This short story picks up the story of Riley Mansfield and his wife, the former Melissa Franklin, seven years after the events of my first novel, The Audacity of Dope. This is the third episode. The first two, in order, were “Seven Years If It’s a Day” and “Like Old Times.” The simple arithmetic of …
Tag: Monte Dutton
Like Old Times
Here’s the second episode of this short story, which revisits Riley Mansfield, the main character in my novel The Audacity of Dope, seven years later. The first episode was called “Seven Years If It’s a Day.” LIKE OLD TIMES To his satisfaction, Riley Mansfield’s position had descended in the public consciousness, but he still …
Ladson Could Sure Play Ball
Here’s the whole short story. As usual, I’ve gone back and fixed some details. I had some fixation with naming a character Ladson and referring to him several times as Troy, mainly because I knew a Troy once with a similar last name. It’s entirely possible there are other little glitches I’ll discover later. I …
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 …
The Kids Are Evil
This is the third installment in what will be a short story. The first was “Feeding the Line.” The second was “Make Room for Daddy.” THE KIDS ARE EVIL Darin and Ellen watched as Ben complimented his son for a surprising ability to fry tasty crappie. They had fish, fries, and the slaw Ellen had …
Make Room for Daddy
Eventually, this short story is going to be known (I think) as “Getting to Know Darin.” The first part was called “Feeding the Line.” Ellen Sloan was quiet. She was plain. She could have been beautiful if she cared about it. She preferred to be forever underestimated. She seemed too shy for larceny, but that …
The Good One (Full Story)
1. A JOGGING CONTRADICTION Up this hill and down, and up another hill. Lathered. Rinse. Repeat. I’m tired. It’s so sensuous. Eliza Evermore enjoyed her life in Colorado Springs. It was inspiring to jog in the breathtaking shadow of Pikes Peak. Olympians trained here. She just plodded along. Sometimes she watched the flyboys marching at …
Sweet Freedom
This is the sixth installment in this short story, preceded, from beginning to here, by “A Jogging Contradiction,” “The Good One,” “Contrary to Ordinary,” “Backsliding,” and “A Sign of Weakness.” Eliza Evermore was highly distressed to see Johnny Jacklin headed toward her office. The gray suit looked good on him. He’d cut his …
A Sign of Weakness
This the fifth installment of a story, preceded, in chronological order, by “A Jogging Contradiction,” “The Good One,” “Contrary to Ordinary,” and “Backsliding.” Surprise was Johnny Jacklin’s preferred mode of operation. He called Eliza at the Forgiveness, Inc., office, and asked if she was up for a nice drive and maybe a hike. She was, …
Nightrider's Lament 