Geoff estranged from his UK relatives is a widower living in Portland. He is in his late forties when he faces the bad midlife crisis of being forced into retirement. Unlike many it might be one of the best things to have ever happened to him recently. For sure the next bad thing that happens could also be considered candidate for the title of 'Usually a really bad thing that is actually for the best'.

Geoff estranged from his UK relatives is a widower living in Portland. He is in his late forties when he faces the bad midlife crisis of being forced into retirement. Unlike many it might be one of the best things to have ever happened to him recently. For sure the next bad thing that happens could also be considered candidate for the title of 'Usually a really bad thing that is actually for the best'.

Galen stood alone in the hospital in Roanoke. He’d had the opportunity to travel with a team of experts to aid in figuring out what Edward Watt knew about Bug, but he’d chosen to travel alone to meet Edward and his family. According to eyewitnesses, at the party trap that the Destructors had set for the girl, Edward had been ordered to pick Bug up off the ground. Immediately, for a few brief moments, they’d entered what witnesses described as some sort of vision.

Mommy are you serious I have to find a summer job?
Part 1
By Princess Pantyboy

Me, Kelly 16-year-old boy
Miley 13-year-old little sister that is taller than me.
Mrs. Anderson Manager and my boss.

Snapshots
By Ellie Dauber

This is another of my older stories, appearing on Big Closet for the first time. I hope you enjoy it.

* * * * *

Retirement is a time to pull back, to take a much-earned and welcome rest after more than forty years work. But for those people whose work has become their life, it's an early death, the end to any useful purpose, while they still have the minds and the heart to continue.

For Lillian Wagner, it meant the sorrow of watching her newly retired husband, Ed, sink into the despair of imagined uselessness. Things, however, aren't always as bad as they seem. Ed and Lil will find a reprieve in a very common place that just happens to lie at the edge of... the Twilight Zone.

Morningstar,

One Saturday Night at Magee’s
by Ellie Dauber

I’m afraid that I screwed up in attaching the .pdf file that was the bulk of Magee’s story #2. I have fixed it. So if you couldn’t read it before please try again. And comment. I did get 8 comments on what was posted, but they were all “Where’s the .pdf?” Still eight comments are eight comments, so here’s the third story. I’d like some comments on this one, also. Just because I only wrote three doesn’t mean that a fourth one might show up, given sufficient feedback.

This is the last of three stories about Magee’s, a neighborhood bar with a most unusual owner. Out of work – and bitter -- Vic Cantrell lets his wife. Betty, drag him into Magee’s for a drink. Only to find an evening far different than they ever expected.

One Night at Magee's
by Ellie Dauber

This is the first of three stories about Magee’s, a neighborhood bar with a most unusual owner. When Dutch Blucher comes in, looking for a fight, he finds out just how unusual.

When I get on the bus, I don’t know what I expect but hardly anyone pays any attention. These students are in various stages of self entertainment. Most are on their phones. Some have books out.

There are a few empty seats and fewer empty rows. I pick one of the empty rows and settle in. The bus hisses before it’s on it’s way. I haven’t had any time to myself to process and I won’t find that here either because a boy jumps in the seat beside me.

“You ignoring me, Hill?” he asks with a smile

“ What'd I do now?” his expression is carefree.

The Medallion of Zulo" -- A Song Parody
by Ellie Dauber
(c) 2002

A song parody to the tune of the old blues song, "They'll Be Some Changes Made." The original words are there for comparison.

The Medallion of Zulo" -- A Song Parody
by Ellie Dauber
(c) 2002

"They'll Be a Change in the Weather"
By Higgins and Overstreet
(based on the 1927 Bessie Smith recording)

This is set in my A New Life universe, which is set in Dot's M.Y.T.H. universe.

Fair warning: Suicide is attempted, but (spoiler alert) the attempt fails. And thus comes the real Christmas gift in this story.

The Christmas Eve midnight service was wonderful. I took my place in the soprano section of the choir and sang carols that I had literally known for decades. I had to pay attention to what I was doing, though. It would have been easy to slip into the baritone or tenor parts that I had learned years ago.

At the stroke of midnight, Pastor Dan placed the baby Jesus into the manger. We all wished each other a very merry Christmas, sharing hugs all around.