Ms. Maple, Chapter Three

Ms. Maple, Chapter Three By Garon Whited Bronze was thirsty after running a locomotive.  She expanded the truck’s gas tank while we looked for a filling station.  She then drank the tank dry on a mere sixty-mile drive to Big Spring.  I filled it again before we...

Jerry, Chapter 7

 Jerry, Chapter Seven by Garon Whited Jerry sat in the Captain’s chair and regarded the polished gleams of the Bridge. The ship was silent. Gone was the lively chatter from the little Astrogator.  What else was missing?  Some sort of background noise?  Maybe.  God...

Jerry, Chapter 6

 Jerry, Chapter Six by Garon Whited “Pop?” Kent pulled his head out of the guts of a machine. “What’s up, Punkin?” “I’ve been thinking.” “Always a good idea.  More people should try it, if only for the practice.  What have you been thinking about?” “I don’t think the...

Ms Maple, Chapter Two

Ms. Maple, Chapter Two By Garon Whited We pulled into the parking lot.  A bag of snacks wasn’t doing it for me and I was feeling both hungry and ornery.  The door brushed the bell and one of the waitresses smiled at me.  I took a look around, spotted one of the goons...

Jerry, Chapter 5

 Jerry, Chapter Five by Garon Whited Kent was in Engineering, whistling some weird little tune as he worked.  Jerry watched him for a bit.  Kent was using a three-foot crescent wrench with a similarly-sized socket on the opposite side, bolting two pipes together. ...

Ms Maple

Ms. Maple By Garon Whited I don’t know how many times I’ve stopped to help a stranded motorist.  When you spend as much time on the road as I do, galloping hell for leather in something that doesn’t even have hooves, trying to catch and bite the horizon, you pass a...

Jerry Chapter 4

 Jerry, Chapter Four by Garon Whited Jerry, still somewhat gingerly, seated himself in the Captain’s chair.  The ship’s damage control display showed a lot of battle damage still unrepaired, but the angry, flashing red, the dull, steady red, even the orange—those were...

Potholes

Potholes By Garon Whited   One of the most annoying problems with being an inter-universal traveler is the potholes.  Walking along a road, you notice them, but you step around them.  On a bicycle, you steer around them.  In a car, you try to avoid them, but...

Phoebe’s Greetings

Phoebe’s Greetings By Garon Whited My first memory, I think, is of my Pop.  My first clear memory, anyway.  He was smiling down at me, holding me and a bottle, and I was happy.  Looking back on it, yeah, it wasn’t normal, but it was all I knew.  How was I to...

Jerry Chapter 3

  Jerry Chapter 3 By Garon Whited   Whoever he was, he made good sandwiches.  Having the entire ship’s stores to draw on must have helped.  Where he got the mustard was a mystery, though.  The officers’ mess, maybe.  It was the good stuff, the best Jerry had...

Adelaide

The Girl Who Held Up the Sky By Garon Whited   Adelaide held up the sky. Nobody asked her to, but she was a conscientious girl and a helpful one.  When she was six years old, she saw the cracks run through the sky, so she raised her hand and held it up to keep...

Jerry Chapter 2

Jerry Chapter 2   Jerry froze, space-gauntleted hand still on the hatch lever. Debris, he thought.  If the gravity is out, pieces of drifting debris could have impacted on the other side of the hatch, making it sound as though someone knocked. The knocking came...

Jerry

Jerry by Garon Whited   Jerry woke with a headache, a nosebleed, and a terrible whistling in his ears.  Against his better judgment, he opened his eyes. The turret was a mess. Red light pulsed everywhere from the emergency circuit.  Several pieces of...

Lights

Lights By Garon Whited   “He’s been here.” “How can you tell?” “I can feel it.” “Feel it.  Hmph.  At least I smell things.  You just feel them.” A cold wind blew past the travelers, rippling their garments.  Dust swirled around high, black boots—black under the...

Witch Hunting

Witch Hunting by Garon Whited   The rain pattered on the roof.  Wind whistled in the eaves.  Occasionally, a branch on the north side slapped against a shutter with a clattering noise.  The smoke from the chimney whipped away in vortices, scattering quickly in...

Mary’s Log

Mary’s Log by Garon Whited “Diogenes?” “Yes, Dean of Knives?” “Save that for when Eric is around, will you?  Call me ‘Mary,’ please.” “Preferences updated, Mary.  What can I do for you?” “Can I open a private file?” “Certainly.” “I mean, a private file Eric doesn’t...

Christmas Presence

Christmas Presence By Garon Whited   I try to mind my own business.  I really do.  But sometimes it’s hard to walk by on the other side. When I saw him, I first thought him a failed mall Santa, thin of frame and pale of cheek.  The red suit was faded and worn,...

Hospital

Hospital By Garon Whited   Slade knocked on the door, rang the bell again, and shouted. “It’s me!” Something inside snicked and the door came open.  Doctor Wagner pulled Slade inside quickly and slammed the door, bolting it. “It’s almost midnight, Doc.  What’s...

Summoner

Summoner By Garon Whited   “By Naz’rathkelos!  By Kathulluachor!  By the Sacred Name of Berekolovoth!  I summon thee!  I summon thee!  I summon thee!” The cowled wizard brought his hands down sharply.  The intricate diagram on the shone a pale, lambent blue.  The...

No Angel

No Angel by Garon Whited “This is Adam-Charlie-Three requesting backup at—” “Don’t do it, kid.  This sort—” “—Sixteen-Eighteen Willow Street, Longbranch Apartments.  Suspect—” “—of thing isn’t—” “—armed, with hostages!” “—going to end well for him.” “Sarge!” declared...

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