Mark Gagnon
Bio
I have spent most of my life traveling around the US and the globe. Now it's time to draw on these experiences and create what I hope are interesting fictional stories. Only you, the reader, can tell me if I've achieved my goal.
Stories (107/0)
Minute by Minute
This was it. The day that was circled in red on my calendar. I reluctantly opened my eyes after a restless night’s sleep, knowing what awaited me. Simple denial, procrastination, appeals to higher powers, none of it worked. This was my fate, and I had to accept it.
By Mark Gagnon2 months ago in Psyche
Destiny vs Legacy
I had entered an obscure writing contest a few months ago and promptly forgot about it. Entering contests has become a hobby of mine, and writing stories is a way to pass the time. I’ve never won or even come in a distant third because the judges never seem to see the mastery in my work. Of course, it might just be that the stories aren’t that good. Whatever the reason, I’ve remained a loser until now.
By Mark Gagnon2 months ago in The Swamp
History and Those Who Ignore It
Let me start by saying that I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I am a proud Independent and a follower of George Washington. To those of you who may be confused by this statement, let me explain. During Washington’s farewell address to the country, he stated (and please excuse the paraphrasing) that the creation of political parties will be the downfall of the nation. So far, he’s been right on the money!
By Mark Gagnon2 months ago in The Swamp
Talk to the Wind
Since the beginning of time, stories have been told about people possessing the ability to interpret messages carried on the wind. Today, meteorologists might appear to fall into that category, but their skills are limited to reading wind direction and speed; the wind does not speak to them. The wind speaks to Danny Shu.
By Mark Gagnon2 months ago in Fiction
Memory Box
One of my favorite pastimes is rummaging around antique shops in search of that one special treasure that everyone else has passed by. I was taking a tour of famous historic battle sites and had stopped in Hastings, England. I wandered into a dilapidated, overstuffed shop with an intriguing sign in the window that read, “Lost Things Found Here”. It was just my kind of shop.
By Mark Gagnon2 months ago in Fiction
The Worst Table
I was on vacation exploring famous locations in the historical wild west. As luck would have it, I arrived in Deadwood, South Dakota, on Wednesday, August 2, 2016. It was exactly 140 years ago to the day when James Butler Hickok (aka Wild Bill) was killed. I had to stay and learn all I could about the real man and the legend.
By Mark Gagnon2 months ago in Fiction
Cryptogram
Cryptogram I started my day in the usual way: wake up at 6:30, dress in running gear, leave the house by 6:50, and try to run a 2-mile course through the park in under 15 minutes. My routine came to a halt the moment I opened the front door. A drone with a small package hanging from a grappling device was descending about ten feet above my head. Startled, I jumped sideways. The miniature delivery device continued to within a few inches of the ground, dropped its cargo, and sped away.
By Mark Gagnon3 months ago in Fiction
A Real Snoop
People are always accusing me of snooping around. They say I stick my nose where it doesn’t belong, that I should learn to mind my business. Of course, I ignore these critics because they don’t know what they’re talking about. My detractors have mistakenly labeled my natural curiosity as snooping. Has anyone ever called Columbus, Magellan, Armstrong, or Aldrin snoops? Of course not! They were all great explorers driven by curiosity, and so am I.
By Mark Gagnon3 months ago in Petlife
No Need For Resolutions
Marty sat in his one-room efficiency apartment watching New Year’s Eve festivities on his second-hand TV. Every year some celebrity counted down the seconds before the Times Square Ball began its descent, signaling the start of a new year. For Marty, the ball drop, and a calendar he received in the mail from his insurance company, were the only things that marked the end and beginning of each year. His life remained the same no matter the day, the season, or the year.
By Mark Gagnon3 months ago in Humans
A Little Piece of Heaven
Every time I think my life couldn’t possibly be any better, POOF! WHAM! KAPOW! It becomes more heavenly. It didn’t start that way, not by a long shot. I was born into a dirt-poor family, the middle child of seven brothers and sisters. We usually had at least one meal a day during the summer and three when school was in session. All my clothes, from underwear to shoes, were hand-me-downs from my older siblings. My parents possessed no special skills, so they earned a living as day laborers. It looked like life had dealt me a losing hand from the start.
By Mark Gagnon3 months ago in 01
A Christmas Carol- The Aftermath
It was the night after Christmas when there arose such a commotion in the street below that I had to tear open the shutters and through up the sash to see what was going on. The clattering sound that woke me was a police wagon being pulled by two stout horses. The disturbance was happening directly below my window so that I could hear everyone’s conversation.
By Mark Gagnon3 months ago in Fiction
