Author’s Note: A.) I’ve always enjoyed short-story contests of 50 words or fewer. B.) As of this writing, pangolins are one of the animals most suspected of giving humans this strain of coronavirus.
The pangolin hunter smiled, looking at his wriggling snare.
“Listen,” the defiant pangolin said. “I’ll make you a deal: Let me go, and I’ll let you live.”
The hunter said nothing, reaching to strangle the little anteater.
“Okay,” the pangolin resigned, blowing a juicy sneeze in the hunter’s face.
October 31, 2026 · Original Stories
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is Chapter 3 of my novel "Westenra Memorial." You can read Stave 1 and Stave 2 , if you click those links. At the start of his evening shift, José reluctantly knocked on the door…
November 13, 2025 · Original Stories
Mr. Gelz was old. Mr. Gelz (G like gills; rhymes with bells) was mostly bald. Mr. Gelz & Mrs. Gelz had grandchildren. Mr. Gelz smoked a pipe and wore short-brimmed fedoras. Mr. Gelz celebrated one birthday by getting a stunningly all-white concrete 2-car-wide driveway. Mr. Gelz scolded all the kids in the neighborhood for using…
October 31, 2024 · Original Stories
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is chapter 2 of my on-again-off-again novel “Westenra Memorial.” You can read Stave I from last Halloween with this link. Stave II This photo of a spring peeper frog has nothing to do with this story. I’ve just been meaning to use it for years. Shambling in through the front door of…
