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Free Short Stories

Just click on the PDF for a free short story

“Dany Boy” is historical fiction set in 1870s Kansas that follows a spirited nine-year-old named Dany, who grapples with love, loss, and the harsh realities of frontier life. 

“My One Date In College” is 631 words about a high-functioning autistic girl on her only date in college with a man from the computer science department whom she likes. A blizzard blows in, scaring her. Being touch-sensitive, when he lightly rests his hand on her knee, she screams.

The scene is of the pair eating cheese fondue and drinking white wine while a sitcom drones on the television. Sandy sits on her couch picking lint balls from her mother’s white afghan with a single blue thread. Buzz tries to talk her into marriage. Sandy pulls a section of the lonely blue strand from the afghan and breaks it off. She drops it into the ashtray and lights another cigarette. He leaves. As he starts his old work truck, dry snow hits the windshield, and he realizes it’s over between them.

The narrative revolves around the harrowing trial of Brad Avon McTrillion, a brutal serial rapist whose heinous actions have left a lasting impact on a tight-knit community. The story is told from the perspective of one of his victims, Coco, who must confront not only the brutal details of her assault but the societal perceptions surrounding her past as a streetwalker. As Coco and other victims come forward, they face an uphill battle against systemic challenges, victim-blaming, and a charismatic defense attorney intent on tearing down their credibility in a courtroom packed with spectators eager for shock and sensationalism.

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Set against the backdrop of a small town and marked by his irreverent curiosity, Danny grapples with the teachings of his devout Presbyterian family. His eleven-year-old mind struggles to reconcile the grand themes of God, morality, and the seemingly arbitrary rules of Sunday school, particularly under the scrutinizing eye of his stern teacher, Mrs. Kendrick. With a mix of humor and youthful rebellion, Danny questions the core tenets of faith—why do bad things happen to good people? Why is God referred to with male pronouns? His journey is punctuated by relatable childhood experiences, from awkward moments in church to awkward interactions with family.

A Farmhouse By The Sea is about a Russian, English as a Second Language teacher, who meets a man from the Vancouver school where they work. He is handsome and sexy, and she’s attracted to him, but knows he is Catholic and will reject her when she tells him she is separated, but not divorced. Katerina finally agrees to meet him at Canon Beach. They walk along, holding hands, and it is very romantic. She says, “Our countries suffer the disease of lust. Your country, like mine, is a beast, craving conquest and domination while claiming the higher moral ground. Both of our countries are sick with lechery.” His blue eyes enter hers. A contagion of desire spun the sands on the Oregon coast, never-ending, floating with the rhythm of seaweed. Terrified of falling in love with this man, she pushed away. She felt like the old farmhouse built on the Susan Cliffs of Oregon’s fractal coast, rugged with a sensual soul, his waves crashing to bring it down, drawing her remains out to sea and home to Russia.

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