New Story: No 07 – The Bottle of Tokaj

No. 07:  The Bottle of Tokaj    

(Literary/Contemporary —   1845 words)

University student Gretta returns returns home to find that her roommate has opened a very special bottle of wine.

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The usual January drizzle greeted Gretta as she left the bus depot and walked to her bicycle. She clipped her pack to the bike’s rack, pulled her knit cap over her dark hair and started home. As the day slowly brightened, she was thinking of hot tea.

…

When her companion took in a sudden sharp breath and looked down at the table, Jill sensed that something was very wrong even though she could not see Gretta biting her lip. “Uh-oh!” she exclaimed.

…

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New Story: No 06 – Elk City, Idaho

No. 06:  Elk City Idaho    

(Contemporary — 1316 words)

In 1976, a buch of hippie tree planters invade a small mill town in Idaho. There they receive an interesting welcome.

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A group of old timers and a few kids sat around the campfire. A couple of fresh logs were tossed on, sending a rush of sparks up to the sky. Robbie Richards pushed back his grey hair, and stretched his long boots towards the fire. Someone handed him a fresh bottle of Porter, and he began his story. The others, young and old turned towards him.

  Dusk was setting in and the rain was pouring down like there was no tomorrow as Tim Booty and me turned onto route 14 outa Grangeville and headed toward Elk City in spring of ‘76. Tim was driving his dusty old green Saab 96. That thing had more creaks and rattles in it than an old horse buggy, but she ran just fine. Man it was coming down!

 Now in 1976, that road to Elk City was not paved at all, so it took us well over two hours to go that forty-five miles of dips and turns and foot-deep pot holes as we snaked along the South Fork of the Clearwater. …

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New Story: No 05 – Solitaire

No. 05:  Solitaire    

(Contemporary — 720 words)

“I am supposed to be her boyfriend, yet she would rather play solitaire than spend time with me.” the narrator exclaims as his girlfriend continues with her computer game after he comes home. This sets the tone for the rest of the evening.

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“Come in! The door’s open.”

I walked into the apartment, down the short hallway to the living room, and stopped behind the faded green sofa. Suzie sat in the far corner, a flickering green light echoing off her fleshy, pale face. Her sandy blonde hair brushed her chunky shoulders as she looked over, gave a begrudging smile, then turned back to her game of solitaire. …

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