Monday, July 28, 2014

Short Story: The cue was "next to nothing."

His sturdy, white, Terrier, Bud, was named after the beer. Not Buddy Holly, not Buddy Rich, not the pizza joint in Detroit where he met his wife. Bud howled with excitement. The two men sipped their coffee and talked about the prognosis and how much time the doctor said he had. He was not concerned about his last days, but worried about finding a home for his dog. The Fireman pursuaded the man to take something. His penknife cost next to nothing and he carried it for thirty years. A small token.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Short Story. The cue was "The Biggest Surprise".

Uncle Doc

The biggest surprise was the day I found out why I am an only child. My mother got into some weighty and intimate conversations with one of her caregivers. Mom was very sick and was declining quickly, so her normally private nature was compromised, and she revealed a couple of family mysteries to “Mary”. My uncle Doc was a dwarf. He worked for the circus, and later in life, worked on the road crew in Connecticut, painting center lines. Mom and Dad were afraid to have more children, thinking that another child might be born with dwarfism. The chances of my brother or sister being a dwarf was one in 25,000. I didn’t believe Mary when she told me. I’m sure Mom made the whole thing up. She was testing Mary’s ability to keep a secret. Mary would be with mom until her last day.

-tp, 7/14/2004

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Fourth Friday Readings in Sequim

Fourth Friday Readings in Sequim

Summer fun is happening at the Fourth Friday Readings on July 25, 6:00 p.m. at Rainshadow Coffee Bar, 157 W. Cedar Street in Sequim. EVERYONE gets to be a Featured Writer for the July Readings. Choose ONE of these prompts. Write a 5-minute poem or a short-short story... Prompt #1: Next to nothing Prompt #2: Time Out! Prompt #3: The biggest surprise Readings begin at 6:30 p.m. Please rehearse your writing so it fits into 5-minutes. Don't want to write to one of these prompts? You're welcome to bring another original writing for the 5-minute Open Mike readings. Guidelines are available: Rmarcus@olypen.com Come enjoy the inspired readings of Peninsula writers. Sponsored by Writers on the Spit. Category: Arts & Entertainment. Cost: Free. Contact Name: Ruth Marcus. Contact Email: Rmarcus@olypen.com. Contact Phone: 360 681-2205. Friday, July 25, 2014, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Rainshadow Coffee Bar, 157 W. Cedar Street, Sequim.