This is the fifth episode of my short story about culture shock on Homecoming Day at a private college in the South. The first four episodes were, in order, "Different Goals, "A Taste for Mischief," "All Fall Down," and "A Stroke of Smoke." “Well,” Charles Dough reported, “I finally got Christian to answer one of …
Tag: beer
Feeding the Line
Here's the first installment in another series of short fiction. “I been thinking,” Ben Fowler said, as his son climbed into the Silverado. “Me and you ain’t as different as we think.” The boy didn’t reply. He was eighteen, thought he was twenty-one, and knew enough to be dangerous. He had his iPod and his iPhone …
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (Part Seven)
Life is short / Give it your all / Keep your focus / On the ball / Be aware of all the detours in your way / And never be afraid when it’s time / To walk away. Three games remained in the regular season. The Los Angeles Dodgers were in town, division champions already, …
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (Part Five)
Get your licks in/ While you can / Keep your future / In your hands / Don’t let the damn authorities / Dictate what you do / Always keep it in your mind just who’s / Screwing who. Riggs Hellams found an old acquaintance standing, arms folded behind him, in uniform near the …
A Nice Way to Relax
Two rows below sat a man who once was my boss. Two seats to my right was a sportswriter I didn’t know who was familiar with me. “Excuse me. You’re not Monte Dutton, are you?” “Sadly, yes. Nice to meet you.” Next to me was an old friend, one I’ve known since college. It was …
Gone Back There
I’m still not sure. It seemed real, as real as anything ever. It’s impossible to discuss. I’ve got close friends, sure, but none who would believe this. Among the reasons is I wouldn’t, and I’m more gullible than most. That this happened is inconceivable. It was real. It had to be. Either that or …
The Way I Do, Part Four
It took about a year to get my head straight / I drank my share and crashed into the ground / It seemed as if my voice got so damn lonely / My friends all dreaded having me around. Abel and Siri had their differences on the proper course to Cain Caldwell’s house. She …
The Way I Do, Part One
When I was young / I went off to college / But I flunked out ‘cause I could not pass no test / My old man barely made it past fifty / And I reckon that I’ll follow his footsteps / But it ain’t gon’ be bad health that’s gonna kill me / It won’t …
Facebook Friends, Part Six (Final)
I'll put the whole story together and post it soon. Thanks for reading. Nathan McLure had never entertained the notion that a motel might offer free breakfast for its guests, and he took to the Red Roof Inn’s morning offerings as if they were at a Shoney’s breakfast bar. He also didn’t know what to …
High, Wild, and Handsome
The boy showed up at the third-turn crossover gate in the coveralls he wore while racing his go-kart. The security guard recognized him and waved him across the track in the yellow ‘55 Chevy his dad had given him for his sixteenth birthday. Beau Farnsworth was feeling his oats, having won his 35-lap feature earlier …
Nightrider's Lament 