The Shop

My mother called me several weeks ago to tell me that dad had had a stroke, but it was mild and he was okay and doing well. She also said that he suggested I come for a visit very soon to talk. The stroke was bad enough, but dad wanting to talk sounded ominous. We had...

Rock’s Rebirth

“That was called Heart of Gold.” The crowd erupted in roars and applause. Tad smiled, knowing he had found his niche. He lucked out inheriting his grandfather’s ancient instrument and music disk collection. He had heard the old man play the guitar a couple times but...

Christmas Tale

Karl Stuben stood on the ridge and looked out over his one-hundred-sixty acres. He loved the rolling hills of grass that stretched to the horizon in every direction. It was winter, the day before Christmas, and the grass was brown. His only neighbors, the Bartos...

Rough Night

I can’t sleep. I’ve tried everything, but my brain is out of control, and I can’t drift off. I even tried my worst-case solution involving counting backward from four-hundred, by threes. In Spanish. Usually, the counting is demanding enough that it gets my mind off...

Hideout

I shiver a little in the crisp, pine scented air. It’s cooler again this morning, reminding me that winter is approaching. Otherwise, it’s beautiful. Blotches of bright gold aspen leaves stand out from the lodgepole pines carpeting the mountainsides. But my eyes water...