Tino’s Boys
TINO’S BOYS This story is gritty, and horrible, but it’s how it really happened. “Don’t you wish this night would last forever?” Tommy said, and I didn’t argue that it’s actually early morning, and not exactly the best time I’ve ever had, considering every moment’s been spent with him. Still, I grunted something that sounded…
Read MoreUNHAUNTED HOUSE
The house is dark. It’s an empty dark. Bottomless pit black. I wish I could flip a switch and flood this place with light. With love. With life. The way it once was. So brilliant, so happy, so dazzling. Forever bright, the fool thought – to myself. Infinity belongs to the night.…
Read MoreGYM GOLD
GYM GOLD “You want to work in for a couple sets?” It’s meant to be a joke, because it’s laughable. The only place where Jim Gold and I work out together would be a gym in an alternate universe. Jim Gold is six foot eight, weighs well north of three hundred pounds, and most of…
Read MoreDETECTOR DETECTOR
DETECTOR DETECTOR “Do you have the receipt?” This, from the clerk who sold me on, and then sold to me this very piece of equipment, less than 24 hours ago. The tag is still on it, and quite visible. I am still exhausted from yesterday, a little sunburned, dehydrated. Cranky. “You gotta be kid –…
Read MoreFatherhood
FATHERHOOD I am not ready for this. A fragile life hangs in the balance. It’s my own flesh and blood, my responsibility. It feels as if his life is in my hands. I look at them and will them not to tremble. My God. I’m not ready. But that doesn’t matter. The fact is,…
Read MoreSaturday Night Forever
SATURDAY NIGHT FOREVER Tonight’s the night. If all goes well, I — I should stop right there. Tonight has the potential to be big. I’m at an invitation-only wedding at Hotel Bel-Air. My “plus one” is Haley Sinclair, the incredible girl that I’m going to marry. If I work up the nerve to ask her,…
Read MoreIt’s Not Me, It’s Shoes
IT’S NOT ME, IT’S SHOES “You know…” She said, in the way she would often begin a conversation. My eyes never left my phone’s screen, but I did grunt an acknowledgement. “I’ve given it a good try, a fair one. But – It’s not working for me and it’s not going to.” I looked up…
Read MoreWalls
WALLS “Raisins,” he said. Her nametag read “Cassie.” He didn’t remember seeing her here before, until just now as her cheery voice asked him what he was looking for. “You’re new here,” he said, surprised at how quickly she had answered, “Aisle J6.” Before she could answer, another man rudely interrupted, pulling Cassie’s arm.…
Read MoreBilly
If you know Billy, then you have a “Billy story.” Just one?! Right. More likely it’s “Where do I even start?” One of my earliest recollections of Billy was back when my age was still in single digits. He was the kid in our backyard that my brothers and I were staring at like Who…
Read MoreGrit Fiction – Signed Copies!!
One of my favorite writing-related activities is meeting my readers and signing copies of books for them. I know not everyone can make it to signing events, so, I’ll bring the experience to you! Contact me through this post, and I’ll personally sign a copy (or as many as you’d like) of Grit Fiction and…
Read MoreKeep On Knocking
KEEP ON KNOCKING Miguel was already sweating, and they hadn’t even knocked on their first door yet. “It must be ninety degrees already,” he commented to Lucas, who looked surprisingly fresh. Lucas was glad he’d opted to wear short sleeves. “It could be worse,” he said, smoothing his necktie. “Think of our brothers and sisters…
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