Story

A Sudden Stop at the Reception Desk The man in the tailored navy suit stepped sideways across the polished marble floor, thrusting an open palm directly into the path of an older gentleman. The visitor wore a dark, heavy overcoat with frayed fabric along the shoulder seams and held a scuffed leather portfolio tucked under … Read more

A Straining Reach In The Heat The brown horse stretched its neck toward the ground, extending its muzzle until its lips barely touched the surface of a shallow puddle. Its dark mane fell forward over its eyes as its nostrils flared against the dry dust. A thick, woven rope was wrapped several times around the … Read more

A Struggle in the Wet Grass A young coyote pup gnawed frantically at a thick rope coiled tightly around its front paw. Its wet fur was plastered against its ribs from the steady rain falling over the open pasture. Every time the little animal pulled back to run, the heavy cord yanked its leg back … Read more

Demands at the Booth A waitress walked down the checkered diner aisle holding a heavy metal tray loaded with hot plates. A woman sitting in a red leather booth snapped her fingers twice. She demanded coffee immediately, pointing her finger at the empty ceramic mug on her table. The waitress paused, keeping her arms balanced … Read more

Unexpected Confrontation at the Carnival A woman in a denim jacket raised her smartphone, aiming the camera at a stranger standing near the carnival rides. She leaned in closer toward the silver-haired man, asking him to take a picture and make her look expensive. The man kept his hands inside his denim pockets, looking at … Read more

A Harsh Accusation At The Counter A diner manager thrust a glass of sour milk directly toward the face of a veteran waitress standing behind the stainless-steel counter. He pointed a finger at her plastic name tag, demanding that she untie her apron and clock out immediately. Helen kept her hands clasped around a round … Read more

A Cold Reception At The Dining Table A waiter standing beside a white tablecloth table looked down at a guest dressed in a simple grey sweater and asked if he could afford anything on the menu. The guest calmly tapped his wrist and asked the waiter to bring whatever dish was recommended without worrying about … Read more

A Stand-Off at the Base Entrance An older man wearing a faded green field jacket stepped across the asphalt line toward the open base entrance. A military police officer strode out from the guard station, raising both open palms to block his forward path. The officer pointed a stiff index finger directly at the man’s … Read more

A Frantic Cry by the Concrete Barrier The golden retriever planted its front paws firmly on the soldier’s chest and threw its muzzle toward the sky, barking at the passing traffic. Beside the dog, a young man in camouflage fatigues sat slumped against a rough concrete roadside divider. His head rested sideways against the barrier, … Read more

It’s been over a week since the death of country music icon Dolly Parton, but for many, the shock is still settling in. What made the announcement of the 80-year-old’s passing all the more surprising was that her legion of fans worldwide had no clue that she was even sick. The same cannot be said … Read more

Miley Cyrus announced last week that she had undergone a professional name change, which left many fans angry. Now, the singer is being backed by fans. Miley Cyrus has gone through a tough time. Since last week, she has been mourning the death of Dolly Parton, alongside millions of fans. The country legend was Miley’s … Read more

It was supposed to be an ordinary football practice for a 13-year-old boy who had so much life ahead of him. He ran a single lap around the field. And then, without warning, everything changed. Caden Sorrell, a student at Northwest Guilford Middle School in Greensboro, North Carolina, went into cardiac arrest during football practice … Read more