White Picket Fence

Sandy was tired of her world. Drudging to the overworked menial office job she hated left her little time for a life. And more and more her friends peeled off after getting married and having kids, leaving her alone on her hellish daily treadmill.  The nightmare of dating became an endless game of Duck, Duck, Goose. She’d meet someone at work, in lineContinue reading “White Picket Fence”

Pineapple Means Welcome

I was in the bar in the new adult community I recently move to nursing my Jack Daniels and watching the game when I overheard the strangest conversation. “Are you a pineapple?” the man said. “I’m a green pineapple,” the lady smiled. My interest piqued, I couldn’t help but glance in their direction. “Green aye.Continue reading “Pineapple Means Welcome”

The Rule of Three

Author’s Note: This is a continuation of the story last week, Rule 30 from the sequel to Beck’s Rules, When Walls Talk. With ideas of green ink, government paper and presidential profiles swirling in my head, I’m ready to get to work uncovering Carrington’s plot. I rush through the newsroom ignoring the wail of policeContinue reading “The Rule of Three”

Rule 30

Author’s Note: This is a sneak peek of the prequel to the cozy mystery novel Beck’s Rules where we discover the origin of hard-nosed reporter May Beck as she cuts her newspaper teeth and develops her skills on the streets of her urban city. Sometimes being right is an overwhelming burden to bear. But IContinue reading “Rule 30”

A Place Unlike Home

Author’s Note: What happens to the witch Elphaba when she flees Oz in the musical Wicked? This story developed from a prompt to find a different look at a fairytale story. Elphaba walked on the dusty road for miles with only tumbleweeds crossing her path. The dense monochromatic atmosphere made even her verdant skin lookContinue reading “A Place Unlike Home”

Unhappily Ever After

You may be familiar with my story. I was a poor orphan forced into servitude, and then, with a twist of fate, fell in love with a prince to live happily ever after. That was the real story. The authors embellished it with fanciful inventions of fairy godmothers and pumpkins turning into carriages. That wasContinue reading “Unhappily Ever After”

Failure to Communicate

A few hours into her rem cycle, Norah tossed and turned in her dream. It started with she and her husband sitting across the dinner table. “Carol told me we can get together sometime next week. Can you talk to Bob and make arrangements when you golf today?” Norah asked. He responded in a mumbleContinue reading “Failure to Communicate”

Compromise

Sarah and her friend Lauren sat in the backseat giggling while showing each other funny memes and fashion dos and don’ts on their phones. Sarah’s, brother Lucas sat next to them with his earbuds tuned to his favorite music, trying to avoid boredom on this long ride. Their moms, Chloe and Elise were perched inContinue reading “Compromise”

The Paradox Proposal

Jean thought dating Todd required a PHD in contrarian. Despite their seven years as a couple, she still found herself constantly shaking her head like a bobble-head doll about their relationship. He complained he missed her when she worked late, but claimed he wanted space so he could go out with friends. Weekend getaways wereContinue reading “The Paradox Proposal”

Attention to Detail

To Carolyn, being single was both a gift and a burden. She hated sharing absolutely every space 24/7, feeling suffocated and trapped, but she liked having someone to cheer good days and help cry in her wine on bad ones. And while she enjoyed the freedom of not having to constantly compromise, she missed someoneContinue reading “Attention to Detail”