Varda

The knock on the door seemed frantic, so I quickly put down my book and dashed to the door. I asked who it was and got four words in return: “Rock Island police, sir.”
Through the window I see two officers, both baby-faced and looking less than happy to be standing in the rain. A bit [...]

The L-bomb

Every so often, I like to use this here blog as a repository for short fiction pieces. So that’s what I’m going to do here. Hope you enjoy it.
The L Bomb
When someone says, “I love you,” they’re hoping to hear, “I love you, too.” But when Amy told me she loved me, I became afraid.
Amy [...]

Part 28 – And the whiskey killin’ me

And just like that, she was gone. I downed the last of my drink and flagged down the bartender.
“What’ll this get me with whiskey in it?” I asked, showing him a $5 bill.
“A whiskey sour, whiskey tonic or a double straight up,” he said.
“Gimme the whiskey straight up.”
— The end.

Part 27 – You better wear some flowers in your hair

A long time passed without a word. Seconds, minutes, hours – it felt like forever.
Until …
“I promise,” Kristy said.
“What?” I wasn’t paying attention.
“I promise no gun. We’ll get to San Francisco without it. We have enough money.”
I knew I shouldn’t believe her, but the kiss she planted on my cheek forced me.
We drove on silently. [...]

Part 26 – 99 years in that Folsom pen?

I should have never believed her. But god help me, I did.
The girl in the yellow shirt is back. She ordered a drink that looked suspiciously like my whiskey tonic. She didn’t need it. She was already two of three sheets to the wind. I was wrong. She wasn’t going to try to kill herself [...]

Part 25 – lookin’ down the barrel of a hot metal .45

I started to walk to the car.
“Go ahead and start the car,” Kristy said. “Get the air conditioning rocking. It’s hotter than hell out here. I’ll be right there. I really have to pee.”
I walked out to the car, started it and turned on the air. And I waited.
After a few minutes, Kristy came jogging [...]

Part 24 – Contents may be hot

Roadside coffee is supposed to suck. It’s supposed to be weak, watery and gross. You drink it only to stay awake on long road trips. It’s not supposed to be good at all.
I wasn’t expecting a whole lot when I spotted a sign indicating a restaurant at the next exit. I figured I’d be able [...]

Part 23 – I’m sleeping with the porcelain tonight

There’s a baseball game on TV. Fitting, I suppose. I’m kind of glad it’s not the River Bandits.
The whiskey tonic in front of me is dynamite. Not much tonic and almost too much whiskey. Almost.
Everything is moving in slow motion. Or maybe I am. It’s a good feeling – one I’ve not had in a [...]

Part 22 – Well, I must’ve been stoned when this whole thing started

It’s a bright day. So far it’s been good. Kristy is still batshit crazy. But I think I’m just as nuts for going along with her. Strangely, I’m ok with this.
But something is missing. Coffee. I think I need coffee. I know I need coffee.
“Kristy, start looking for exits that have gas station of restaurants,” [...]

Part 21 – Whiskey with a bullet chaser

Drinking a lot of beer is like eating a loaf of bread. Sure, it tastes great, but you start to feel full very quickly. I say quickly, but I don’t really mean it. I’ve had what – 8, 9, 10 – so far? I don’t know. It’s only 11:15.
The problem is that I’m full. It’s [...]