Story

Confrontation at the Elevator Doors A uniformed security guard hurried across the marble floor and planted his arm across the sliding brass doors of the elevator. An older man in a tailored grey suit and wire-rimmed glasses stopped mid-stride, gripping the handle of his leather briefcase. The guard leaned in close, his eyebrows pulled down … Read more

The Sudden Halt On The Sidewalk Bruno planted his front paws firmly against the concrete sidewalk and pulled back on the leather leash. His owner, holding a warm paper coffee cup, took two paces forward before the taut leather jerked his wrist. The brown boxer did not bark or whine. His ears stood upright, pointed … Read more

A Struggling Request at the Door The woman held her open wallet with trembling hands as she looked up at the food delivery driver. She pulled a few small bills from the leather pocket, her shoulders hunched slightly forward as she counted the thin layer of cash. Her voice cracked as she explained that she … Read more

A Confrontation At The Booth A biker extended his index finger toward the chest of a man standing beside the booth. The older man stood upright in a pressed military dress uniform lined with service ribbons and medals. Around the diner table, men in leather vests leaned back, pointing and laughing while other patrons watched … Read more

Demands in the Lakeside Cabin An older man carefully gathered the edges of a hand-sewn patchwork quilt off a wooden bedframe, smoothing the colorful fabric before starting to fold it. His younger brother stepped into the timbered bedroom, pointing a finger directly at his chest and raising his voice in command. He demanded that the … Read more

A Sudden Demotion in the Suite Chloe leaned in toward her father while holding a slim champagne flute, her jaw set firm as she gestured toward the back of the suite. She told Thomas Hale that her stepfather Richard would walk her down the aisle instead of him. Thomas stood in his gray charcoal suit, … Read more

A Puddle on the Checkered Floor An elderly man dragged the bristles of a wide push broom across a puddle of dark coffee on the black-and-white tiled floor. His shoulders curled forward under faded denim overalls as he worked against the wet stain near the diner’s front doors. A younger man in a sharp navy … Read more

A Confrontation at the Kitchen Table A young man in a tailored dark suit slammed a sheaf of legal papers onto the worn wooden kitchen table. He leaned down until his face was inches from the older man sitting opposite him, pressing one finger firmly into the middle of the document. The older man, dressed … Read more

A Father’s Harsh Condition Robert leaned over the dining table, glaring at his son Ethan with a hardened gaze. He folded his arms tightly across his chest and leaned closer into Ethan’s space. Ethan sat across from him, holding his breath as his fingers gripped the edge of the wooden table. He begged for a … Read more

The Dog on the Driveway The man adjusted his rearview mirror with his right hand and shifted the sedan into drive. Through the windshield, a golden retriever sat upright on the manicured green lawn, his ears perked toward the hum of the engine. The man smiled through the glass, calling out through the open window … Read more

A Table Set For Two An elderly man raised a white ceramic coffee cup to his lips and took a quiet sip in the corner booth of a diner. On the wooden table in front of him sat two identical breakfast plates filled with sunny-side-up eggs, crispy bacon, and buttered toast. Two steaming mugs of … Read more

An Unwelcome Visitor on the Showroom Floor The salesman stepped briskly across the polished tile floor, adjusting his dark necktie before planting his feet directly in front of the older man. His eyes flicked down to the worn denim jacket, the faded work jeans with frayed knees, and the scuffed brown leather boots. “Sir, can … Read more