Matthew Stanley
Bio
Seattle Native, bartender, actor, writer, been inside way too long.
Stories (11/0)
Dream Home
Jody Jordan arrived at his family’s latest real estate development on an early September morning just early enough to witness a large rowboat being pushed into the lake by a large elderly man just before dawn, the low early morning fog that blanketed the water began to part as if to create a road on which to travel. As the fog began to fill the gentle trail he left behind, the man in the boat vanished into the fog, all that could be heard was the chain of his anchor clambering across the water’s surface until it fell silent. Jody called out “Sir! This is private property now and not open for fishing.” Jody received no reply. Jody waved his hands in frustration and then began his day like any other. Something about that man in the boat lingered within Jody. Like a scratch on the back of your neck that you can’t reach, a chilling, unnerving itch. Jody asked his crew if anyone had seen an old man in a small boat. Jody accepted their shrugs and continued with his work.
By Matthew Stanley 3 years ago in Fiction
The Great Beyond
My name is Helga Jansen, today is the day I died. I watched nervously as my husband confronted German soldiers led by Captain Heinrich in our yard. They no doubt interrupted what would have been another one of my husband’s missions for a perfect marigold flower to give me through our ward Evi. But today was different, my husband Kyland yelled my name and attempted to run to the house when he was shot in my front yard by Nazi. Panic, horror, grief gripped my heart as I watched him fall to the ground. It was as if a part of me died in that kitchen. Yet all I can think about is the little girl hiding in my barn named Evi Meijer. After my husband fell to the ground all I could hear was screaming, so loud and sorrowful it felt as though it was coming from somewhere outside my own body, but it was me. I could see Captain Heinrich’s men approach the front door, so I fled out the back door, I must warn Evi.
By Matthew Stanley 3 years ago in Fiction
A Long Night in Eindhoven
My name is Judah Meijer. I was born May 5, 1897. I was a soldier and farmer, and am now a husband and father. I am a Jew. When the Germans invaded the Netherlands, my family and I were forced to flee our home outside Arnhem. I was fortunate enough to have friends willing to conceal my family from the SS and men like Captain Heinrich Richter. Many others were not so fortunate; I didn’t realize how important it was for our mere survival.
By Matthew Stanley 3 years ago in Fiction
My Marigold
My name is Kyland Jansen. My only “crime” in this world was trying to save Evi Meijer. The Great War began in 1914. I was 34 years old, living in Belgium with my wife Helga and our 3 children - my whole world. I was a literature professor at Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven, just east of Brussels. With Belgium between France and Germany, the Germans invaded almost immediately. The invasion was horrific; the escalation, far more so.
By Matthew Stanley 3 years ago in Fiction
Thalassophobia
I messed up. When I was eight years old my mother told me not to watch JAWS on television. My idiotic response was to watch JAWS on television. It was right before my first swim lesson. When I walked to the edge of the pool, I imagined that the moment I jumped in, a secret door would open in the deep end of the pool and a murderous Great White Shark would come out and eat me whole. Long story short, I never learned to swim. I have been petrified of water ever since.
By Matthew Stanley 3 years ago in Fiction
One Special Delivery
My name is Levi Meijer, and I want to be a world-famous artist. I was born August 12, 1930. I am a Jew. My family lived on a small farm near Arnhem, May of 1940, when the Germans destroyed our home. We had to run to the woods in the dead of night to escape, while the house our family built was ruined. I hate the Germans.
By Matthew Stanley 3 years ago in Fiction
Cherchez la Femme
My name is Lilith Meijer - Lily, to my friends and family. I was born July 8, 1910. I am a Jew. My family lived near Arnhem on a little farm until May 30th, 1940 – that dark day that the Germans invaded. We had heard rumors and whispers of what was happening to Jews in Germany; we thought we would be safe in the Netherlands. We were wrong.
By Matthew Stanley 3 years ago in Fiction
The Lady of the Locket
7/4/2056 July 4, 2056 This used to be a day filled with barbeques, fireworks, and celebration. Trigger and I haven’t eaten in days. He keeps his bellyaching to a minimum though, such a good dog. I can tell he’s hungry, but his tail never stops wagging. I wish we could find some meat…not even for me, but for him - I can last a bit longer. It’s been getting harder and harder to find game, or any food for that matter. The world is not the same since The Hit, nothing works like it used to - except guns, really. I found an old vending machine yesterday and I hoped more than anything to find a bite for us - some chips, a candy bar, just something - but everything edible had been taken out of it ages ago. It wasn't completely empty though.
By Matthew Stanley 3 years ago in Fiction