A family struggling to survive after the end welcomes a stranger to their home...

There was a car coming up the road.

There hadn’t been a car coming down 47 in eight months. There hadn’t been a car coming up 47 in three years.

My son Jim, my youngest, came running at the sound. “Jim,” I told him, “get me the shotgun.” He scurried off into the house. He was just returning as the battered old Nissan pulled over at the side of the road, right in front of the house.

Charlie…4

Chapter 4

I look at them there’s about fifteen of them and about nine of them are guys. I don’t really look at them. There’s two that look like the want to hurt me. No, it’s the six girls I’m watching. They’re the ones with the pissed beyond pissed look to their faces. It’s the same thing really in most places. Most of these guys are the boyfriends here because they have to; they really don’t want much to do with beating on “a girl”.

Jem…Chapter one I guess…

Series inspired by Melinda_Starr
(It’s her fault.)

“Never thought I could dance…”
“Never though I ever be asked…”

“La, la, la….. (Humming.) the lights are bright and I’m up on the stage…”

And the rest of it just won’t come. I fall back away from my keyboard and flake out on the bed with all my comics and magazines and sign putting my palms over my face and trying to rub the writer’s block-blahs away.

I know the song sounds girly but it’s supposed to. I’ve been writing it for the next teeny-chick pop star.

This is a very short story told to the author by a man who liked women --
liked them whether they were real women or transgendered.

Laura by Janet Baker

Jason met Laura that fall evening at a bar noted for its acceptance of unconventional lifestyles. The bar was filled with celebrants, the Twins having finally won a game. Jason scanned the crowd trying to determine whether the colorfully dressed habitués were real women or cross dressers or transsexuals.

Ode to a Dreamer

Dreaming, the most pure of actions. Is anything more natural?

16 year old Darren Peterman, AKA Nancy, has just been stood up by her date, Tim Moreland. His little brother Sammy has his own female problems. Darren's Mom, Karen, thinks that she and Nancy should make the best of the situation and have a girl's night out.

White Skates

Small boy holds on to his mother’s hand, as they navigate the store, looking for the right place. Soon, they are in sporting goods, and the two of them join the small group of boys and girls and harried parents getting new skates.

“I want white skates, momma.” The small boy practically whispers.

“White skates are for girls.” She says, and sits him down so the salesclerk can measure his feet. Soon they are stuffed into black skates, and the mother says “Now you’ll be able to play hockey.”

To an audience, the conductor's technique & art are the most mysterious of all the orchestra. Whether it be a world-class philharmonic orchestra, or a youth orchestra of yet-blossoming talent, only a small part of the conductor's work is visible on-stage, glimpses seen perhaps now, as a wave of the hand or baton & maybe then, as a wild dance atop the podium. And the conductor must always perform turned away from the audience, appearing to the outside world as if his or her face were hidden behind a mask…

Continuing Release 2
By Kerry Brown

Part 2 - What man about the house?

It was Monday and I was sitting in class and sweating in my hot, woolen pants.