself in Laos. Laos is not a path to anywhere, so I stopped. My phone was off. No more dodging investigators, regulators, creditors. I could live here, learn Lao, show tourists around, maybe. Exploring my new country, I entered a temple. It was deserted and inside,…
Unlimited Credit
Unlimited Credit The check came. “I’ll get this one.” “Oh, you will, eh? Which ‘you’?” “Let’s see. Do they take Mastercard?” “Use one of the visas.” “Here’s one: Randall James.” “That’s a platinum card. Save that for something big.” “How about this one: Adelbert Hanspeter.” “What?!” “What’s wrong?” “That’s my grandfather.” “Maybe it’s someone with…
The Impossible Circle
The date was December 13, 2022. That’s important, as you’ll see. I was walking to work, the rain pattering in fitful drops, not enough for an umbrella, but just enough that your coat is wet through by the time you arrive. I reached the crosswalk on 38th and Maple and retreated under the canopy of…
A Bunch of Triangles
A Bunch of Triangles “What were you thinking?” I blushed. “It was an art project, sir.” “Art? What about the Prime Directive? We do not interfere with cultures that haven’t made extraterrestrial contact.” “It was just a bunch of triangles . . .” “Yeah, 500-foot-tall triangles! That’s not going to go unnoticed!” “It was mostly…
The Devil Missed His Connecting Flight to Georgia
The Devil Missed His Connecting Flight to Georgia Harry was taking a walk when a morose imp approached him. “Hey,” it said listlessly. “You want to have a competition? If I win, I get your soul.” “What if I win?” Harry asked. “You get this aluminum kazoo. It’s a kazoo competition.” “Shouldn’t it at least…
Molly’s Cut
Molly’s Cut It took years to find the hidden alley where Molly’s shop lurked. She leered at me. “I sell one thing: time. One amount: forever.” I swallowed. “How much?” “Pay in kind, boy.” Her sapphire gaze wormed into mine. “Twenty years.” I coughed. She scoffed. “Fool! It’s water from an infinite well. I deserve…
The Green-Walled Treehouse 