That's Bad - a short story

 That’s Bad – a short story

 

I used to drive my mom nuts whenever I called something “bad!” Like a black 1963, split-window Corvette or a buddy performing a spectacular jump on his BMX bike. But when I came home from school and she asked me how I did on my test I said, “bad.” Decades later the same Corvette was “wicked,” but mom had once read a Psalm to me that mentioned we should avoid the wicked. And just a decade ago, a brand new Corvette was “sick!” It all made sense to me. But not to my mom. Even so, things are changing – again.

When a friend took me for a ride in a mid-engine Corvette on Laguna Seca raceway, I stepped out of the car and became sick. Because now it’s “dope," which I need from becoming sick. And now, I hear a phrase like “only in Ohio,” and I can’t tell if my daughter is talking about her geography or something else. Not sure if this sounds nuts or weird, but I wish I could drive to Ohio in my bad Corvette.

Update - a short story

Update (Fiction 101 Series)

The next thirteen words Marvin typed did not display due to another anti-virus ad. “No more damn updates!” Marvin shouted at his computer.  

Marvin’s coworkers knew the wisdom of keeping a safe distance from him when he failed at techno-anger management. He had been known to throw his phone from the balcony of the office. And this morning, he threatened his laptop with the same fate.

Nevertheless, at his retirement party, they gave him Ari – a female robotic AI. The other androids stood around and watched his reaction.

He closely examined her and asked, “Is she my date? Or my update?”

Flat - a short story

Flat (Fiction 101 Series)

Before Earth was first visited by aliens, it was believed the planet was round. But it is round – and flat. A flat disc that spins like a record as it plays the songs of peace and war. 

The aliens remained above the edge as if a giant hand held a needle over the planetary vinyl. And they listened to the many dissonant tones of international news. Of the non-harmonious national news. And of the off-key local news. These songs smothered out all others. And so the aliens left. For they did not want to land on such a mind-numbing flat note.

Survival of the Diligent - a short story

Survival of the Diligent (Fiction 101 Series)

The Wolves hunted Them with the arrow. The Bears with the rifle. The Cows herded Them into fences and corrals. The Bears initially protested the Chickens for being too civilized until they witnessed the cramped, industrial housing provided for Them. Fascinated, the Bears adopted this technique and shared it with the Wolves.

Then the Robots built the Processing Centers once their empirical study of the Animals was complete. They approved of their efficient extinction methods of Them – albeit brutal. Ironically, the responsibility lay with Them when – many years prior – they had invented the Robots and traded Human civilization for the Artificial. 

 

Sand - a short story

Sand (Fiction 101 Series)

Mining had always been dangerous, especially below the turbulent global ocean. That was where most of the valuable sand was located – under water. Cities spotted the planet over the ocean and on the remnants of high ground and mountains that pierced the raging sea. The cities illumination was meager compared to the past. So the vast blanket of bright stars returned to the night sky. It was a reminder of what once was. Now, the sand was more valuable than diamonds and more beautiful than stars. And the dry sand was still more plentiful than the inhabitants of the priceless planet. 

April 1958 - a short story

April 1958 (Fiction 101 Series)

April sat up in her desk. Her teacher asked for the second time. Two was all the times the teacher allowed before being sent to the Principal’s Office. So, April sat up. This only gave her a better view out the window. From the second floor, she could see out her mystery window. Now she remembered. Her mystery window provided her an “A” on her last theme. She imagined a mushroom cloud erupt and instantly collapse, replaced by a man on a white cloud. She wrote a new theme about her collapsing fear. When will this take place? She asked herself. 

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"[The angels] said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'" - Acts 1:11

The Promise - a short story

The Promise (Fiction 101 Series)

Aaron blew out all one-hundred candles. The assisted living nurse cut his cake. He always liked his birthday. And this was the day he needed to fulfill a promise. The morning after his fiftieth birthday, his mom had called him and said, “Welcome to the second half of your life.” And that’s when he made the promise. Aaron had been an avid cyclist most of his life. His plan, ride his age every birthday. So, after his morning birthday party he snuck out of the facility and prepared his bicycle. Ten long hours later he finished. The next day, he died smiling. 

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"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7