Bubbledon CountyMort Morford © Copyright 2021 by Mort Morford  |
 Photo by John Moeses Bauan on Unsplash |
If
you
believe that water is water and rocks are rocks, you have not been to
Bubbledon County. . . .
AnaroZaynab Ben Allouch © Copyright 2021 by Zaynab Ben Allouch  |
 Photo by Anna Karp on Unsplash |
Being
alone was my biggest fear. And I never thought that destiny will take
my parents and leave me alone against the world.
I quit morning jogging, I couldn’t wake up, I don’t why. After one month, I started feeling powerless and hated myself for that, so I decided to come back to my morning routine even without motivation. . . .
Blue Highway Brew TourRichard Fulton © Copyright 2021 by Richard Fulton |
 |
A
beer tasting adventure along the blue highways from San Antonio to
Bellingham, Washington. . . .
RootsJaehee Son © Copyright 2021 Jaehee Son |
 |
“I
don’t understand why we have to go, this place is boring and it
smells.”
“Seung Uk! Don’t talk like that! We haven’t seen your grandmother in years, and we promised to visit for Arbor Day”. . .
“Seung Uk! Don’t talk like that! We haven’t seen your grandmother in years, and we promised to visit for Arbor Day”. . .
|
D Short's Last Cruise Cody Short © Copyright 2021 by Cody Short |
|
A forty-five-foot
Mainship trawler was launched in St Petersburg, FL in 1985, the same
year that I became Cody Short, D Short and I finished the year by
getting married and having a New Year’s Eve Party.
I always called Dennis Short “D Short” because that is how he introduced himself on the phone during our initial contact. We met through a dating service before computers were household equipment. . . .
I always called Dennis Short “D Short” because that is how he introduced himself on the phone during our initial contact. We met through a dating service before computers were household equipment. . . .
Chicago RevisitedSusan Taylor © Copyright 2021 by Susan Taylor |
 Photo by Christian DeKnock on Unsplash |
What
a great place! My husband and I recently were in “The Windy
City,” (more about that later). It was early October,
unusually warm; in fact, temperatures were in the high 70’s,
with a smattering of rain. After a punctual and comfortable flight
on Southwest Airlines, we disembarked at O’Hare Airport, pulled
our suitcases through a corridor, and shed the layers of clothes we
had put on that morning in our hometown, San Diego, California. . . .
SeptemberLaura Elizabeth Horgan © Copyright 2021 by Laura Elizabeth Horgan |
 Photo by Rhys Fradley on Unsplash |
I’m breaking and I don’t know how to show you the cracks.
I’m not sure if we can be pieced together this time, but I’m trying. I keep my mouth shut and hold it all back. The dam won’t break even when its full. Even though this time, it feels empty. . . .
I Gave Oxygen To My WanderlustTWP Tilden © Copyright 2021 by TWP Tilden |
 |
During
my very first
sojourn to Los Angeles, all those years back, my nights were spent at
no less a haunt than the Cecil Hotel. Back then, in the early aughts,
memes didn't really exist, conspiracy buffs weren't mainstream, and
“Cecil Hotel” meant absolutely nothing to me. But enter
its name in any search engine nowadays and one can easily click
himself deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole of know-it-all YouTube
plagiarists, replete with slick video-editing and tiresome voice-over
narration. . . .
The Other ManPamella Laird © Copyright 2021 by Pamella Laird  |
 Photo by Alexander Nachev on Unsplash |
He
pulled the heavy,
studded door behind him. Inside, a dull thud that mimicked his
dejection echoed from pillar to pillar. Then silence. A silence that
moved mist-like into the furthest corners and hung above him…
waiting.
Ken
hesitated, a
stranger to an atmosphere that despite his misgivings said,
‘Welcome.’ The walls seemed to hold a serenity in their
arms as if it were a national treasure, a gift to all who shuffled
namelessly into its haven. Cautious, alone, haunted by the loss that
had shattered his life Ken released his withheld breath. The world
had moved on, leaving him in an airlock of thinking that skulked in
his brain like a malevolent fungus. . . .
|
A Needed Job
|
|
A
few of my friends and family said, “Your time in the insurance
industry will be short and very boring.” Almost everyone asked
me if they had requested a list of prospects from me, you know, a
list of friends, relatives and the like. They had, but I didn’t
give anyone the satisfaction of an answer. This was a new job,
and my new employer had arranged school to prepare me to get my
license, even before I started work. . . .
Lingering MemoriesKelly Maida © Copyright 2021 by Kelly Maida |
 Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash |
We
never can pick or choose the memories that linger in our mind. If
only it were that easy. Memories are like songs playing on repeat
sometimes. But unfortunately we can’t pick and choose the songs
on our memories playlist. I only have one memory of my uncle Mark. I
was three years old and I remember him playing the Eagles song called
life in the fast lane. I remember I couldn’t say fast lane. I
kept saying play gasoline, play gasoline. . . .
The Ghost LakeNiloufar Behrooz © Copyright 2021 by Niloufar Behrooz |
 |
Northern
Iran is home to the most beautiful and mysterious sites anyone could
ever visit. Located at the heart of the richly forested province of
Mazandaran, almost 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) from the city of Noshahr,
there exists the haunting Mamraz lake, more widely, and aptly,
known as the Ghost Lake. . . .
Captivated by the Local Animal PopulationErin Boyd © Copyright 2021 by Erin Boyd |
 |
We
give ourselves away when we travel.
Sometimes it’s in the clothes that we wear. Jeans and a t-shirt are seen as a standard uniform from certain parts of the world. That clutching of a backpack by someone decades removed from the schoolroom mark my mother as someone who’s cobbled together a stash of random necessities: water bottles, wipes, umbrella, jacket. . . .
Sometimes it’s in the clothes that we wear. Jeans and a t-shirt are seen as a standard uniform from certain parts of the world. That clutching of a backpack by someone decades removed from the schoolroom mark my mother as someone who’s cobbled together a stash of random necessities: water bottles, wipes, umbrella, jacket. . . .
More...
A Prophecy Never FulfilledAdejumoke Oluwole © Copyright 2021 by Adejumoke Oluwole |
 |
In
the midst of hardship and continuous disappointments, there are few
parents who would go the extra mile to fend for their children. My
father - Oluwole used his wit and time when that was not enough, he
sacrificed his blood and life in ardent pursuit of betterment for his
children. You will find in this man, the courage of a soldier, the
persistence of a martyr, the faith of a saint and the love of family
all combined. Unfortunately, he was a prophecy never fulfilled, the
genius the world never met. . . .
Return to UtopiaLinda Jones Weber © Copyright 2021 by Linda Jones Weber |
 |
I roll the jeep slowly through the dusty cow town of
Utopia, Texas, absorbing each detail—the antique store fronts,
every tree, the raised wooden sidewalk—and pull up in front of
the Lost Maples Café. Here there are signs of life. It looks
like a good place to slake our appetites and inquire as to where we
might find the old “Jones Homestead.” My father, William
E. Jones, and his sister, Maizelle Jones Prucha, are eager to find a
house that only exists as a vague memory. . . .
| A
Treasured Bucket of Buttons Lane E. Dooling © Copyright 2021 by Lane Dooling |
 |
Timing
can be an amazing thing sometimes. There are times in our lives that
we don’t feel whole for a number of reasons. Before I met
Helen, I was in the midst of navigating a deep decline with my folks
and had assumed the role of the “parent”…and I
felt lost and alone . . .
The Cancer ChroniclesJen Eve Taylor © Copyright 2021 by Jen Eve Taylor |
 |
Dancing
in the rain amongst the ruins of an abandoned prison in Latvia, I’m
surrounded by other dance music festival pilgrims. The bass pulses
through my body, beating in time with my heart so I can't tell them
apart. It’s summer, but it’s been raining for days and my
shoes are caked with mud, heavy as I dance. . . .
Strange ConcoctionRicha Dewangan© Copyright 2021 by Richa Dewangan |
 |
Learning
the realities of life as we grow makes us
mature or scared or aware or practical or.... until we realize that
acceptance is the only way. Not in, nor out, but through the tunnel.
Reality and imagination go hand in hand, incomplete without each
other. Strange Concoction is the story right about it. . . .
AuroraTilottarna Chowdhury © Copyright 2021 by Tilottarna Chowdhury |
 |
She
stopped and looked through the glass window of the clothes store. The
window was decorated with Christmas trees and New Year jingles. Two
mannequins wearing, what looked to be, the shiniest clothes the store
could find, stood faceless gazing out at the streets. . .
Pandora's BoxMaryann Donovan © Copyright 2021 by Maryann Donovan |
 |
Today
was the day to tackle cleaning out my mother’s room. Much of it
had been just as it was three years ago when I had to put her into
assisted living. It had been several weeks since she died
at the nursing home with me at her side. I have avoided going
through her belongings and clothes, for that would be
forcing myself to face the fact that she was really gone. . . .
Beneath the Waning TideHannah L. Bercovici © Copyright 2021 by Hannah L. Bercovici |
 Photo © 2021 by Hannah Bercovici |
Coral reefs are quickly disappearing because of human
interference. In this story, I try to create an emotional landscape
for the reader to experience being underwater with these organisms
and explain why it is so important for humans to act. . . .
A First Time For EverythingPetro Van Rooyen © Copyright 2021 Petro Van Rooyen |
 |
They
say there is a first time for everything. Well, De Jerez, who was one
of Columbus’s crewmen, was apparently the first European to
inhale the smoke of burning tobacco leaves.
He
tried it, after seeing the native people of Cuba, at that time, doing
it. When he repeated this stunt in Spain, however, it did not end all
that well for Rodrigo de Jerez. People thought it was the work of the
devil when they saw smoke coming from his mouth and the Inquisition
was informed, which led to his arrest. It was not a good idea to
start smoking for the first time in those years; it was 1492 after
all! . . .
An Angel By My SideMichelle D. Smith © Copyright 2021 by Michelle D. Smith |
 Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash |
My
life has been filled with otherworldly occurrences. Since an early
age, I have dreamt about deceased relatives as well as future events.
None of these things were odd to me, but they did require
explanations from my family. . . .
LerdineMichelle H. Davis © Copyright 2021 by Michelle H. Davis |
 |
Lerdine
is a story written about the relationship between Michelle and
the woman who would
come to clean her home when she was little. A child of emotional
neglect by her mother, Michelle understood even at four years old,
that Lerdine was teaching her not only the lessons of keeping a home,
but of what it is to love and be loved unconditionally. Although
Michelle has not seen her beloved Lerdine since she was 7, these are
conversations and lessons Michelle has never forgotten and has
carried with her into adulthood. . . .
More...
A DaydreamerNischal Samrat © Copyright 2021 by Nischal Samrat |
 |
June
10th,
2006. It was on the occasion of the afternoon when I took my first
breath and gave out my cry to announce to everyone about my presence
into the world. I didn’t knew that a long journey was waiting
for me to get started. I didn’t knew about the people whom I
would likely to meet in the future who would end up deceiving me. . . .
Small Acts of CourageBiography of Lidia GawrońAnna Burns © Copyright 2021 by Anna Burns |
 Lidia and Antonina |
This
is a biography of my grandmother, Lidia Gawroń,
born on the 2nd. of December, 1900. She brought me up and was my
friend and mentor. Her resilience and careful planning allowed her
children to survive WWII and the deportation to Siberia. Without her,
her grandchildren would not have had a chance to be born. My family
owes her a debt of gratitude. I want to share the story of a life,
that was both difficult and lonely but always courageous. . . .
|
|
 |
A
slow smile spread across Chuck’s angular face as he stared into
his beer. It was the smile of a man who has just pulled off a
pay-packet fiddle for himself. . . .
The SqueezoNancy McAtavey © Copyright 2021 by Nancy McAtavey |
 Husband Jim and Son Todd work on the squeezo. |
Every
aspect of our daily lives changed with the Covid-19 pandemic: how we
ate, where we shopped, what we did with our families and our homes
while we were hunkered down. For many, the backyard garden
became a chance to get outside, get dirty and put fresh
produce
on the table. And for these two veteran gardeners, there was yet
another challenge. Finding a little-known kitchen gadget that
no
one had ever hear of and suddenly was, you got it, ON BACK ORDER! . . .
The Dalit PatronArnav Darnal © Copyright 2021 by Arnav Darnal |
 |
Born in Bhojpur, Nepal to a Dalit
family, deemed
lower caste as maintained by the Hindu Varna system and, therefore,
untouchable, Padam Sundas resists social conventions and champions
the rights of the marginalised to become the first Nepalese male
diplomat of his caste. . . .
|
Forgotten
|
|
“Kate, Kate…
wake up, you need to be ready in 10 minutes, your uncle is coming to
pick you up with your sister so that you could both go to Kivu beach
to have fun and get along with your cousins” My Mom woke me up
after shutting my alarm two hours ago. Yes, she managed to wake me up
because she knows that at the mention of any touristic place, I can
sacrifice anything, just to be there. . . .
"Jewel Book" of Anna of BavariaAnd
It's Secret Meanings
Jule Ross © Copyright 2021 by Jule Ross |
 |
Jewel
Book of the Duchess Anna of Bavaria is a very unique item. It was
commissioned in 1552 by Duke Albrecht of Bavaria. The manuscript is
an inventory of the jewelry owned by Duke and his wife. It contains
110 drawings of precious gems, necklaces, brooches, and depictions of
other scenes, in example Duke and his wife playing chess. . . .
Of Larkin, Death, and The Algebra of LoveYeshwant Sridhar © Copyright 2021 by Yeshwant Sridhar |
 Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash |
I was 9 years old
when I got to see a funeral for the first time. It was close to home;
it was my uncle’s. I remember there was a phone call from my
grandpa. Before my mom could pick it, the line had cut off. She
called again and heard the grueling voice of her father, who had
witnessed his only son crumble to the ground without warning. . . .
Unexpected AdventuresPranali Vira © Copyright 2021 by Pranali Vira |
 Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash |
Splash!
My feet were full of sluggish mud when I stepped into a narrow gap
between the rocks. This was totally a new escapade for me. I wouldn’t
ever forget this in life. . . .
The Simple LifeJoyce Benedict © Copyright 2021 by Joyce Benedict |
 |
As
a child I
loved Nature and all of its creation. When movies
were
viewed of the early days of the pioneers and their struggles, I found
myself rooting for the Indians, feeling sad with their people being
literally mowed down, their lands being
taken. . . .
| The Courage To Press On
Eva Bell
© Copyright 2021 by Eva Bell
|
|
It
was December 30, 1968 and
the smell of fruit cake baking in the oven wafted through the
apartment. For the umpteenth time, my children and I peeped over the
balcony at the sound of every car cruising by. We were expecting my
husband, Jacob, who had been on duty over Christmas somewhere in
South India. We had planned to make up for his Christmas absence by
celebrating with a gala New Year’s party. . . .
I'm Not the Nutrition GrandmotherMarcia McGreevy Lewis © Copyright 2021 by Marcia McGreevy Lewis |
 |
“I
always knew my grandmother loved me,” says my friend in the
midst of her analysis of her neglectful parenting. “She saved
me, gave me any confidence I have today, and her chocolate chip
cookies were the best.” . . .
|
"Said the Spider to the Fly"
|
|
“How
much for that one?” a sailor asked, gesturing toward me as I
chopped onions on the worn linoleum countertop in the back of the
diner. He sat at the scared work table a few feet away eating
breakfast with the owner, Mrs. Green, another sailor, and a girl from
high school with an iffy reputation. I laughed, thinking he was
making a joke about me being some type of food. Tears streamed down
my cheeks—not from the joke. I was never good with onion. . . .
|
The Hunchback of Sacred Heart
© Copyright 2021 by Iris Leona Marie Cross
|
|
On
my bookshelf is a
1,095-page tome I was awarded for coming first in the
Cambridge Royal College of Music practical exam, grade six.
Its
tattered sleeve and torn pages brown with age hold so many memories.
Among the abiding memories is a most humiliating experience suffered
at the dark, wrinkly hands of my music teacher, Miss Millicent
Roberts. . . .
Cronicles of a Newly WedIkechukwu Echebiri © Copyright 2021 by Ikechukwu Echebiri |
 Photo by James Lee on Unsplash |
When
I was young, I always looked forward to a fairy tale wedding,
followed by a wonderful - if possible endless honeymoon. The
stories I heard or read about honeymoons was out of this world, so
when our wedding came I looked forward with expectation. Things were
falling in line and all of a sudden, barely a day after our wedding,
we were thrown out of our new flat in controversial circumstances. . . .
Marriage MattersIan Tyes © Copyright 2021 by Ian Tyes |
 |
. . . .Living in China and trying to understand the Chinese system is
a challenge for a non-Mandarin speaker and this is the true story of
the "highs and lows","ups and downs" of our
attempt to get married in Kunming (south-west China) during the Covid
pandemic. . . .
Always Slow Down at Stop SignsValerie Forde-Galvin © Copyright 2021 by Valerie Forde-Galvin |
 Lawrie |
This
is my story about learning how to drive. I was taught by my father
who managed to pass on to me his driving skills along with a healthy
perspective on navigating through life. . . .
Davvy's Cart\\Kevin O'Neill © Copyright 2021 by Kevin O'Neill |
 |
My
wife Davvy used to have a sandwich cart on the corner of Street 26
and Wat Bo Road up until December 2020. The small yellow, orange, red
and blue aluminum box on two wheels with a glass enclosed cooking
counter topped by a cute triangle red roof was parked night and day
at its spot near a French café there. It was securely chained
to the stout trunk of a sidewalk tree. . . .
|
Janis
LeForge
©
Copyright 2021 by Janis LeForge
|
|
Before
now, there were many years I was reluctant to tell my life’s
true twisting tale. Here are some thoughts on the “truth”.
We’ve been told that truth is stranger than fiction and it
will set you free. In court you must
swear to tell the
truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This is my true
story. . . .
How Did I Become a PsychologistMigel Jayasinghe© Copyright 2021 by Migel Jayasinghe |
 |
Having resigned from my job as a
Sub-Inspector of Police, in Ceylon, after a spat with my boss, the
Assistant Superintendent, I considered emigrating to the UK, to work,
but also with the ulterior motive of returning to my studies and
improving my prospects in life. . . .
Feldman's CurveB. L. Makiefsky © Copyright 2021 by B. L. Makiefsky |
 |
It was the
summer Marilyn
Monroe was found dead, and Spider-Man born. It was the year of the
Cuban Missile Crisis, too, though world events were not on the Cubs
minds; only baseball mattered. The boys lived the game morning, noon
and night and what these 11 and 12-year-olds lacked in skills they
found in dreams, where wooden bats crackled like Zorro’s whip
as they smacked balls over fences, and their leather gloves—which
they slept with—snagged balls from thin air and lofty heights,
highlight reel catches that brought frenzied crowds to their feet. . . .
The Stages of a SmileDayne Hammond © Copyright 2021 by Dayne Hammond |
 Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash |
A
child was born into the arms of a tired, yet happy mother.
He was rosy, blonde, and a bit plain, but there was a toothless grin on his face.
When the child arrived home, family women gathered around him warmly and celebrated his arrival. . . .
He was rosy, blonde, and a bit plain, but there was a toothless grin on his face.
When the child arrived home, family women gathered around him warmly and celebrated his arrival. . . .
A Glimpse of Vice and VirtueSidney Nnamdi Nwangwu II © Copyright 2021 by Sidney Nnamdi Nwangwu II |
 |
Redemption
has been a tale of glory told in all societies across time. These
tales are sometimes eclipsed by fables of a meteoric rise from the
depths of the downtrodden. Stories in this vein have kept the spirit
of the legendary Hercules in the human consciousness millennia after
ritualistic worship of him ended. The greatest sports icons of the
20th century have similar tales keeping their exploits alive decades
after their retirement. . . .
Living UneditedAn Indie Filmmaker's Reflection on Life, Friendship & FilmChris Doerner © Copyright 2021 by Chris Doerner |
 |
I am
visiting one of my closest childhood friends, probably for the last
time. "How's that for a teaser?" As Tom would say. Or
"Don't give away the ending too soon". Anyone who knew
Thomas Kennerly III, knew he was all about the "Film" or
more accurately, the stories he wanted to tell through film. . . .
The 49ers At Benito Juarez HospitalThomas Turman © Copyright 2021 by Thomas Turman  |
 Photo by André Freitas on Unsplash |
On
a Bay area evening news program in 2010, a rescue worker, at the top
of a pile of concrete rubble that used to be a building, held up a
small baby they had just pulled from the wreckage of the building
after a Turkish earthquake. The baby was alive and wailing loudly. The
worker, his facemask pulled down, was both smiling and crying. He
thrust his dirty, crying bundle up into the air for the news
cameras as if to say, “see, it isn’t hopeless for us to
dig in this rubble.” I was inexplicably crying too, which
scared my wife. . . .
|
The New Hoover James L. Cowles © Copyright 2021 by James L. Cowles |
 Mom circa 1925 | 
|
I
remember the day mom got her first vacuum cleaner. It was a Hoover
canister, with all the attachments she would ever need.
Good-House-Keeping had endorsed it and that was a major factor in
those days. It was the early 1950s and I was ten or eleven years old
at the time. . . .
More...
Living In FearKelly Maida © Copyright 2021 by Kelly Maida |
 |
. . . .I
am writing this because of a series of unfortunate events in my life.
However this last event is what makes me finally speak out about the
suffering and torment I have been going through. I was renting an
apartment from a landlord who stood by and watched me suffer from his
other tenant in his building. He stood by and did absolutely nothing.
Not to mention I always had to beg the landlord to fix anything. It
got to a point where he just stopped fixing things and just giving
excuses. . . .
Eat Potato, Get Fatso!Nikky Jain © Copyright 2021 by Nikky Jain |
 |
He
had joined school in mid-session. In those days this was allowed
easily unlike now when you’ll have to have a ton of connections
and maybe pull some strings via money and then maybe some school will
allow it. Nineties were a simpler times in many other aspects,
including romance. . . .
More...
So Sorry, Uncle Chick, I Meant To Say GoodbyElliot Wilner © Copyright 2021 by Elliot Wilner |
 |
There
was a large FedEx envelope resting in plain view on the counter that
fronted the mailbox. The mailbox was a simple wooden cabinet,
open-faced, divided by shelves and partitions into twenty-four slots
for sorting of mail to staff members of the Holy Cross Hospital
Health Center. This envelope obviously had been left on the table
because it was too bulky to fit into one of the individual mail
slots. It might have been mailed to any of twenty-four individuals
-- yet I somehow assumed, for no good reason, that the address on the
envelope would bear my name. Or, to be perfectly honest, I earnestly
hoped that it would bear my name. . . .
The Price of a Civics LessonElliot Wilner © Copyright 2021 by Elliot Wilner |
 |
This
is an account of my trip, together with my friend Bob, to a session
of the “McCarthy Hearings” in 1954. Bob and I were
then both residents of Washington, D.C., in our senior year of high
school and only a few weeks shy of graduation. In order to attend the
hearing, which was held on a weekday, it was necessary for us to be
truant from school. We decided that the reward of attending the
hearing outweighed the risk of being pursued by a truant officer.
Now, looking back on this experience from a distance of sixty-nine
years, I am confident that we made the right decision. . . .
TracersFred Cheney © Copyright 2021 by Fred Cheney |
 |
. . . .I’m
an old man now, but I was eleven or so in this story. Across the
road, lived Ben, six months my senior, and Timmy, six months younger
than me. We lived out in the country, without another kid our age for
miles. So, we bonded. We bonded by chasing the neighbors’ cows.
We bonded by stealing cigarettes from our parents. And we bonded by
reading GI Joe comics. Each week one of us would put up the dime to
buy the latest one. When we got a chance, we lied our way into a war
movie in Brunswick, usually Audie Murphy stuff. We were fixated on
the glories of war. . . .
Memory and June OneRoger Barbee © Copyright 2021 by Roger Barbee |
 |
Memory does not remember all of this day or surrounding days, over fifty years ago when a recent college graduate made his way from North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida.
His trip involved a young girl he
had met the previous summer and her
pregnancy. His purpose was a last attempt to persuade her to marry
him and keep the baby, and truth holds pieces of the days he spent
with her while she was in the hospital giving birth to a baby boy on
June 1, 1968. . . .
Successful Stacy-Ann Shows SpunkPriscilla Cargill © Copyright 2021 by Priscilla Cargill |
 |
Growing
up in volatile, depressed areas of Kingston, Jamaica, poverty, and
crime were clear. She could hear the deafening sound of gunshots day
and night, which left her terrified. Ambitious Stacy-Ann Cargill née
Campbell, determined to change the narrative of her life, aimed to
improve her standard of living. To succeed in life, she must get a
sound education; and a well-paying job. She also wanted to move to a
better neighborhood, provide for her parents and two younger
siblings. . . .
I Have My Father's ToesMichele Moore © Copyright 2021 by Michele Moore |
 |
I
have a vision, a dream, that one day there will be a peace and
harmony that every person will live by and uphold — no matter
what race, creed, nationality. A lofty goal by today’s evidence
of violence and extremism in the name of religion, or just plain
ignorance and fear of the unknown. . . .
The Haitian - Jamaican ConnectionBlood Ties, Support, Alliance and ComradshipWinston Donald © Copyright 2021 by Winston Donald |
 |
Jamaica
, The One Love country has been at the forefront as a country
compassionate and ready to provide a helping hand especially in times
of need and times of economic or political upheaval. . . .
Pieces of LydiaLadona LaPorte © Copyright 2021 by Ladona LaPorte |
 |
Pieces
of Lydia is
a story about a Latvian woman living in the WWII era. A future detoured
by the atrocities of war, this is a
story about one woman's struggles and coping mechanisms. . . .
story about one woman's struggles and coping mechanisms. . . .
Serving My Fatherland
|
 |
I
just completed my university thesis as I waited eagerly to be engaged
in a year service to my fatherland via the National Youths Service
Corps (NYSC) The Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sovereign country
located in West Africa, the most populous black nation on earth with
an estimated population of over 200 million people. In 1996,
electoral and political process led to back-to-back military coups. . . .
The Last LightA Long But True StoryNooruldeen Oglah © Copyright 2021 by Nooruldeen Oglah |
 Photo by Jonas Kaiser on Unsplash |
I
am a wife and mother to a son and a daughter, and since I started my
life with my husband, we have been living a good life. I have used
throughout my married life to raise my children with several nannies,
and each of them did not stay with me for more than two months and
then escaped from my husband’s aggressive cruelty by nature. He
was masterful in torturing any nanny who works for us, and I do not
deny that I sometimes participated in his crime. . . .
A Most Spectacular DreamJoyce Benedict © Copyright 2021 by Joyce Benedict |
 |
On November 20, 1963 I dreamt that John F.
Kennedy
was assassinated. I described the dream to three
people
days before the event. Not only was the dream the most extraordinary
I ever had in my life, but it changed my views of
reality
forever. . . .
| I Grieve for the Woman I Knew Before Melissa Uchegbu © Copyright 2021 by Melissa Uchegbu |
 |
When
I was young, I adored my mom and would do everything with her. She
was truly the center of my world; I remember this one time my
siblings were having a sleepover. Me being the youngest I honestly
couldn’t hang with the crowd, so I went into my parents’
room and slipped into their beds. My mom must have sensed me because
she snaked her arms around me and held on tight for dear life, like
in a moment’s notice we would be separated. . . .
The IncidentCorbin Bosiljevac © Copyright 2021 by Corbin Bosiljevac |
 |
. . . .They yelled, mocked,
harassed, and altogether annoyed the ever-living crap out of me. I
didn’t even know I was being watched while I slowly mopped the
dayroom floor. After being in jail for only a few days, I still
wasn’t aware that everything you do or say is judged by
everyone else in there and any weaknesses observed are exposed for
the sake of entertainment. It’s just how things are when you
are incarcerated. Inmates are bored and new fish are easy targets. . . .
A Quiet Kind of HeroJames Osborne © Copyright 2021 by James Osborne |
 |
Les Marriott endured a horrific
childhood, having had the misfortune of being born just a few years
before The Great Depression. During the Second World War, he escaped
near certain death by coincidence in a naval battle, later becoming a
scout master and revered role model to scores of youth. . . .
More...
Break the SilenceKelly Maida © Copyright 2021 by Kelly Maida |
 |
Scattered visions near the
clock. It's 2 am. Disturbing noises on
the other
side of the wall! It woke me up!
I thought I heard someone
get hit! I thought I heard someone fall! Then I heard him in a loud
voice. . . .
The Assimilated TruthDhananjaya Kannali Narayana © Copyright 2021 by Dhananjaya Kannali Narayana |
 |
This story is based on a unique subject and begins
with
a reunion of two good old friends who had known each other from
childhood days, although we are practicing contrastingly different
professions, one being an Engineer, of course the narrator of the
story and the other being a medical practitioner. There happens an
exchange of story between these two friends and as a result of which
an unrevealed truth is disclosed to the author. The story sails
through interesting phases and is written in a simple and easily
understandable language to keep the reader comfortable to grasp,
understand and further render the reader satisfied. An element of
humor is kept wherever called for. A glance through this story would
hopefully be an enjoyable experience to readers of any age group
although the middle agers and the old agers might find it most
interesting. . . .
| My Back Surgery Experience Cathy B. Bridges © Copyright 2021 by Cathy B. Bridges |
|
No
one likes to be in the hospital and, like me, may avoid it if
possible. I have been putting it off for several years, but the time
has come for me to have lower back surgery. Maybe I should rephrase
that. I need to have back surgery and will not be able to function
well without it. . . .
From Bankruptcy to a Perfect Credit ScoreCheryl Ann Farrell © Copyright 2021 by Cheryl Ann FarrellT |
 Photo by Melinda Gimpel on Unsplash |
The
pandemic year of 2020 brought considerable hardship to many. For me,
it was the year I finally made a FICO score of 850. A perfect credit
score! It didn’t happen quickly though, and it may not be the
path for everyone. This is my path of financial restoration. . . .
The Bears of KatmaiTom Carroll © Copyright 2021 by Tom Carroll |
 |
Alaskan
brown bears are merely grizzly bears that live in a coastal
influenced environment, primarily where salmon makeup a principle part
of their diet, allowing them to vastly outsize and outweigh their
inland cousins (The famed “Kodiak” bears are nothing more
than brown bears that live on Kodiak Island) They
are all
grizzly bears of the genus and species “Ursus arctos”,
with various subspecies designations. Guiding fishermen over
the course of twenty seasons in the region, I had the privilege of
spending untold days out in the company of these impressive,
majestic, and, at times, intimidating creatures on the myriad
watercourses where we, and they, were fishing. . . .
More...
Vovô Was A BadassDevin Meireles © Copyright 2021 by Devin Meireles |
 |
My
grandfather, Vovô, was an unyielding man that carried himself
with a heavy stick. He was a badass akin to the likes of Humphrey
Bogart, Marlon Brando, or Tom Hardy in today’s modern age.
Staying true to himself, he didn’t need to act tough, he just
was but you wouldn’t know it at first glance. . . .
Two EssaysModester Phiri © Copyright 2021 by Modester Phiri |
 |
In
the middle of the road, stranded, tired and alone without knowing
what to do or who to tell. Strapped of all the privileges knowingly
or unknowingly. Being left with two options, to live or to die, to be
a victim or to be guilty, to scream or to keep quiet, to tell
somebody or to live with it. Most gender-based violence victims are
left with two choices in their minds. Before they even attempt to
make a choice, they would like to know if gender-based violence
culprits really face justice. Based on the case studies below, with
hope they could have their answer. . . .
Horrid Episode of the 344 KankaransPaul Onuh © Copyright 2021 by Paul Onuh |
 |
Waking up and hearing the sound of gunshots fired
by men, who busted into the boarding school premises, during the night
time raid was the scariest thing in my entire life. I broke out in a
cold sweat, when they rounded up several hundreds of boys, including
myself from the dormitory, and then forced us out of school into a
nearby forest. . . .
More...
Travail of the Kagaran BoysPaul Onuh © Copyright 2021 by Paul Onuh |
 Freed schoolboy playing football after his return home. |
Bandits
belonging to a criminal gang kidnapped hundreds of schoolboys from
the hostels and some teaching staffs last night. The outlaws dressed
up in military gears stormed my school, the Government Science
College Kagara, in Kagara town of Niger state, overpowering the
security guards on duty. . . .
|
A Self-Fulfilling Prophesy
|
|
Growing
up in
a house with two elderly great-aunts who moaned about their myriad
maladies, and compared notes to see who had the greater
affliction, cemented in my mind that old age should be feared
rather than embraced. Small wonder I dreaded turning 60. . . .
More...
The word ‘addition’ for most conjures images of unfortunate people caught up in alcohol or drugs, that they lack willpower, that they must all be mentally ill. There is a far more insidious addiction——an emotional addiction which can be as lethal, destroying, devastating as succumbing to known substances. . . .
AddictionJoyce Benedict © Copyright 2021 by Joyce Benedict |
 |
The word ‘addition’ for most conjures images of unfortunate people caught up in alcohol or drugs, that they lack willpower, that they must all be mentally ill. There is a far more insidious addiction——an emotional addiction which can be as lethal, destroying, devastating as succumbing to known substances. . . .
Ultimate ViolationJacquline Musgrave © Copyright 2021 by Jacquline Musgrave |
 |
The following is a 100%
true story that happened to me my freshman year in college. I never
even knew this was possible, let alone capable of happening to me. My
intentions of telling the story now is that as things get weirder in
our world, this story might save at least one person and if so, it is
worth sharing. I have not told many people because I know how it
sounds. I swear on my life, 100% true. . . .
Waters that BindTracey Hebért-Seck© Copyright 2021 by Tracey Herbért-Seck |
 Photo by Nick Scheerbart on Unsplash |
This
a non-fictional account of my son’s birth. In 2012 at 41, I
anxiously awaited the birth of my first child. It was already
considered a miracle, an answered prayer that I had conceived. As I
retell the events, the glee and excitement of this birth is
juxtaposed with the medical provider’s concern about the
implications of preeclampsia at 36 weeks. This composition recounts
the events, emotions, and musings I experienced while waiting to meet
this child for the first time. This explication is a gift to my son
who continues to flood our lives with waters that renew and refresh.
. . .
Moving AbroadMigel Jayasinghe© Copyright 2021 by Migel Jayasinghe |
 |
Strange
to think that less than two decades or so ago, we hadn't even thought
of visiting Spain on holiday, let alone settle down there to a life
of leisure and retirement. I think it was probably when Barcelona
hosted the Olympics, that our eyes were opened to the potential of
swapping our high season timeshare week in East Sussex, for something
similar, in and around Barcelona. . . .
| Not
an Ordinary Day in June Lane E. Dooling © Copyright 2021 by Lane Dooling |
|
For
many children, the Christmas season is magical and special with the
fragrance of pine and the display of lights along with family
traditions. Although I agree wholeheartedly, there was always a
special day that came around once a year that had nothing to do with
Christmas or any holiday...it was the first day of summer vacation! . . .
Queen CalafiaMarc Revere © Copyright 2021 by Marc Revere |
 |
“There
ruled on that Island of California, a queen, great of body, exquisite
for her race, at a flourishing age, desirous in her thoughts of
achieving great things, valiant in strength, cunning in her brave
heart, more than any other who had ruled that kingdom before her,
Queen Calafia.” Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo, “The
Adventures of Esplandián” (1510). . . .
Holding Hands with an AngelChristine Marcotte © Copyright 2021 by Christine Marcotte |
 |
After
I retired I volunteered as a guardian for adults who could not make
decisions for themselves, had no family to do so, and thus were
appointed a guardian by the district court. I was Mary's guardian for
about six years ~ until her unexcepted death. It took me
another six years before I felt I could write about my experiences
with her. . . .
More...
A Miracle for a Little BoyJoyce Benedict © Copyright 2021 by Joyce Benedict |
 Photo by Nick Scheerbart on Unsplash |
In our modern,
technological world miracles are seldom viewed as possible.
Following childhood polio, difficult
health, family issues,
marriages ending, I began seeking whether miracles do really
occur. After all, the Bible describes many. Why not for me? Others? I
heard of none, until a trip to a seminary changed everything. . . .
WoodyJoyce Benedict © Copyright 2021 by Joyce Benedict |
 |
We don’t forget our
childhood dreams. We just tuck them away like old photographs, a
crushed flower from a high school prom, a ticket from some long past
memorable event. My dream of having
special
interactions with the animal world was carefully tucked away in my
unconscious to be forgotten through years of high school, college,
marriage and children. Little did I know that after my first marriage
ended, and shortly into my second, my childhood dream was to be
fulfilled. . . .
The Franklin Roosevelt Home Comes Alive(through the eyes of a park guide and her visitors)Joyce Benedict © Copyright 2021 by Joyce Benedict |
 |
Following eight years
conducting tours at Montgomery Place, a Livingston
home, in
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, I applied to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt
National Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY.
Even though I was only in third grade when this great man died, I have always felt a deep connection to both the president and Mrs. Roosevelt. I continued to read about them through the years. Their impact and contribution on and for our country during those disturbing, tumultuous troubled times was unprecedented. . . .
Even though I was only in third grade when this great man died, I have always felt a deep connection to both the president and Mrs. Roosevelt. I continued to read about them through the years. Their impact and contribution on and for our country during those disturbing, tumultuous troubled times was unprecedented. . . .
Fifteen-Minute BreakErika Hunter © Copyright 2021 by Erika Hunter |
 |
When
I was younger, my dad would tell me that I should work at least one
minimum-wage job in my life. As a university-bound,
academically-driven, and quite frankly, financially-privileged
teenager, I didn’t understand why this was so important to him. . . .
Tears of the NatureGeorgina Lowole © Copyright 2021 by Georgina Lowole |
 Photo by Boudewijn Huysmans on Unsplash |
The
morning rain ball in the mist could be seen from far, those threads
of shining light from the rising sun penetrating through a family of
different trees only to heat up the moist nutrient well reached soil.
Dew from the dawn dropping in every green leaf, wow what a beautiful
morning. Winds were blowing from east to west passing through the
jungle, all weak ripen fruits dropping from the trees to feed the
soil and hungry animals mongering around. . . .
More...
Thyroid StoriesPurbasha Roy © Copyright 2021 by Purbasha Roy |
 |
. . . .About
two years back I suffered bloating issues and visited the doctor. The
doctor , an obese
human
had one of the brightest smiles I have seen in one of the thousand
faces I have met or
crossed.
She asked with a sweet humility " What do you do to maintain
yourself?". How
easy
the answer came " Nothing madam , I keep check on calorie
intake". . . .
TargetsKay Smith-Blum © Copyright 2021 by Kay Smith-Blum |
 Photo by photographer @enginakyurt at Unsplash |
It
occurred to me quite early on in the pandemic how human we all are.
We stumbled, we tripped, we faltered and fell into the morass of
fear, barely keeping our heads above the brim of quarantine. We
masked up or didn’t. We embraced technology or didn’t. We
followed every headline or didn’t. And our foibles were
laughable. Truly. And it was good to laugh at myself and along with
others. My most self-deprecating friends provided great fodder for a
series of “virus” essays that I realized could bring a
much-needed smile in a time of great devastation. . . .
A Transatlantic Lesbian Love StoryNatascha Graham © Copyright 2021 by Natascha Graham |
 Photo by Kate Hliznitsova on Unsplash |
“You
make a million decisions that mean nothing, and then one day you
order take-out and it changes your life.” - Annie Read,
Sleepless in Seattle
I didn’t order take out. But I did post online, and moments after that, my whole life changed. . . .
The Worst Night of My LifeLydia Waybright © Copyright 2021 by Lydia Waybright |
 |
I
don’t think about the worst night of my life every day. I don’t
even think about it regularly. Most days I live in a reality in which
that night never existed. I’ve managed to create a space for
myself, in my mind, in my body, in my world, that is detached from
that night. . . .
Aliens Have Names TooFancy Goodman © Copyright 2021 by Fancy Goodman |
 |
It all starts with a name.
It is 2012. I am eleven years old. I follow my parents to the immigration office to get my international passport. I am quiet as usual. After some two hours, I get impatient and restless. . . .
It is 2012. I am eleven years old. I follow my parents to the immigration office to get my international passport. I am quiet as usual. After some two hours, I get impatient and restless. . . .
The Legend of Molly Tynes and Her RideFrank Emerson © Copyright 2021 by Frank Emerson |
 |
Throughout
history, the accepted view of the role of women during warfare has
been one of support. Certainly, in fact and in legend, there have
been numerous instances of proactive females during hostilities. Just
think of the Grace O’Malley, Ireland’s Pirate Queen of
the 17th century, 18th
century British
buccaneers, Anne Bonny and Mary Reed and the American Revolution’s
Molly Pitcher. . . .One
further, albeit little-known example of a female coming to the fore
in time of a national emergency is the action taken by one Molly
Tynes during the American Civil War. . . .
The Sad, Ironic Fate of Sullivan BallouFrank Emerson © Copyright 2021 by Frank Emerson |
 |
Of all the letters associated with the American Civil War, two stand out as arguably the most beautiful and touching – certainly the best known. Abraham Lincoln's poignant, comforting note to a certain Mrs. Lydia Bixby, who had lost five sons to the conflict, is the first.
Perhaps even better
known, and certainly as poignant, is the letter from Union Major
Sullivan Ballou to his wife, Sarah. Written one week before the First
Battle of Manassas, or Bull Run – as it was called in the
North, the words are all the more heartbreaking when you realize that
Ballou did not survive to go home again. . . .
The JourneyRachel Cann © Copyright 2021 by Rachel Cann |
 |
Yesterday
I went with my boss of the food to the needy nonprofit to go
horseback riding. It was way out of town, and she insisted on driving
her rental van because my car doesn’t have heat, and she says I
drive too slow. Vicky was recently written up in the news for a food
program in Roslindale that didn’t meet standards of cleanliness
that the city forefathers thought necessary. It mentioned she had
been doing this food thingy for 30 years and was homeless. Poor
people give a small donation for the food, and I don’t think
they care about germs as much as the city forefathers. . . .
A Day WithoutMike Ekunno © Copyright 2021 by Mike Ekunno |
 |
Leaving
the office without my phone at close of work on Friday was initially
forgetfulness. It was either the economics of a long retrieval sortie
or lassitude that transformed inadvertence to deliberateness. So
began a 24-hour phone fast. . . .
Spilling Your Guts on PaperMaureen Moynihan © Copyright 2021 by Maureen Moynihan |
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
|
I
attempted to publish
my first story during Sunday school. While the other children colored
pictures of Jesus Christ resurrecting from the tomb, I penned “Happy
Bird Flies Home.” It was a somber tale about a deceased
parakeet who returns from the dead to sing songs and march on the
head of its 8 year-old mother. . . .
Bleeding EyesJacquline Musgrave © Copyright 2021 by Jacquline Musgrave |
 |
. . . . “Look!
I’M DOING IT!” I yelled as I was able to keep my feet
straight and my ski’s from
crossing and falling as I had on every previous attempt. It was our
first ski trip, mine and my younger brother Donnie. We were with my
Mom and our stepdad in a nice big rented motorhome. It was a 3 day
weekend, and being 16, I had been allowed to bring my best friend
Jodi. There were lots of hot guys on the mountain, and we were just
trying to ski well enough to stand so we could talk to them without
falling as most of them were skilled on their feet. . . .
More...
Yet Another StatisticMy Unremarkable Eating DisorderHelen Ruhlin © Copyright 2021 by Helen Ruhlin |
 |
. . . .Allow
me to save you some emotional buildup and start right in with the
bold statement that you’d
normally
find halfway down the page, at the end of a sappy anecdote, or in the
final sentence of a cathartic conclusion: I have, and still do,
struggle with my body image. I’m
not
in love with my physique, not infatuated with my appearance and I
don’t think that makes me
special. . . .
9-11: An Alaskan Guide's TaleTom Carroll © Copyright 2021 by Tom Carroll |
 |
Every
American can recount exactly where they were and what they were doing
on the morning of 9-11, I was in remote Alaska and have a distinctly
unique narrative to relate. Guiding for “wilderness”
fishing lodges, or those located in remote locations, accessible only
by airplane, far from towns and roads, posed specific challenges and
circumstances. . . .
If You Give A Gerbil A HaircutAnna Cattar © Copyright 2021 by Anna Cattar |
 |
If
you tell your mother what life was like at your dad’s house,
she’ll want to keep you quiet. Before you have time to say the
word rape she’ll leap to comfort you. Soft deflective words
will slip off her lips “the same thing happened to me”
and “I know it feels like he took something from you.”
She won’t ask you why you are crying. . . .
The Mini Guides to Life's JourneyLaura Piquette © Copyright 2021 by Laura Piquette |
 |
Life
can get complex. It is not that you are failing, more rather, it is
you did not have the information you need when you need it. In turn,
that creates us problems overtime. Leaves us wondering why if life is
survival of the fittest then why don’t we have answers up to
this point. . . .
One Of Our Planes. . .WWII Veteran Tom Cox's Unscheduled Trip to the BeachDaniel Hicks © Copyright 2021 by Daniel Hicks |
 Photo of Tom Cox (on right) and a Dakota. |
The gypsy had long been a friend of the
family, so when
Phyllis Cox visited her mother in the tiny Devon village of Lustleigh
she made a point of visiting the old lady’s ornately decorated
caravan. But as the gypsy stared into her eyes and held her hand in
hers she was wishing she hadn’t come. . . .
A Summer Twice VisitedSienna Joshi © Copyright 2021 by Sienna Joshi |
 |
. . . .Summers
in Argentina will always stand out in my memories in sunshine
brilliance; my two younger sisters will agree. We have only ever
spent two summer holidays in Mama’s home country - one of which
I was too young to remember more than strawberry popsicles,
sparklers, and Papa Noel - but they were particularly special. . . .
High TensionDaniel Hicks © Copyright 2021 by Daniel Hicks |
 Photo by Sid Pradhan on Unsplash |
I
had been in Datchet, a few miles west of London
Airport, before, but usually below the flight path, never above it.
This time I wasn’t so sure. I instinctively ducked as a Boeing
747 thundered overhead.
The most unwelcome present I have ever received was from my wife on the occasion of my retirement. . . .
The most unwelcome present I have ever received was from my wife on the occasion of my retirement. . . .
More...
Tango of DeathBullfighting and the International CheeseburgerLance Mason © Copyright 2021 by Lance Mason |
 |
In The Resurrection, Tolstoy said, "People
instinctively
keep to the circle … who share their views of life and their
own place in it." Yet today’s world vividly illustrates
the risks of “keeping to the circle,” of reinforcing,
rather than challenging, one’s closely-held beliefs. Through
the various lenses of history as well as regional cultures, relative
ethics, and tolerance, "The Tango of Death" attempts not to
justify but to explore and understand Spanish bullfighting, a topic
and tradition outside many people’s “circle,” and
charged with emotion and politics. . . .
Where You Can Feel The Earth BreatheSienna Joshi © Copyright 2021 by Sienna Joshi |
 |
This
piece is a series of memories and reflections on my transition to
adulthood. It takes place during the time I traveled and studied at
Aberystwyth University and includes periods from my childhood in San
Diego, California. I learned a lot about myself, culture, and place
during this time and it has greatly shaped who I am today. Nature has
always been a significant part of my life and I wanted to pay tribute
to the ways in which it has helped me feel at home, both in San Diego
and in Aberystwyth. . . .
What I Have Gone Through In SpainGeorge Ivanov Vasilev © Copyright 2021 by George Ivanov Vasilev |
 |
Soon
after the totalitarian system collapsed in Bulgaria at the end of
1989, I enrolled myself in History and Bulgarian Philology at
university but I quit within a year. I was bored there. I did not
like the manner in which some professors and their associates were
delivering the lectures. Some of them were still lecturing the same
way they used to do in the past. I disliked it. I could not force
myself to study against my will. Yes, I had worked hard and I had
attended evening high school classes for four years just to be able
to get into university. I was interested in writing, in literature so
getting into university was my greatest dream. But I gave up so
easily. . . .
A Girl Who Wore Combat BootsRita McDermott © Copyright 2021 by Rita McDermott |
 |
. . . .When
the cattle buses arrived at our destination, the doors opened to find
three Drill Sgts. standing there. They were blowing whistles and
yelling, “you got five minutes to get off that bus, get your
gear in the barracks, and get back down here in formation. Move it.”
It was then that I said to myself, “what did I get myself
into?” The reception station gave a false sense of easy going
cadre and low key schedule. . . .
More...
| Between a Rock and a Hard Place Desiree Kendrick © Copyright 2021 by Desiree Kendrick |
 |
At a time when
travel restrictions are in place, we ache for adventure. I flip the
pages of my travel journals and photo albums. Italy, shaped like a
boot, is my favourite shoe obsession. Here’s some arm chair
travel to share. . . .
Sitting With My BoysB. J. Thompson © Copyright 2021 by B. J. Thompson |
 |
This story covers my
time visiting the National Memorial
Cemetery of the Pacific, aka Punchbowl Crater Cemetery, as research
for my epic-length literary novel, entitled, AIR, covering the lives
of six U.S. Navy sailors who end up trapped inside the capsized USS
Oklahoma after the Pearl Harbor attack. And in their attempts to
survive, they discover there are worse things in life, than death. . . .
Taking a Train in England - An AdventureVictor Pogostin © Copyright 2021 by Victor Pogostin |
 |
A
coloured serpent of railway cars may look attractive and even invoke
the sweetest of childhood memories, but it can be very annoying, if
you risk traveling by train across the green fields of England. . . .
More...
Coffee and Ideological Maxims in MoscowVictor Pogostin © Copyright 2021 by Victor Pogostin |
 Photo by Rachel Lees on Unsplash |
Coffee
in Moscow may be as good as anywhere else, but did you ever try to
buy it in the same bar of the same hotel, and yet in two different
countries and even in different epochs? Well, I did. . . .
Pandemic Treasure HuntMarcia McGreevy Lewis © Copyright 2021 by Marcia McGreevy Lewis |
 |
Letting off steam during the pandemic can
lead to
astonishing treasures as I discovered when taking a
spontaneous
car trip. The treasure hunt delivered two
golden treasures. . . .
|
Perception Outside Normal Capability
Cody Short
© Copyright 2021 by Cody Short |
|
This is a true story. The
names are changed
because the setting is rural East Tennessee where privacy is precious
to this day, and everybody knew their neighbors in the Fifties.
. . .
All The World We SeekLaura Elizabeth Horgan © Copyright 2021 by Laura Elizabeth Horgan |
 |
I've
never been able to find God. But if the entity exists, I want to walk
in the Holy man's shoes and pray to the heavens, become exalted in
the sea of belief. My skin will be flushed, the thoughts that come
and go will be tethered to the adoration of the self, and each
connection we have as individuals to the great being. . . .
| Early
Riser/Namaste June Calender © Copyright 2021 by June Calender |
 |
The older I get the
earlier I wake up. In fact, I often think I need less sleep because I
not only wake up early but may spend an hour or two awake, usually
between 2:00 and 4:00. I’m usually
awake by
5:30 or sometimes earlier but my clock radio alarm is set or 5:50 so
that I can wake up to ten minutes of classical music before a brief
local broadcast of the day’s news. Local information, not
national unless something unprecedented happened overnight, local
sports scores and finally — the real reason I have the clock
set a little before 6:00, the weather forecast. They are usually
correct. . . .
Open HeartedS. Nadja Zajdman © Copyright 2021 by S. Nadja Zajdman |
 |
It was bitter, the winter of 1959. An
epidemic of Hong
Kong flu raged through the city. The disease felled Mum, Daddy and
me. We were compelled to quarantine. Who would take care of my
infant brother Michael? My mother’s sister and her husband
weren’t an option. My father’s siblings couldn’t
be trusted with anything. Through a network of neighbours, a woman
was located on Goyer Street. Her name was Katarina Trautmann. In an
audacious dash for freedom, Herr and Frau
Trautmann,
with their two teenage daughters, escaped East Berlin in 1953. . . .
More...
LineageS. Nadja Zajdman © Copyright 2021 by S. Nadja Zajdman |
 |
Of all the grandparents I never got a chance to know, I
feel closest to my mother’s father Lucian. Perhaps it was my
mother’s vivid storytelling that made him seem accessible.
I’ve inherited his talents and his temperament; so I was told.
Sometimes I fantasize that I can time travel to Poland in the 1930s
and meet my grandfather Lucian. . . .
CompanyJareen Imam © Copyright 2021 by Jareen Imam |
|
. . . .After a long
stretch of silence befell us, she told me a short story, no more than
two sentences, about my great-grandmother’s life. Although, at
that moment, I didn’t recognize how important it was because my
mother said it so fast, without inflection in her voice, or
reflection in her eyes. But those few lines inspired me to write a
short story about the last day of my great-grandmother’s life. . . .
Tackling Terrorism UnarmedSamir Kumar Jha © Copyright 2021 by Samir Kumar Jha |
 |
This
is the Memoirs of an unarmed soldier. This article has been written
with the following four purposes in
my mind :
- To make Govt. of India and Govt. officials aware what was happening in this area
- To make people of Non-north east aware what was happening in North-East India
- To provide people the necessary skill to function effectively in this belt
- To provide some permanent remedy to these problems. . . .
The Right To Bare ArmsJoy Mayfield © Copyright 2021 by Joy Mayfield |
 |
I
never thought about my arms specifically until 2006. That is the
year my mother forewarned me, “Your arms will turn on you one
day.”. . .
The Mean RedsJoseph Michael Webb © Copyright 2021 by Joseph Michael Webb |
 Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash |
The
Mean Reds illustrates the evening of the ‘surprise’
suicide of my sister many years ago; showing the crisis, despite
stigma, that is mental health care and what can happen to just about
anyone. . . .
That Special GameNikita Jain © Copyright 2021 by Nikita Jain |
 Photo by Sam Manns on Unsplash |
“Never
take off your clothes in front of anyone”, my Mom said while
cooking in a kitchen. I was standing near her. Those were the days
when she had started telling and teaching me about household chores
and cooking is anyway an important skill. I was about to turn
thirteen four months later. We had invited one of our closest family
friends ‘Singhals’ over for a dinner. . . .
The WellspringDavid Urubshurow © Copyright 2021 by David Urubshurow |
 Photo by Simon Hajducki on Unsplash |
I’m
in the shade of an arbor created by the water from a nearby
wellspring that also gives this oasis its Mongolian name: Bulgan.
Notwithstanding the leafy canopy, it’s scorching hot and bone
dry! I’m here because an imprudent impulse overcame my usual
good sense when traveling through inhospitable environments: I
yearned to eat cold watermelon in the middle of an unforgiving
desert. . . .
Butterfly MorningJudy Zwirblis © Copyright 2021 by Judy Zwirblis |
 Photo by Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash |
The
flowers
swayed back and forth as if music was in the air. It was mid-July
and the summer heat was lingering over my garden. I had planted a
package of wild seeds that spring, not knowing what would turn up. I
was pleasantly surprised as they blossomed into a mixed display of
color and kind. Although small, it was a most lovely garden. The
red, violet and orange colors brought the tiny visitors that day to
taste their fragrant drink. . . .
More...
Steal This BookAlan Herman © Copyright 2021 by Alan Herman |
 |
....There
it was! I was rotating the tall upright rack checking out the
paperback choices, in a drug store in Provincetown, Mass.
My First Day Going to Work During A PandemicEmily Howse © Copyright 2021 by Emily Howse |
 |
Today
is the first day I will be at work where I’m required to get my
temperature taken and be required to wear a mask. Worried
about
this because what if one of the people I work with ends up with a
fever and I’ve worked with them. Could I possibly get
COVID 19? . . .
Checkered Career Across Three ContinentsMigel Jayasinghe© Copyright 2021 by Migel Jayasinghe |
|
I
resigned my job as a Sub-Inspector of Police, after nearly five years
of service in Ceylon, because I considered immigrating to the UK. My
underlying motive was to return to my studies and improve my chances
of achieving an affluent, enviable, life-style. I applied to the
British High Commission in Colombo and was awarded a ‘priority
voucher’ to enter Britain.
I was 26
years old. . . .
|
Guardian Angels
|
|
One four degree February morning, I’d been
up
late finishing a paper for my Russian Lit class and decided to drive
home in time for church with my family. I’d pulled enough
all-nighters to know: it’s usually better to just stay awake
rather than sleep for a couple of pitiful hours. . . .
A PortraitLaura Elizabeth Horgan © Copyright 2021 by Laura Elizabeth Horgan |
 Photo by Michael Discenza on Unsplash |
. . . .The
people I knew worthy of a tale barely had two pennies to rub together
to make a third. But they knew how to put together a good time like
it was nothing more than a cocktail. I drank them up, intoxicated and
drunk on the lives and doings of the people around me who seemed to
be all in, all the time. I rode on their coat tails and enjoyed the
view. . . .
Fifth GradeEtti Hazan © Copyright 2021 by Etti Hazan |
 |
Last fall, my daughter turned 10
and began attending the
fifth grade, mask and all.
In
Italy, where I grew up, fifth grade is a big deal because it marks
the end of elementary school. Students who complete ‘quinta
elementare’
take
a test to qualify for middle school. . . .
Fear and FireEtti Hazan © Copyright 2021 by Etti Hazan |
 |
I had neither seen nor smelled the fire. I
knew it had
been there, because I had been told about it. The woman had survived,
but her cat had not. . . .
A Few Hours in FrankfurtEtti Hazan © Copyright 2021 by Etti Hazan |
 |
In April of 2005, I flew from JFK to Rome, FCO to join
my parents for Passover. The flight itinerary included a stopover at
Frankfurt airport.
Frankfurt, Germany - 5:45 AM local time
Frankfurt, Germany - 5:45 AM local time
As our plane touches German ground, I immediately experience a wave of conflicted feelings. This is my first time on German soil. Considering I have just spent over 7 hours on a German airline, with ample space and good in-flight service, my sentiments are kind of ironic.
The feelings more or less dissipate once I enter the actual terminal - after all, airports are in a generic league of their own. My ever-dwindling Yiddish allows me to butcher the German language while purchasing a much needed espresso. . . .
More...
Dodging A ScamTalara Nolan © Copyright 2021 by Talara Nolan |
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My
story is called Dodging a Scam. It is something that happened to me
before I had a daughter. While this sort of thing happens all the
time online now a days, back when it happened to me it was not so
common. I did meet my then boyfriend online and this is how he tried
to get me to marry his brother in order to bring him from Canada. I
am grateful that I was able to get out of that situation, as I now
have my daughter. . . .
Big Foot, Big DealLaurel Hendrickson © Copyright 2021 by Laurel Hendrickson |
 |
. . . .Gather round the campfire and let’s freak
ourselves out by talking about an Oregon folklore favorite: Bigfoot!
Most people have at least one story about something uncanny that
they’ve experienced but don’t have a good way to explain.
This is the crux of Bigfoot fun- someone heard or saw something
strange in the wilderness and a special glee comes from it maybe-
just maybe- being Bigfoot. . . .
PemberaEve Levinson © Copyright 2021 by Eve Levinson |
 |
This
story was part of an incredible month trekking and camping across
eastern and southern Africa. We had been on multiple safaris, gone up
in a hot air balloon, rafted the Zambezi River below Victoria Falls,
yet meeting rhinos in Zimbabwe was truly unforgettable. . . .
Crocodile TearsDawn Llewellyn-Price © Copyright 2021 by Dawn Llewellyn-Price |
 Photo by Joe McDaniel on Unsplash |
‘There’s
a good road, a not so good road, and a bad road’ Bernard our
safari bus driver had warned us as we left Nairobi Hilton, its foyer
awash with a great white wave of cricket bags. . . .
A Crow Named CharlieShreya Jha © Copyright 2021 by Shreya Jha |
 Photo by Simran deep Singh on Unsplash |
‘A
for Abtoss, B for Bulbul, C for Crow.’
I learnt to recite the alphabet with the names of birds. Abtoss was my baby word for Albatross, not the easiest word for a child to pronounce. I’m not sure if this is a true recollection or a figment of my memory. Probably the latter. It is a fact though, that birds have been part of my life from almost the beginning. . . .
I learnt to recite the alphabet with the names of birds. Abtoss was my baby word for Albatross, not the easiest word for a child to pronounce. I’m not sure if this is a true recollection or a figment of my memory. Probably the latter. It is a fact though, that birds have been part of my life from almost the beginning. . . .
Encounter with a Young GiraffeRachel Friedman © Copyright 2021 by Rachel Friedman |
 |
. . . .One
of the lovely things about living in Los Angeles is that we’ve
got a great zoo. It's not quite as famous as the one in San Diego,
but we still have a bird show, a petting zoo, and a secluded area for
baby animals. During one memorable period, these baby animals
included giraffes. . . .
Swimming With SerpentsJoli Villella © Copyright 2021 by Joli Villella |
 |
Just
as the two summers prior, I could feel the excitement bubble over in
my stomach chasing away the last tendrils of anxiety, my ever present
friend, as each mile carried us further away from civilization and
closer towards freedom. I knew the moment I stepped from the packed
van and breathed for the first time in a year true nurturing air, all
my cares would fade away into nothing as mother nature flooded every
sense. This was the healing power of the Buffalo river, the sight of
our long awaited adventure. . . .
The Three SnakesNaputt Thiravorachai © Copyright 2021 by Naputt Thiravorachai |
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Over
the course of my life I have encountered three different snakes, not
to
mention
various others. I do not know whether it is a stroke of luck to meet
such interesting and exotic animals, or a series of unfortunate
encounters. . . .
Jack in the BoxChloe de Lullington © Copyright 2021 by Chloe de Lullington |
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I
think the day the jackdaw arrived would have stuck in my mind even if
it hadn’t been forever immortalised as the day the jackdaw
arrived. The main reason for its notability was simple: Mum was
having some Me Time. Mum didn’t do Me Time. A
full-time
carer for a disabled husband and two primary school-aged children
(one of whom – yours truly – also had a chronic illness
of her own), she never went anywhere without us. . . .
 |
My
whole life, I have felt intense connections with animals of all
types. For hours I would perch on the windowsill to watch and
identify the gold finches and black-capped chickadees. If my parents
ever lost me, they knew to look outside and find me following a snake
or holding a newt. I would wander with the wild hares in Western
Washington forests and wade in the icy Pacific ocean to catch a
glimpse of the sharks in the waves. My mother quickly called me back
out, much to my chagrin. An unquenchable curiosity for all forms of
life has filled my whole being for as long as I can remember. . . .
|
A Regular Guest in the Guest House Janis Boguzs © Copyright 2021 by Janis Boguzs |
 Photo by Tadeusz Lakota on Unsplash |
I
adore being close to nature, to get away from the city's rush.
Thereby I choose to go to one guest house, owned by my friends and
located in the middle of a national park. There can be enjoyed
everything there: relaxation beside the sea, late evenings under the
stars, all spectre of flora and fauna of nearby forest and the guest
house yard itself. . . .
Caught It For My FatherEllen Urowitz © Copyright 2021 by Ellen Urowitz |
 |
About twenty years ago. My father was still alive. I don't remember how old. He must have
been fifty five ish. Still working everyday. Never packing a lunch
Always going out for morning coffee afternoon coffee.
I'm sure he's been drinking regular. That's four dollars a day times five.
Wondering why he's short on money. Thank goodness I'm working so I can help out. . . .
More....
Seven Hundred on the PlanetBettina Gantsweg © Copyright 2021 by Bettina Gantsweg |
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Muggy, hot, sticky. Our
group of seven stood at the base of the mountain while bugs swarmed
biting naked skin. Excitement stirred within, waiting, waiting to see
them. . . .
So Close I Could Hear It BreathingLisa Reily © Copyright 2021 by Lisa Reily |
 Nilgiri langur - photo by the author |
This
is a story about a trip my partner, Ion, and I took to Thekkady,
India, to see the beauty and wildlife in Periyar National Park, but
we found that nature came to us instead. . . .
More...
My Dad Was A SmokerLew Goddard © Copyright 2021 by Lew Goddard |
|
He sat in a high backed wooden chair that
creaked with
the slightest move after dinner. Tobacco, in those days was
available in packed layers of leaves and fashioned much like a
cigarette package and to keep it fresh it was wrapped in cellophane.
After carefully cutting the plug into small portions that fit in his
pipe, he reached into his front right pocket and extracted a brass
colored bullet shaped lighter. The top was removed and with a flick
of his calloused thumb it burst into flame. It had to be tipped at
just the right angle so it caught the tobacco on fire but he didn’t
burn his thumb. The lighter was restored to his pocket. . . .
The Scent of Tiny FlowersPamella Laird © Copyright 2021 by Pamella Laird |
 |
This
story was
told to me in the 1950’s by an aunt and uncle who lived in
Chertsey, Surrey, UK. I
did actually
meet the couple who were close friends of my relatives. Apart
from the
horrors and romance of their story I remember particularly how
anxious they were that they would care for the
dinner dishes
to make sure nothing was broken of their now treasured possessions. . . .
The Apple of My EyeLois Liu © Copyright 2021 by Lois Liu |
 |
. . . .I
shot up from my limp state and groggily sat up in bed. While rubbing
my pink-tinted hand, I let out a deep yawn. I blinked a few times, as
though I was in an unconscious state. Staring out the window of our
New York apartment, the branches swished around as the wind
anonymously wailed to anyone who listened. The weather outside was
like someone who just finished crying, leaving everything in a mess. . . .
More...
The Lost ProphecyDivine Walker © Copyright 2021 byDivine Walker |
 Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash |
He feels a slight
tingling touch on his face as if someone is tickling with a
shuddering hand. The shivering cold causes the frost to bite on his
feet and hands. He could feel the tingling cold as soon as he woke
up. There is a man standing in front of him with a hunching back. . . .
The SenatorRonald Keely © Copyright 2021 by Ronald Keely |
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Richard
Blunt prefers to be called Rick. He’s a simple man and lives a
simple life and he is, for the most part, content. He’s average
height, but he weighs two hundred forty pounds and muscular. He
regularly lifts weights and exercises his abs and core. He has a
graying beard and his balding head is usually covered with a hat.
Around town Rick is known as grumpy and anti-social. He doesn’t
have a glowing smiling face because he doesn’t see anything to
smile about, but he’s not necessarily grumpy, he just doesn’t
like people that much. . . .
Into The Lion's DenMarjorie Keyantash © Copyright 2021 by Marjorie Keyantash |
 Photo © by Wilson Chen |
. . . .“Just
stay calm…stay calm,” I kept telling myself as my heart
beat out of my chest. I knew what I was supposed to
do. From
my years of studying big cats I knew the proper protocol for what to
do when encountering a mountain lion but I had never had to put it to
the test... until now. . . .
Not PerfectEileen T. Flaherty © Copyright 2021 by Eileen T. Flaherty |
 Claudio Schwarz @purzlbaum |
Today
and most days when I think about the holidays, whether it is
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or the 4th of
July, it
brings me such joy and makes me smile. We, the Flaherty family, were
a small bunch with just the four of us, my mom, dad, brother and me,
until my nephews were born. . . .
SustenanceChristinia Robertson © Copyright 2021 by Christina Robertson |
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For
that one moment, we were all saved.
I pulled up to the curb and saw my neighbor standing, wrapped in a sweater, outside her house. “Thank god you’re home”, she called as I got out of the car. “I need help.” . . .
I pulled up to the curb and saw my neighbor standing, wrapped in a sweater, outside her house. “Thank god you’re home”, she called as I got out of the car. “I need help.” . . .
CoogCiaran Doran © Copyright 2021 by Ciaran Doran |
 |
. . . .A
rainy Sunday we headed into the woods after elk. The leaves were down
for the year, creating a rustling red and gold carpet so anything
within half a mile could hear us coming. Predators would pick us up
too if they got downwind. Coyotes are sensitive. A lot of people say
there are no wolves left in Missouri but I’ve seen plenty. They
might not roam in packs but nomads do cross the state border pretty
often. What’s a line on a map to a wolf?
Mountain lions are the rarest of all in the Ozarks. There’ve only been sixty sightings in the past twenty years. That amounts to a mere handful at any time. Since deer are plentiful the cougars don’t go hungry. It’s illegal to kill them though unless they’re directly attacking livestock or a person. . . .
Mountain lions are the rarest of all in the Ozarks. There’ve only been sixty sightings in the past twenty years. That amounts to a mere handful at any time. Since deer are plentiful the cougars don’t go hungry. It’s illegal to kill them though unless they’re directly attacking livestock or a person. . . .
Our Owl FriendKay DiVerde © Copyright 2021 by Kay DiVerde |
 |
We
were fortunate to have a baby Great Horned Owl who lived in our
suburban yard for several weeks. The little guy seemed to find some
comfort having us around, and we admired his majestic beauty. . . .
More...
|
Country Living James L. Cowles © Copyright 2021 by James L. Cowles |
|
When a young boy, I remember the
shock of seeing my Aunt Annie's house lit only by coal oil
lamps.
I had never seen such a thing and as I recall, there were only two
lamps, requiring a person to carry a lamp from room to room where
light was needed. How could this be, I wondered? We
were
from The City of Louisville, where everyone had electricity, but less
than one hundred miles from home, my country relatives were not as
privileged. . . .
The RaptorAbram Gabriel © Copyright 2021 by Abram Gabriel |
 |
Good
things that happened this past year of infamy. 2020
will
be pivotal just like 1929 or the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Or like the
Truman years or 1918 or 1945. Those years will
always be
associated with certain images in my brain. I wonder
if
they are for everyone? . . .
More...
Courageous and Coping in a Time of CrisisDiane McLeish © Copyright 2021 by Diane McLeish |
 |
. . . . I
decided to explore the challenges facing a small establishment on
Lamu Island lying off Kenya’s north coast. It had recently
changed hands and despite being closed to visitors and having no idea
of what the future of travel will be, the young managers have been
determined to bring the charming but jaded little hotel back to life.
Whilst pondering the obstacles they face, I also learnt of the
intriguing history of the architect and previous owner of this
tranquil little Swahili retreat. . . .
Salt Water, Milk, and a Jaguar CubValerie Anne Burns © Copyright 2021 by Valerie Anne Burnes |
 |
Key Biscayne holds my fondest memories as a
teenager
during the carefree high school days when I had close friends, and a
boyfriend. It gave me a connection I hadn’t felt during
childhood, and a big part of it was being surrounded by balmy beauty....
Michael Manley- Jamaica's Radical Prime Minister and Non-Aligned Nations ProtagonistLegacy of Democratic Socialism and Solidarity With Black AfricaWinston Donald © Copyright 2021 by Winston Donald |
 |
Last
week Cabinet members for the new Jamaican Conservative government of
Prime Minister Andrew Holness was rolled out. The new government will
shape and promote polices that befits the economic and social
objectives of a debt ridden island state for the next five years. It
is the first time that a conservative government has upstaged the
Social democratic party, the Peoples National Party, the party that
was led by Democratic and Fabian Socialist firebrand Michael Manley
who is now turning in his grave at the massive loss at the polls of the
People’s National Party of the island nation of Jamaica
and its failure to even secure one third of the seats of
parliament. . . .
Pie FirstThe Second Course is Observing Abundant Wildlife in Startling Shapes and SizesMarcia McGreevy Lewis © Copyright 2021 by Marcia McGreevy Lewis |
 |
A determination to
scout out the best Key lime pie in Florida morphed into a rewarding
quest to observe wildlife I’d never encountered before. This
unexpected experience became a double delight. . . .
My Snail Hunting AdventureChukwuebuka C. Oguocha © Copyright 2021 by Chukwuebuka C. Oguocha |
 Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash |
The
nature, and physical qualities of some creatures can be so deceptive;
therefore, making us not to believe that there are more to what they
are, and what they can do, than what we originally knew them for.
This is the case of some underrated animals, like the snails. . . .
The Unfortunate HawkChukwuebuka C. Oguocha © Copyright 2021 by Chukwuebuka C. Oguocha |
 |
Who
would have thought that a predatory creature that maintains a very
far distance altitude in the sky, a raptor whose normal routine is to
soar higher even above the tallest trees could be caught with bare
hands without the aid of traps, or struck with any sort of weapon
specifically designed for it’s hunt? . . .
Critters: Part One and Part TwoJan Callner © Copyright 2021 by Jan Callner |
 |
A
dollop of peanut butter, check. A monster of a rat trap – two
heavy-duty jaws that snap with heavy-duty force – check. The
spot on the deck where evidence of animal traffickery has been noted,
check.
Somebody
or something has been nibbling my succulents. Droppings and nut
shells litter the space behind the recycling bin. Last year I trapped
six fruit rats after discovering one lounging in the grease pan of
the grill. I can handle nibbled succulents, but a rat in my grill is
intolerable. . . .
A Youth Called BrownskinThe Story of a Troubled Jamaican Adolescent Influenced by the Hard Social Conditions of the Late 1970's to Early 1980'sWinston Donald © Copyright 2021 by Winston Donald |
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Gloom
and sorrow shrouded the chilly air of the February 1981 morn. The
shrubbery wet from the overnight dew , the tall Weeping Willows and
lush Guinea grass that lined the roadway to the old Spanish mortar and
limestone Baptist church created an idyllic yet somber atmosphere that
complemented the majestic structure perched loftily on the apex of the
Dry
Harbour Mountains in St. Ann, Jamaica. As I climbed the hill to
this rural church positioned like the last outpost in the American
mountainous west , I became overwhelmed with grief and pulled a white
cotton handkerchief from my inner tweed jacket
pocket , then mopped my sodden eyes lamenting the loss of a
needy but adventurous adolescent friend. . . .
ElusiveDiane McLeish © Copyright 2021 by Diane McLeish |
 |
This
is a story of my
encounter and the search for an elusive and very difficult to find
wild animal called the Sitatunga antelope in a remote seldom visited
national park in Kenya. . . .
More...
| Our Reason To Add An Animal Member To Our Family
An Animal Will Teach Respect and Love and also Bring Protection and Joy To Your Family! James K. Aumak © Copyright 2021 by James K. Aumak |
 |
| Party
Crashers Desiree Kendrick © Copyright 2021 by Desiree Kendrick |
 |
This is an account of me landing in a foreign land, where wildlife and ‘party crashers’ shocked my teenage inexperience. Come along for the ride.
On the tarmac, hot
air rammed its way past the passengers and assaulted my face.
Discordant voices, transcontinental and indecipherable ricocheted off
the airport walls. I understood nothing except the gestures of
airport security. The Customs check-in line was like herding cattle
to slaughter. . . .
I Nearly Called My Baby RobinRachel Allen © Copyright 2021 by Rachel Allen |
 |
The
late February sunshine was stubbornly pushing through the clouds,
blazing low in the sky and threatening to blind Graeme as he drove us
through the sweeping Brecon Beacons. He’d done his research
before we came, and found a walk that promised to be an easy to
moderate route through the woods, taking in no fewer than four
waterfalls. It sounded like just what we needed, a good dose of
nature to shake us up and blow away the cobwebs. . . .
More...
Nature's PathChristine Law © Copyright 2021 by Christine Law |
 Photo by Sue Thomas on Unsplash |
My
early childhood memories come from the age of seven. When the family
decided to up sticks moving from Dudley an industrial Black country
town to Kingswinford. Kingswinford, a small village on the outskirts
of the towns, Wolverhampton, Stourbridge and Dudley. It meant that
you had the best of both. Rural and town life style. . . .
Reynard FoxChristine Law © Copyright 2021 by Christine Law |
 Photo by Linnea Sandbakk on Unsplash |
Two in the BushSam Smith © Copyright 2021 by Sam Smith |
 |
It was a sunny day in late
April. My sister was at after-school swim practice, and I’d
made a new friend. . . .
My Children and Other AnimalsAlex Byrd Jones © Copyright 2021 by Alex Byrd Jones |
 |
Here
in Italy, where I live with my family, the cockroaches are small and
crafty things. You almost never see them. They stay well out of
sight, and their only desire is to be left alone with those
microscopic fragments of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese that they might
be so lucky to gather here or there. I mean, who could blame them? . . .
| Serendipity Karen Radford Treanor
© Copyright 2021 by Karen Radford Treanor
|
 Two cats by Theophile Alexandre Steinlen. |
A
nice older couple stopped at my stall at a recent “Trash and
Treasure” market in Margate, Tasmania. The man was carrying a
block-mounted poster which caught my eye. It was a large
semi-abstract floral with the logo of the Museum of Fine Arts in
Boston across the lower margin. . . .
The Same, But DifferentZahra Dot © Copyright 2021 by Zahra Dot |
 |
When I say that I live in South Africa many people have images of me living among wild animals and having lions in my backyard. This is not in any way true. Wild animals and humans are, for the most part, separate.
But
there are occasions
when these two species are allowed to interact. There are several
game reserves and farms where these animals are kept and some even
allow limited interaction. This is a story of my interaction with one
of these wild creatures....
More...
Be Eager But Never Forget The WarningE. L.Teddy © Copyright 2021 by E. L. Teddy |
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. . . .I
was 18 years old and I grew to love pastoral life which I grew to find
myself with passion. I was so interested in hunting and so I troubled
Dad until he educated me on how to use the gun which I understood
faster than expected because it was in the blood to know. . . .
Christmas YokesNnadi Samuel © Copyright 2021 by Nnadi Samuel |
 |
Winter
comes grey & dusty, like another vagabond experiencing it's
hangover on Lagos' belly. Every harmattan finds December eating weird
dishes in my head & other Christian homes left in my body.
Whatever goes into them becomes a fellowship— a wild synagogue
of shrimps hailing a boy not so full of grace. . . .
A Stranger From A Strange LandKelly Maida © Copyright 2021 by Kelly Maida |
 |
Did
you ever feel different than others? When I was a child I played with
lucky rabbits feet and I had lucky charms. My favorite books were on
witches and magic. I was also highly intuitive and guessed things
about people correctly. I had no idea that I was an empath when I was
a child. People around me when I was growing up did not understand
why I was so sensitive. People could not understand why we were so
different. . . .
|
Valerie Byron
© Copyright 2021 by Valerie Byron
|
|
Today I learned that
my older brother, Dr. Alan Byron, is seriously ill in hospital on the
Isle of Wight in England. He is eight years older than me and
we have never lived together. As children, he was sent away
to
boarding school and only came home occasionally on holidays.
When I was twelve and he was twenty, my mother and I immigrated to
California and my brother stayed in the UK, having joined the
army. . . .
A Saltmarsh Sparrow Named SalSusmita Ramani © Copyright 2021 by Susmita Ramani |
 |
For
five years, I lived and worked as a lawyer in New York City. In 2003,
I took off a few months between jobs, lived on savings, and roamed
around the city. Every day, I woke up in my high rise one-bedroom
apartment on 34th Street and 9th Ave. with a view of boats on the
Hudson, kissed my cats (Max and Oscar) bye for the day, went down the
elevator, chatted with the building’s doorman, Lee, then
wandered the city with one or more of my many friends who had the
flexibility to hang out at random times (who were otherwise actors,
dancers, personal trainers, restaurant staff, college students, and
so on). . . .
A Tale of Natures AchievementAnna Boyle © Copyright 2021 by Anna Boyle |
 |
The
day in question was special. A happy day. Jack was home. Back where
he belonged.
Jack had been with us for about six weeks. We had been looking after him. He wasn’t well when he came to us. He also came without a name, so we had to give him an identity. After a couple of days, he was named Jack. His gender was in question too – he could even have been a Jacqueline. But for the purposes of discussions about him at the time, and for this story Jack is ‘he’. Jack was a magpie. . . .
1968 - A Very Bad YearJames Quinn © Copyright 2021 by James Quinn |
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My
name is Jim, and I want to tell you about a very bad year for my
family. I am the youngest of seven
children. Five boys, and two girls. I was seven years old. Let’s
not forget our busy loving parents, trying their best to keep our
little boat from sinking....
| Easter Sundays in New Market When I Was a Girl Cathy B. Bridges © Copyright 2021 by Cathy B. Bridges |
|
One
sunny Fall Saturday afternoon approximately 10 years ago, my husband
and I took our little granddaughter to visit her great-great-great
grandparents' old home place. It was a beautiful day to enjoy being
outdoors, and childhood memories flooded my mind as we came up the
long driveway that ran along the side of a steep drop off. That
reminds me of the day my grandfather scared me when he backed up his
car too close to the edge. My brother and I were in the car with him,
and I just knew we were about to go sailing off into the trees. . . .
| Covid-19 or Not? Cathy B. Bridges © Copyright 2021 by Cathy B. Bridges |
 |
One morning in November 2020, my husband and I left the house with the intention of going to Publix to get our flu shots and receive a Publix gift card for doing so. There had been road work in the area for a long time and the morning traffic stretched across the bridge that day. Making a quick decision, we decided to turn around and go back to a nearby pharmacy to get our flu shots. We had gone to that same pharmacy for our shots in 2019.
After
receiving our flu shots, and I got a pneumonia shot also, we went on
back home. Later that night before going to bed my husband and I both
felt achy all over like we would with the flu, but we did not think
much about it. Neither of us have ever had a reaction to flu shots
before, and we get them each year. . . .
Coviditis DiaryPaddy Tanton © Copyright 2021 by Paddy Tanton |
 |
I have been keeping a diary since
April 2020 entitled ‘Coviditis’ and am sending in four of
the weekly entries –
two
from spring to summer and two from winter to spring, each involving
encounters with wildlife. . . .
The Hawk and the HareChristine Stevenson © Copyright 2021 by Christine Stevenson |
 Photo by Pete Nuij on Unsplash |
This story is 100% truth. It was a once in a
lifetime moment between me and my overly-active-with-wildlife
neighborhood. Large birds from hawks to buzzards hung around my home
in South Carolina. It never bothered me until it had a reason to. . . .
No FishingCaroline Travis © Copyright 2021 by Caroline Travis |
 Photo by Richard Lee on Unsplash |
“I
think that’s an osprey,” said Paul, staring ahead into
the distance of the deserted coast.
I scanned the sky, but could only see gulls.
I scanned the sky, but could only see gulls.
“There!”
said Paul, pointing. When his prize failed to register, he spooned
himself in behind me, and with his chin on my shoulder, and his cheek
touching mine, he repositioned his finger. “There!”. . .
More...
| The
Rocking Chair Ruth Truman © Copyright 2021 by Ruth Truman |
 |
“Granddad,” I called, “It’s time
for the Red River Valley Boys! Hurry!”
I turned on the prized console radio and pushed the rocking chair next to it, then ran to wake up my grandfather, still in bed recovering from working all night on the railroad. It was WWII and he was an inspector, keeping the trains running so the soldiers could get to their assignments. It was an important job. . . .
I turned on the prized console radio and pushed the rocking chair next to it, then ran to wake up my grandfather, still in bed recovering from working all night on the railroad. It was WWII and he was an inspector, keeping the trains running so the soldiers could get to their assignments. It was an important job. . . .
Albert Einstein and his InventionPrakash Rawal © Copyright 2021 by Prakash Rawal |
 |
Albert
Einstein was born on March 14 , 1879 in UIM,
Germany. He was not talkative in his childhood, and
until
the three , he didn't talk much . He spent his teenage years in
Munich, where his family had an electric equipme business. As a
teenager, he was interested in nature and showed a high level
of ability in mathematics and physics. . . .
Wael's Barber ShopAlan Herman © Copyright 2021 by Alan Herman |
 Photo by Carlos Magno on Unsplash |
Wael's barber shop is in the Muristan District of the Christian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. Wael is a Moslem yet he chose to place his barber shop outside the Moslem Quarter, a good business decision.
You
see his shop is close to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and he gets
heads to reformat among the many visitors to this site, as well as
among other visitors, and residents of all the quarters. . . .
More...
Angel GirlRich Courage © Copyright 2021 by Rich Courage |
 Photo by Gabriel Tovar on Unsplash |
There
was this shy yet fiery seventeen year old girl named Liza. Her hair
and heart were aflame, free, full, delicate and true. A quiet girl,
she expressed herself in art and poetry. Breathtakingly beautiful
watercolors and moving words. And I loved her completely for one
magical day in nineteen seventy nine. It was the best, most honest,
happiest day of my life. Why just a day? I’ll tell you. . . .
Her Voice on the Train to MilanAlan Herman © Copyright 2021 by Alan Herman |
 |
It
was a chilly October after midnight morning. I had walked from my
hotel laden with suitcase and backpack through dark streets and
across a highway before being welcomed by the lit, warm and quiet
waiting room of the Verona railroad station. Only a few people were
waiting for the rare east- or west-bound train. . . .
The House That Nature TookChristine Hand © Copyright 2020 by Christine Hand |
 |
Here,
in this leafy suburb of Queensland is the house that we decided would
be our forever home. Surrounded by large trees and shrubs, it
provides us with the seclusion we desire together with the nearness
to all amenities and the city centre. We share it with the local
wildlife, crows, bats as large as unfurled umbrellas, the laughing
kookaburras, magpies and rainforest birds nesting on the large trees
and the miner birds, blue-faced honeyeaters, rainbow lorikeets,
peewits and butcher birds on the smaller shrubs. Brush turkeys and
blue-tongued lizards rummage and ransack the garden while the smaller
garden lizards do comparatively little damage. By nightfall, the
possums emerge, some carrying their babies on their back, nipping
lithely from branch to branch and stealing the show for us all. At
first, they are wary of our colony of six cats, then they decide that
as fellow mammals they are part of the larger family. . . .
More...
NanghalaFrancine van den Berg © Copyright 2020 by Francine van den Berg |
 |
Nanghala
is never far from my mind. After all, I owe her my life. If the old
girl is still alive, I hope she will owe me hers one day.
I
met Nanghala in the Eastern Cape. She was a star in an amusement
park. She put up a show for visitors three times a day, and in
between her stage commitments she would take visitors around the
premises. . . .
The FatigueJay Liu © Copyright 2021 by Jay Liu |
 |
Ever
since Connie Owens disappeared from the world with a noose on her
neck, a perverse sense of guilt and shame settled over me. It wasn’t
like I was that close to her or anything, as she had always been that
wayward girl sulking in the corner, biting her nails, but on that
fateful day in April I had felt it: a sick constricting feeling over
my heart, as if someone had grabbed and squeezed it hard. . . .
The Suicidal Pigeons of the I-80Fernando A. Torres © Copyright 2020 by Fernando A. Torres |
 |
Is
it a Russian roulette of the air? a macabre air race?
The thing is that in
an act that looks
like suicide, pigeons of all color and
sizes fly off
parallel to the busy freeway to violently died by the speeding
cars in a spectacular explosion of feathers. . . .
| A
Child's Prayer with a Side
Order of Peas Desiree Kendrick © Copyright 2021 by Desiree Kendrick |
 |
When
I was barely five, I landed in the hospital with pneumonia. As a
child, I didn’t have any concept of how concerned my parents
were about my health. I was very ill. Although my parents and older
siblings filled me in later about details of this event, my memories
are simpler. This is what I remember from a child’s sightline. . . .
Birthdays Behind Bars: Inside the Juvenile Justice SystemStephanie Wilder © Copyright 2021 by Stephanie Wilder |
 |
After
a career of teaching students in prep schools, I longed for a career
change. Chance took me to the Juvenile Justice System and I got a job
in a juvie facility for teenaged juvenile delinquents. It was indeed
a career change, and it was an opportunity for me to step out of my
world of privilege and I learned much more than my students did. . . .
Severe Weather ReportsPavel Filatov © Copyright 2021 by Pavel Filatov |
 Photo by ZACHARY PEARSON on Unsplash. |
For Norman, life had always been somewhat complicated. There had always been one thing or another which prevented him from achieving what he wanted, and no matter how hard he tried, he always seemed to fail. You see, there are two things you should know about Norman. The first is that his whole life he’d dreamt of becoming a weatherman. The allure of standing in front of that green screen, letting the country know about the latest and most important weather conditions was overwhelming for Norman, and he did little else but develop his oratory abilities. The second is that ever since he could remember, Norman hadn’t just been Norman. At no one time did he realize this, but Norman had three very distinct personalities. Obviously, jolly, weather-loving Norman was one of them, and perhaps even the main one. The second liked to call himself Emilio. . . .
PaterPavel Filatov © Copyright 2021 by Pavel Filatov |
 |
The man slowly
staggered towards the door. The house was large, with intricate
designs from the gothic era engraved onto its exterior. Judging by
the figure of Jesus with arms spread wide hanging above the door; the
man thought that this was a monastery of sorts, a house of God. Even
before he looked, he somehow knew that there would be no bell; it was
a very old looking house, from a time before such things existed. . . .
Sunday MorningLew Goddard © Copyright 2021 by Lew Goddard |
 |
Leaving
his home he stepped onto the cinder and gravel mixed surface of the
three block street where he lived with his parents. The air was warm
and dry at nine o’clock this July morning contributing to a
crackling sound as he continued to walk. There were no sidewalks in
this area south of the Western Pacific railway that was parallel to
the street... At a point about 30 yards from home he turned to a path
leading through the eight foot high slab fence that separated the
activity created in the area of the grain elevators and coal bins
beside the railway. Two slabs had mysteriously disappeared at some
time allowing a shortcut to the down town region. . . .
|
Ode to Gleeville - The Town
That Defied Literature or, The Hamlet That Could Outdo "Hamlet" or, The Story of Gleeville - A Story Without Conflict Emmet Kelley © Copyright 2021 by Emmet Kelley |
 |
. . . . In
normal society, the yes-man is an object of disdain , if
not of
ridicule and vilification, from
“the
William Whyte organization man” to the blindly loyal
supporters of autocrats like Donald Trump. But in
Gleeville, a
small town located somewhere in Middle America, the yes-man would fit
right in and, indeed, even blossom. For in
Gleeville, there
was the
community-wide agreement of
the general rule of law
of “
agreeing not to disagree”. . . .
|
Of the Holy Spirit, and Elvis
Carl Winderl © Copyright 2021 by Carl Winderl |
 |
Everyone has an “Elvis & me” story, or so it seems. Especially in these glory days of the woeful by-gone past.
And, I have one, too.
Only mine, in the parlance of about every other movie these days, is based on true events. . . .
Self-fulfilling Prophecy and Maria RitterBonnie Crandall © Copyright 2020 by Bonnie Crandall |
|
Here
she came
again. Every Sunday she came like clockwork. She was probably in
her late sixties, early seventies, under five feet tall, a little
round gnome-like person with rough hands, her silver hair pulled back
into a severe knotted bun at the nape of her neck with a lined face
that spoke of a hard lived life. She spoke with a heavy German
accent, and she was closing in for the "kill.". . .
Surviving a Brother's SuicideWinston Wight Introduction by David Wight © Copyright 2021 by Winston Wight |
 |
At
age 18, my elder son Rion enrolled in Cornell University’s
School of Architecture with a future full of promise. At age 22, he
committed suicide. This story is primarily a letter written
by his surviving brother
Winston depicting Winston’s search for
resolution, healing, and new meaning following his Rion’s
death. . . .
More...
ClosureDavid Wight © Copyright 2021 by David Wight |
 |
In
1955, my mother was stricken with polio and hospitalized for a year.
I was only four years old at the time and couldn’t grasp how
much her illness and disability would impact my entire family and her
for the rest of our lives. In 1996, my mother was stricken again,
this time with post-polio syndrome. . . .
The Kangaroo and the PocketLinda A. Dougherty © Copyright 2021 by Linda A. Dougherty |
 |
In
early May 2018, my life circled in the same holding pattern as it had
been since I was diagnosed in October 2015 with follicular type of
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I was exercising, eating a careful
diet and taking natural supplements to boost my immune system. Every
day I went into a local middle school where I work as a one to
one special education aide. Every six months I saw the oncologist,
had blood work drawn and we hoped it would stay that way or a miracle
would happen. Cancer steals your life in unexpected ways even before
it kills, or almost kills you. But, you learn to live with new
rhythms in your life.
That warm spring, my special needs student and I were busy reading books about Australia because that what the seventh grade geography class was studying. We read about koalas, wallabies and kangaroos. He was especially fascinated by how tiny newborn kangaroos, the size of a bean, crawl up their mothers fur after birth and nestle into their mother’s pocket for the next six or so months, growing larger and stronger while suckling their mother’s milk. . . .
That warm spring, my special needs student and I were busy reading books about Australia because that what the seventh grade geography class was studying. We read about koalas, wallabies and kangaroos. He was especially fascinated by how tiny newborn kangaroos, the size of a bean, crawl up their mothers fur after birth and nestle into their mother’s pocket for the next six or so months, growing larger and stronger while suckling their mother’s milk. . . .
Humor Is The Best MedicineLinda A. Dougherty © Copyright 2021 by Linda A. Dougherty |
Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash |
It
came packaged in my DNA direct from my dad, who I incidentally look
like, this dogged propensity to go to the mats to right wrongs. After
years of being the family bulldog, I’ve decided that I will
first try humor as in the old adage, “you catch more flies with
honey than vinegar." . . .
|
The Weird Dichotomy
Shivaji K. Moitra
©
Copyright 2021 by Shivaji K. Moitra
|
|
India
has long been known as the land of Gods and spiritualism. For ages,
the mountains, hills and jungles of our country have been the abode
of numerous sages and sadhus who practiced penance and meditation in
the lap of nature to gain the knowledge of the Gods and to attain
spiritual powers. Some of the monks mentioned in the Hindu religious
scriptures and epics like Agastya muni, Viswamitra muni, Vasishtha
muni, Kapila muni and Valmiki were famed for their immense knowledge
and legendary spiritual powers. . . .
More. . .
|
The Summer Petey Bob Turned Fourteen
Paul Marion Fleetwood © Copyright 2021 by Paul Marion Fleetwood |
|
Just in case the reader is not familiar with my stories; I am an old
retired Aerospace engineer writing true short stories of events that
happened in my life for the benefit of my great-great
grandchildren.
I want them to have some knowledge of their heritage and of old
Pawpaw Bob (that is what my kids and grandkids call me). My
real first name is Paul but I was nick-named Petey Bob growing
up. . . .
Babies, Bikes, and MothersMaureen Moynihan © Copyright 2021 by Maureen Moynihan |
 |
Ever
since I was strong enough to carry a baby on my hip without dropping
it on its head, I worked. Growing up, I watched the drama of money
play out in my own household. My father made most of the money, so he
dictated that we ate Toasted Oats instead of Cheerios and wore
sneakers without the Nike swoosh as they were a flagrant
demonstration of white collar commercialism. . . .
HiatalDon Shook © Copyright 2021 by Don Shook |
|
The
flatbed truck braked, but still hit the small boy who had suddenly
appeared in the middle of the road. Fifty feet away, rose-trimmer
in one hand, three-month-old baby under the opposite arm, Dorothy
Ann turned at the sound of the squealing brakes and muffled bump. Her
eyes widened in horror as her two-year-old son flew through the
air, tiny arms flailing like a ruptured windmill before crashing onto
unforgiving asphalt. Dorothy Ann’s urgent scream failed. Her
heart stopped She stood paralyzed. The baby wailed.
This was my first experience with pain and injury. I can remember neither. . . .
More...| No, Not. . . Isabel
Bearman Bucher
|
My Nonna Angela Irene Giana at age 15 |
I’m
an outdoor girl. In my earliest memories I’m wandering the
unknown reaches of the woods, remote shorelines and hollows
surrounding my home in Branford, Connecticut. Those were the days
when kids were booted outside and told to not come home till sunset. . . .
| Quail Hunting in Callahan Florida
Gordon Crenshaw © Copyright 2020 by Gordon Crenshaw |
 |
It was
the first week in January 2003 when GG joined his hunting buddies
Vince Stevens, Wayne Helms and Steve Billmyer in a big quail hunting
trip down in Callahan Florida. Callahan is about 10 miles from the
Georgia State Line on Highway I-95 just north of Jacksonville. . . .
The Gift of the Magi . . .KindaJohn Bourges © Copyright 2021 by John Bourges |
 |
They all stood outside O’Henry’s Steak House on 6th Avenue and 4th street, while one of the bartenders and one of the staff waitresses watched the owner lock up for the night.
“Have a good
night you two.” He said and sensing that their relationship had
grown over the weeks, left it at that, without further comment or
remark and headed home. . . .
More...
Susceptible OtherworldDon Shook © Copyright 2021 by Don Shook |
 |
Annie’s
call had not sounded desperate, just serious. “I’m
leaving the country and I may not return.”
Startled, Don could only manage a weak, “What? When?”
“No. Today. In a hour. I’m at the airport. Please, meet me here. I must say goodbye in person.” . . .