Short Story
Malady Mahi
First published in New English Review, June 2020 I used to wonder why I wouldn't get seasick on my surfboard but every time I took a boat ride outside the bay, I would turn whiter than any midwestern tourist on his first day of vacation in Hawaii. I would desperately attempt to focus on the horizon with that salty sailor confidence that Ralph had but would eventually hurl over the side, feeding the South Pacific fish the wrong kind of food. Ralph didn't need badges-his nautical smile and the wrinkles on his skin spoke of many journeys out to sea. His stories, however, were out of this world. Whenever my mom would announce that she would be cooking chicken enchiladas with both Verde and red sauce, Ralph was there, and he would bring along an exciting adventure each time he came for dinner.
By Tony Martello3 years ago in Fiction
Oval Office
So what do you get when a group of idiot best friends get together and have a contest for who can drink a jug of water the fastest during their break time at work? Well you have an even bigger idiot named Carl Roberts who is rushing home to pee before he wastes his bladder all over himself.
By Joe Patterson3 years ago in Fiction
The silent curtain
In the quiet town of Oakwood, where whispers of dreams filled the air and hopes danced on the gentle breeze, lived a young man named James. James was not like the others in Oakwood; his dreams soared higher, his ambitions reaching beyond the horizon. With a heart filled with passion and eyes ablaze with determination, James dreamed of becoming a renowned architect, shaping skylines and crafting monuments that would stand the test of time.
By Charlie williams3 years ago in Fiction
The Business of Nature. Top Story - March 2024.
Dew drops reflected the light of the sun. The inhabitants of Whispering Woods woke up to the golden droplets of water on the leaves of the flora. The oaks particularly enjoyed the light and the maples did, too. Happiness enveloped all who lived there, even the rocks that cried out in the night delighted in the morning.
By Skyler Saunders3 years ago in Fiction
Whispers of the Forbidden Forest
In the ancient city of Ujjain, ruled by the wise and just King Vikramaditya. One day, a mystic sorcerer approached the king with a request that seemed simple yet bizarre: to fetch a corpse hanging from a tree in a desolate forest—the body that Betal, a wily spirit, inhabited.Motivated by the promise that fulfilling this request would bring prosperity to his kingdom, Vikramaditya agreed. As night fell, he ventured into the eerie forest, guided only by the flickering light of his torch. Upon reaching the tree, he found the corpse, seemingly ordinary yet imbued with an unsettling aura.As soon as Vikramaditya slung the corpse over his shoulder, the body came to life—it was Betal, ready to test the king's resolve and wisdom. Betal struck a deal: he would tell Vikramaditya a story during their journey back to the city, ending with a riddle. If the king knew the answer but chose to remain silent, his head would shatter into a thousand pieces. However, every time Vikramaditya answered correctly, Betal would return to the tree, forcing the king to begin his quest anew.The first story Betal narrated was about a noble king who had three queens. Unfortunately, none were able to bear him a child. In his quest for an heir, the king met a sage who gave him a magical fruit, promising that it would bless him with progeny. The king, however, faced a dilemma over which queen deserved the fruit, leading to a cascade of events fueled by jealousy and deceit.As the tale ended, Betal posed his question: "Which queen deserves the magical fruit, and why?" The moral and ethical layers of the question were profound. King Vikramaditya, with his sharp intellect and keen sense of justice, decoded the motives of the queens and solved the riddle, explaining his reasoning in meticulous detail.True to his word, as soon as Vikramaditya spoke, Betal vanished back to the tree, leaving the king in the middle of the dark, whispering forest. Undeterred, Vikramaditya returned to fetch Betal, his resolve unbroken.This cyclical challenge of storytelling and riddle-solving continued, with each story more intriguing and complex than the last, testing the king's wisdom, ethics, and perseverance.
By Dalwant Bahadur Singh3 years ago in Fiction
Harsh Reality
It was a Tuesday, and Regina Paxton-Price suddenly woke up in a cold sweat. This wasn't new for Regina, as this had been happening for 18 months, and every day, she spent a minute reflecting on her torment. Only Regina knew the exact cause of her anguish. It was a recurring theme that centered on something very close and personal to her: the murder of her wife.
By Clyde E. Dawkins3 years ago in Fiction
Short story: After I left, I went to the father and left the son
My mother warned me before she died: "unmarried pregnancy, men are big-headed pigs, do not know the height of the sky." So I made it my priority to find a father for my son, and that's when I met Fu. He said, "Come home with me and I'll give you an identity?" I'm sorry, I don't know what it means to be smart!
By Jin Yu Story Pavilion3 years ago in Fiction
"Echoes of Eternity"
In the quiet town of Oakridge, nestled amidst rolling hills and whispering forests, there lived a curious young girl named Amelia. With eyes wide as the starlit sky above, she spent her days exploring the woods, searching for hidden wonders and untold secrets.
By Pragya Verma3 years ago in Fiction
