This story is in response to the Muse on Monday prompt from January 1, 2024. Two Beginnings The dorm room smelled like failure. Ryan put his suitcases down and sat on the unmade bed furthest from the door. The white cinder block walls had the look of an institution, or a prison. He should feel…
Tag: fiction
Luddite Philanthropy
Luddite Philanthropy People whispered about the creepy house because that is what people do. It had hundreds of shoes hanging from one outside wall. People said that they were trophies from the owner’s victims. Gossip leads to accusations, then to investigations, so the police stopped by. Mrs. Hodges, 92 and half blind, sat while the…
Shoppers from Elsewhere
Shoppers from Elsewhere Our tables were ready when the Others stepped through the Door, otherworldly eyes wide and curious. They circulated the flea market, buying goods before returning to wherever they came from. No one knew. Or cared. They liked plastic, and they paid in platinum, making every 37th day a jackpot. A woman (probably)…
You Can’t Miss It
You Can’t Miss It “Stop! That’s the one.” “He said it had a green door.” “That is green.” “You sure? Looks yellow. I think it’s just a greenish light.” “Well, he said it’s the house with the green door, said we couldn’t miss it.” “You wanna go knock?” “Go up and ask if this is…
First Snowfall
First Snow I loved the house. Until the first snowfall. I was going to my car when I spotted tracks leading from the shed: odd organic impressions with claws marks splaying at random angles. They led to my basement door, now open. Something is in my house, I thought, suddenly terrified. Sometime during the night,…
Wishbelly – Let Me Tell You a Story
Wishbelly – Let Me Tell You a Story This is a storytelling video based on a story that I posted here in the past. It is a story about a young boy on a quest to save his father. I don’t know where the name came from: it just kind of came to me. It’s…
Bore of the Worlds
Bore of the Worlds When the lights came to Earth, displaying powers beyond anyone’s comprehension, everyone just assumed they’d take over the world. Instead, they ran for city council in Sudbury, Ontario. They ran on a platform of public parks and fixing infrastructure instantly through cosmic rays. They won. As years passed, world leaders flew…
The Three Apples – Let Me Tell You a Story
In my opinion, this week’s Let Me Tell You a Story video is a good one. It’s a retelling of the story The Three Apples from 1001 Arabian Nights. I like to do retellings of fairy tales since there are a lot absurdities built into them. For instance, in this story, the caliph is about…
The Window
The Window The cabin was small, but the window faced the beach. He spent hours standing there, just looking out. The wind probably felt cool and smelled briny. Maybe I’ll take a walk. For the 5725th day in a row, he decided not to. Maybe tomorrow. The light flickered. The projection screen died. In poured…
The Good Octopus – Let Me Tell You a Story
The Good Octopus – Let Me Tell You a Story Welcome to the weekend everyone. This week’s Let Me Tell You a Story video is the Good Octopus, a telling of the original here. Like most stories I write, I’m not sure exactly how I came up with the idea, but I liked the idea…
The Green-Walled Treehouse 