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Latest Stories

March 08, 2024
Flash Fiction Benoit

Some Enchanted Evening

It was a rugby tackle with tears: Chrissy burst in, sobbing and babbling, hugging James. Her face was all wet, eyes wild. What…? My parents split up, Dad has moved in with his boyfriend and I cannot join them. I am shut out. I have lost my dad. Torrent of…
March 08, 2024
Horror Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

In The Hands Of My Legs

The car pulled up in front of the large salon. The neon sign, that sexy broad thing, on the salon'sroof read "Mr. Gil's All-night Salon". The exhaust pipe of the car was pumping solid smoke, theswirls moving from the car and towards the salon.…
March 07, 2024
Mystery Stories Vanessa Leigh Giles

Casualty of Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Chapter 1 Until Death do us Part ‘Ring, ring!’. I answered the telephone and asked, “Hello, good evening. Who’s this? “Hello.” This is Dr. Smith from Red Cross hospital. “Is this Mr. Locke, John?”, he asked, hesitantly scratching his bald head. “Yes, doctor.…
March 07, 2024
Crime Stories Robert Pook

Bar Room Trigger

Another return journey on footpaths so familiar. He strides across each crack in each paving stone. Regular loose drain covers sidestepped. Mapping long ago mapped in Richard’s desolate mind. His pace hastened by the sight of the oncoming storm. Quickening…
March 04, 2024
Horror Stories Ano Chinemerem

Sanctity

Where should I begin? I could begin by telling you about this comely boy, whom every notable person around the streets agrees his smile could charm the bills off one. Between one smile, there was his goodness, his dreams and humanity—a little far ahead?— but…
March 04, 2024
Flash Fiction Emanuel Diaz

Et Mortui Partium

As Rafael stepped out into the rain, it wasn't the ordinary drops that fell from the sky. Instead, it was a storm of souls, each one taking the form of shimmering jewelry as it cascaded toward the ground. Rubies, diamonds, and sapphires twinkled amidst the…
February 29, 2024
Poetry Jing Li Ava

London

‘Am I in London?’ "I am." Where is Elizabeth? Happy living story All of your chapter Bounlance joy Please my heart Power hand Wise mind Our baby Vow vow Love all love Miss I miss Endless wonder Bring us together Love all love Miss I miss For everything My…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Rob Pook

Life Sentence of The Smith

Born nine months after his country won the World Cup.A child prodigy.Cast off at age twenty-four.Husband, father, emigree, away on the other side of the world.The blue-collar life.The dreams of success.The search for fulfillment.The long years of empty…
February 29, 2024
Mystery Stories Joshua Lowther

The Operator

Jason looked over to his right, his eyes barely able to focus themselves on the subject of his attention. His neck ached terribly from the strenuous movement. He was tired. The captain’s gaze came to rest on the rookie sonar operator sitting tense at his…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Salvatore Difalco

The Chute

At dusk, we left our unit with a soft pink bundle. I carried it through the wet streets and into the black woods. I said I’d take it all the way, the bundle, but that we had to drop it in together. My wife’s green eyes flashed. “Don’t make me do that.” I…
February 29, 2024
Fantasy Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

Tragopolis

In the heart of a vast and mysterious forest lay a city like no other – Tragopolis. It was a fablesque city hidden from the prying eyes of the outside world. It was a place where secrets bloomed as bountifully as the surrounding flora. It was a city where…
February 15, 2024
Science Fiction Stories Jasnoor

Ethan Sheldon's Death

<< Ethan Sheldon’s [Deceased] Brain Autopsy >> Damn, this one's going to be a long one—an all-nighter mopping the floors in this creepy ass place. There is no music or sound except the splashing noise of cleaning fluid. I'm in a hallway; there's nothing to…

“Don’t put your hands in the pockets!”

Jimmy looked at his sister. It was just a winter coat, a used one. It was all his parents could afford. But it was his. He picked it out. Now he stood proudly before the store mirror admiring the blue denim coat with the thick, soft fleece lining that reminded him of grandma’s comforter. But it was the many zippered pockets with their long fancy fobs that caught his eye among the other used clothing on the racks.

 

He toyed with one of the chrome fobs, “Why not?”

“Because, silly, that’s where people keep their wishes. And you’re not supposed to let the wishes out.”

That winter saw endless days of below freezing temperatures and long, bleak nights of snowfall. The blue denim coat with the thick, soft fleece lining and many zippered pockets kept Jimmy warm on his mile long walk to and from school. It kept him dry as he sled down steep hills and built great forts and engaged in heroic snowball fights with other ten year olds. And it kept him company as he brought in firewood and performed his other daily chores.

Late one afternoon, while he played alone in the woods, it began to snow. Jimmy knew he should hurry home but within minutes the snowfall became a blizzard.

Everything turned white.

Then it grew dark as night folded over the forest. Try as he may, Jimmy couldn’t find his way. The snow continued to fall. Jimmy became frightened and cold and hungry.

Huddling under a fallen tree, Jimmy cupped his hands and breathed into them. “I wish I hadn’t forgotten my gloves,” he cried. Without thinking, he unzipped the right side pocket and inserted his hand. He felt something soft, familiar. It was the woolen gloves he left sitting on the mantle. They were warm and dry and felt good around his freezing fingers.

“I wish it would stop snowing,” Jimmy said, idly unzipping the left side pocket. Seconds later the blizzard stopped.

His sister’s words came back to him: That’s where people keep their wishes.

The boy smiled broadly.

He understood.

Carefully tugging on the zipper which sealed the breast pocket, he called out loudly, “I wish I wasn’t lost!”

As the metal teeth on the zipper parted, the thick cloud cover opened. Soon a bright full moon lit the snow blanketed forest. Jimmy jumped up and laughed and began to run about. The old blue denim coat with the thick, soft fleece lining and many zippered pockets had saved him.

As he rushed through the dense brush in the direction of his home, one of the coat’s long fobs caught on a branch. It pulled the large zippered bottom pocket open. Jimmy stumbled, landing in a deep snow bank. Digging himself out, he heard a loud growling.

He looked up.

A huge, hungry wolf with burning red eyes and long sharp teeth stood over him.

Jimmy tried to think. What else had his sister told him? You’re not supposed to let the wishes out.

The great wolf leaped.

Jimmy reached for the zipper and tried to pull it closed.

But it was too late.

 

BJ Neblett is the author of Elysian Dreams, a romantic fantasy adventure available in paperback and e book form. His newest work is an historical memoir about his growing up during the Kennedy administration. Ice Cream Camelot was released earlier this year as an e book to very positive reviews. It will be available in paperback shortly. BJ also hosts two blog sites: www.hereforaseason.blogspot.comfor poetry, and www.bjneblett.blogspot.com where he posts his short stories. BJ’s writings have been compared to that of Haruki Murakami and Isaac Asimov.

 

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