Tag Archives: short story

She Has A Pretty Face Though (Part XVII)

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Disclaimer

The following is one of many installments for a story designed specifically for my blog.  While it does step out of my usual genre, there are some things still not suitable for a younger audience.  Violent/Graphic descriptions, strong language and sexual situations may be found through different sections.  Each entry will tell a small portion of the story during different times and may not directly follow the one prior to it.  

This story follows the direct interactions, as well as the deteriorating thoughts of a young man who is struggling not only with the relationships he has with those around him, but with the relationship he has with himself as well.

Finally, all work is strictly fiction and does not reflect the views of the author.  Any resemblance to actual person(s) is only a coincidence.

If this isn’t your cup of tea, then avoid these excerpts and hopefully I’ll see you around my other posts!

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He focused on the sound of his feet as they thundered across the pavement.  He had found a comfortable rhythm five minutes into his run and at the pace he was keeping, he would make it there with a few minutes to spare.  As it sometimes did when he was running, his mind began to wander.

“I’d almost given up hope on you.  Usually when I ask a boy to meet me, he shows up a few minutes early!”

Misty Vandiver, the most popular girl in his class.  She had it all; money, looks, friends…  There wasn’t a single thing that was out of her reach.  If she wanted it, she got it.  If she couldn’t get it, her daddy got it for her.  Sure, she was a spoiled little bitch.  There was that, but once you got past the tough exterior, she wasn’t all that bad.

“It’s okay Scott, I’m just teasing.  I’m just glad you came!”

“Yeah, that’s what she said,” he thought to himself with a chuckle.  He couldn’t help himself.  She was, after all, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.  His heart, as well as parts unmentionable, ached for her during the lonely hours of the night.

He had replayed that day over in his head a thousand times.  Sometimes when he closed his eyes, he could still see her face just inches in front of his when they had shared that milkshake.  Her skin had looked so soft, so flawless, and even over the scent of bananas just beneath his nose, he could just detect the playful hints of perfume she was wearing.  It had reminded him of mint and roses.

She reached across the table and laid her right hand over his left.

Oh God!  Her hand had been so soft!  So delicate!  Even after she had taken it away from him, he could still feel its touch.  For several hours afterward, he knew what it must have been for those people experienced the phantom limb syndrome.  Only, in his case, it was her phantom hand running its fingers across his skin.

It wasn’t right for him to be thinking about her so, and not just because he was out of her league.  Nor was it because she was Tommy’s girl.  He shouldn’t be thinking about her like this because he was running to be with another girl, one he had promised to meet on time.

Six more minutes.

He could just see the theater in the distance.  It sat alone, a mile before him on a lonely road just on the edge of the main business district.  There had once been plans to develop further but the city had gone through some dark times a few years back, and even though they had managed to come out of them relatively unscathed, finances had to be redirected toward rebuilding their losses.

He could see her standing on the sidewalk just outside the main entrance and he involuntarily shuddered.  She was wearing a floral dress, one that wasn’t very flattering for a girl her size, and she stood with her hands on her hips as she watched him approach.  The look on her face suggested that she didn’t like to be kept waiting.

Three more minutes.

The Darkness Defines Us (Contest Ended)

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Some of my social media friends might recognize this post as I continue to share it in the months to come.  Rest assured; you’re not going crazy!  I’ve taken this from my Facebook’s original posting and put it here, in its entirety, for the sole purpose of easily sharing many more times in the future.  You might say this is a sort of contest?  Hmm… Yes, I do like the sound of that.  The prize?  Oh, nothing much.  Perhaps a signed copy of the book mentioned in the following body.  Not enough?  How about your name in the dedication for winning the contest?  🙂

– – – – – – – – – –

It’s been fifteen months (by the date of this posting) since I began writing again and in that time I have written and published two books, as well as written many other stories on the side.

What I was originally looking at was publishing a collection of (just) random stories once I finish writing the ‘Ballad of John Rizzerio’ trilogy, I’m beginning to see a theme taking shape for the next book.

Have You Seen My Mommy? – A short story about a child and his mother who are kidnapped during the beginning stages of the zombie apocalypse.  During her imprisonment, she endures the unimaginable.  Locked inside of a closet, surrounded in darkness and suffering the abuse of her captor, she finds hope through the crumbling plaster.  Between the rotten lathe strips that separate her confines from the apartment on the other side, she discovers a way out, and it will take every last ounce of her strength to escape.

The Tattered Cloth – A short story about a family who move into a new home, later to discover a piece of grey cloth in the attic as they are unpacking. Little do they know the dire consequences that will follow.  The small patch of fabric is all that remains of a robe belonging to the strongest of the four horsemen, Death himself!  Awakened by their presence, it begins to regain some of the properties it once possessed, afflicting the family one by one until their sickness revives the once feared bearer of; The Tattered Cloth.

Aisle 13 – When a tornado touches down on a local Supercenter, a vengeful lover takes advantage of the carnage by enacting revenge upon the object of his desire.  If he can’t have her, nobody will.  Several months later, as the company rebuilds on the old site, weird things begin to happen whenever he is on the clock.  At first they are harmless, but it soon becomes apparent that someone, or something, is out to get him.

Runihura – A 3000 year old mummy is brought a local museum for cleaning and restoration. Unbeknownst to the curators, he is shipped with a set of mysterious tablets, upon which are scribed various symbols of power. As his colleagues work to restore the drying skin of the mummy, the curator begins to translate the tablets, thus tumbling the first domino in a chain of events that will be catastrophic; not only for the museum, but for the entire city!

Pretty big, right?  Yeah, but there is so much more to it than that. Believe it or not, that’s only a SMALL part of the story. >;-)  (Gabe, you know what I’m talking about.)

Now, these four stories alone are big enough to put this collection past the word count needed to make it a novel, but…

And yes, there is a but!

I’m thinking of including something special as a fifth segment to this collection!

I have two possible ideas and I’m willing to allow you to decide on the outcome! That is, if you dare to play along!

From Beyond – A tragic story about a lovelorn couple separated by death. As the surviving partner tries to move on with his/her life, the ghost of the deceased becomes even more enamored with his/her former partner.  Forever trapped between Heaven and Hell, the deceased obsesses with finding a way back into the mortal realm.  There are, indeed, ways to return to life.  However, they come with a very steep price!

The Eye – One month after moving into her apartment, Rose Marie begins to get the feeling that she is being watched. It isn’t long before she discovers the source of this feeling and she will come to wish she had never looked into; The Eye.  Deep with-in the shadows of her pantry, covered in darkness due to faulty wiring, rests an ancient painting of a long forgotten pirate; Captain Ching Shih.  The portrait captures the beauty of the former captain in her prime and Rose is content to let it remain.  In the end, she’ll wish she never had…

So there you have it. Do you want a chance to get interactive with an author?

Take a vote, let me know in the comments which of these two you would like to read and when it comes time to put this book together, I may have something special for the last person to play along!  Make sure you leave your name and email so that I can notify you of your prize!

If anonymity is your concern, you can also email me these details at therrichardsson@gmail.com.  Just be sure to put ‘CONTEST 2015’ in the subject.

Good luck!

* * * * * UPDATE * * * * * 

On June 21st, 2015, the contest was finalized.

Through the use of your votes, “From Beyond” will be included

to “The Darkness Defines Us“, and the winner’s name

will be included into the dedication.