It’s common for me to start one of these stories planning on making it short and sweet, but then my imagination takes hold, and it starts growing. This is Part One … of something. Barney Parmenter thought it a pleasant surprise when he saw the kid thumbing at the entrance to Interstate 35W near …
Author: wastedpilgrim
I'm a writer.
Blogs. Novels. Journalism. Songs.
It's all I know how to do well.
Road Songs and Rivers
I hit the road this morning wishing I was going to somewhere like Texas, or Nashville, or some other place that was more than eight-five minutes away. Much of my time these days is spent holed up at the house typing away. When I get out, it’s golden. From time to time, an old friend …
Good Macaroni Pie
How about a lighter touch? Mary Sue couldn’t believe it. Here she was, knowing all of them were broke as social security but not near on it, trying to save some money where she could, and all that got was ridicule. You’d think she was putting sugar on grits. Back up. Younger brother Stick worked …
The Wayward Son
I'm proud of this short story. It's long, almost a novella, and I could see it growing into a novel one day. If you'll stick with it, it's got a good message, but it requires acceptance of an 'R' rating and patience to get through all the drugs and sex before any lessons get learned. FEEDING …
Two Talks
This story might blossom into a novel. Here’s the seventh and final part, which was preceded, from the beginning, by “Feeding the Line,” “Make Room for Daddy,” “The Kids Are Evil,” “Recovery in Various Forms,” “One to Talk,” and “Gone to the Bad.” Once I get the whole story edited, I’ll post a …
Gone to the Bad
This is Episode 6 of the short story that, once completed, will probably be called “Getting to Know Darin,” though I guess it won’t be final until I get it done. The first five parts, from the beginning, were “Feeling the Love,” “Make Room for Daddy,” “The Kids Are Evil,” “Recovery in Various Forms,” …
Paydirt and Paved Roads
Last night I learned that the term “paydirt” wasn’t invented by some overheated local sports writer who decided that the dirt underneath the grass in the end zone was dirt that paid, even though it was probably a high school game and the only payoff would have been “under the table.” It was the term for …
One To Talk
This is the fifth episode of a short story that's working title is "Getting to Know Darin." In order, from the beginning, the first four segments were "Feeding the Line," "Make Room for Daddy," "The Kids Are Evil," and "Recovery in Various Forms." 5. One to Talk Finally, Ben Fowler was able to outlast Maxeen …
That Old-Time Feeling Arises
For a long time, he hated the Indianapolis Colts. They were his when they were in Baltimore, and then an evil man, Robert Irsay, moved them away in moving vans. March 29, 1984. A Day That Will (Also) Live in Infamy. It was unthinkable, and, in response, he did the unthinkable. He started rooting for …
Recovery in Various Forms
This is the fourth episode. The first three were, from the beginning, “Feeding the Line,” “Make Room for Daddy,” and “The Kids Are Evil.” In this installment, evil continues. RECOVERY IN VARIOUS FORMS Darin Fowler wouldn’t deal drugs with just anybody. Te’Quan Bodie was a smart kid. He’d been a soccer player, about the only …
Nightrider's Lament 