Archive for May, 2024
YOU KNOW YOU’RE GETTING OLD WHEN:
You remember when a judge made decisions based on the law and not the source of their appointment.
MY LATEST ACCEPTED STORIES
MY LATEST ACCEPTED STORIES
As promised earlier, here are the titles of the three stories I have recently accepted for publication and the publishers who accepted them.
THE UNIVERSE IN BALANCE available now in Corner Bar Magazine. Go to Home page, then to Ostarablot, March 21, volume 9 issue 4.
BEETLE MANIA accepted by Creepy Podcast. I’ll let you know when it will be broadcast.
REVENGE AND REDEMPTION accepted by YELLOW MAMA and will appear June 15 in issue 104.
HAVEN OF HORROR: HORROR SHORT STORY, PART VII
WARNING
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence. If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this. Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
HAVEN OF HORROR
“How you doin’? the old man asked. “Need some gas?”
Mark answered, “Yes,” and didn’t bother to say what type for obviously there was only one type available.
The man began to pump, and Mark wondered about the quality of the product, but he was low and had no choice.
His family had also been complaining about hunger for some time, so Mark asked the attendant, “Any place to eat around here?”
The old man scratched his chin and said, “No restaurants, but there is a family and they do offer meals.” Mark got directions which led the family to a rustic-looking house which wasn’t a surprise for the entire town appeared rustic.
The family rang the doorbell and was greeted by a very pleasant woman. Yet there was something about her putting Mark off. But his family was hungry.
Mark said, “The gas station attendant said that you might be able to provide us a meal. We are more than willing to pay and pay we should.”
The woman said, “Of course I can feed you,” and her mind added, And of course you will pay. But before you eat, we have a local wine we offer to tourists with the hope they like it and tell their friends. Let me give you each a sample. I guess your boy and two girls are not old enough to drink, but a taste won’t hurt them.”
The woman poured five glasses of wine, and, as they drank, the look on the faces of the family showed enjoyment.
The End
HAVEN OF HORROR: HORROR SHORT STORY, PART VI
HAVEN OF HORROR
WARNING
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence. If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this. Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
Jeff yelled, “Are you fucking blind?”
The sheriff, in a garbled voice replied, “Our cloistered friends are about to have a party and you, you could say, will be the guests of honor.”
Jeff, not understanding the sheriff’s response began to scream every curse he knew. While all Karen could do was softly weep.
The sheriff slowly walked away, then a siren sounded. All the residents outside now hurried to their houses. Upon entering the town, Jeff observed a small building, windowless with a single door. The door slowly opened, and Jeff could not believe the spectacle approaching them. Some walked on two, some on four limbs. They were hideous, of human size, but that was where all resemblance to a human ended. They were green with white underbellies. The head resembled that of a frog but with a stark difference, a mouth containing sharp rows of teeth. Above the grotesque mouth was a pair of blunted nostrils. Above the nostrils was a pair of eyes, knowing eyes. Intelligent eyes. The legs ended in webbed feet. On what would be arms were distorted humans had hands with sharp claws.
The ungodly mass began to make their way to Jeff and Karen, looking predatory and surrounded the naked couple. A hideous scream exited those misshapen mouths. Then they attacked. Horrible screams came from the couple, then suddenly ceased. The beasts were a mad blur of feeding frenzy. Once done with their meal they departed to the enclosure from which they came leaving behind two hanging skeletons.
***
Mark and Candice, along with their three teenage children were on a summer vacation of hiking and camping. Mark had been observing the fuel gauge. When he saw a small road off the main, he told the family, “We’re a little low on fuel, and if it leads to a town it must have a gas station.” He carefully maneuvered his SUV down the rutted, potholed road. After not too long he said, “I told you. there’s a town.” He was proud of himself for his decisions were usually wrong about directions. And when he did decide which way to go, one the family would chime in, “Remember when you …”
Mark surveyed the town and was right. There was a gas station. But to his surprise it had only one pump, unusual for this day and age. On closer observation the town looked like something out of a time warp. When he drove into the station, he saw an old man in a rickety chair leaning against the building. Mark waved to the old man, who got out of his chair and slowly drifted over to the SUV.
HAVEN OF HORROR: HORROR SHORT STORY, PART V
WARNING
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence. If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this. Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
HAVEN OF HORROR
The couple nodded and she poured them each a glass.
Sipping, Karen said, “This is excellent wine.” But she soon noticed her vision begin to blur and she slumped to the floor. After a short time, Jeff joined her.
When they first arrived, they noticed a strange structure in the town park. It had uprights maybe seven feet tall and a crossbar of perhaps ten feet. Karen asked Jeff, “What do you think that is for?”
“I have no idea”, he said. “Can’t be for kids. Can’t be for anyone.”
Now they had the answer. They were hung suspended from the structure by the wrists, naked.
Jeff screamed, “What the hell is going on. Where are the police?”
An old man approached them and said, “I’m the police. What seems to be the problem?”
Jeff saw that something about the man wasn’t quite right. It was his face. It appeared a little ‘wrong’.
HAVEN OF HORROR: HORROR SHORT STORY, PART IV
HAVEN OF HORROR
WARNING
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence. If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this. Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
At first light,
when visitors were needed the camouflage concealing the small road to the
hamlet was removed. The town now waited.
***
While filling up
Jeff asked the attendant if there was any lodging in the town and he replied,
“No hotels in town. But there is a house that will rent out rooms and proceeded
to them directions.
Tired and hungry,
they found the house and were greeted by a kindly woman, who guaranteed a room
and dinner. Jeff noticed something strange about her facial features, but being
tired and hungry he chose not to inquire just yet about this observation, maybe
later. He did, however, ask why this town was not on the map.
The woman
answered, “Because we are happy the way we are. Don’t want strangers
interfering with our lives. Yet, when strangers do come it’s an event. When
they chose to stay it’s a celebration.”
This made no sense
to Jeff but he decided not to pursue it now.
The woman studied
the couple and said, “We have a local winery. Would you care for a sample –
free.
EMMET ROBINSON, PERFORMANCE
Coffeehouse/Concert
| Featuring Emmet Robinson |
May 18th Open Stage and Concert
Singer, Guitarist, Coffeehouse Entertainer
Songs and Stories
Old, New, Borrowed and Blue
MY VERY GOOD FRIEND, EMMET ROBINSON WILL BE PERFORMING THHIS COMING SATURDAY. IF YOU WANT GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, COME AND SEE HIM.
Emmet Robinson presents an engaging variety of familiar and original tunes, new songs by writers not yet widely known and a variety of humorous material.
Emmet has entertained more than 3,000 club, concert and TV audiences from coast to coast. He’s also appeared with other folk artists such as Eric Andersen, Jamie Brockett, The Country Gentlemen, John Denver, The Greenbriar Boys, Patrick Sky, Michael Peter Smith, Townes Van Zant and Dave Van Ronk,
Emmet Has been a part of the Central Wayne Arts Gathering for many years and we are thrilled to have him on our stage once again!
Singer, Guitarist, Coffeehouse Entertainer
Songs and Stories
Old, New, Borrowed and Blue
Emmet Robinson presents an engaging variety of familiar and original tunes, new songs by writers not yet widely known and a variety of humorous material.
Emmet has entertained more than 3,000 club, concert and TV audiences from coast to coast. He’s also appeared with other folk artists such as Eric Andersen, Jamie Brockett, The Country Gentlemen, John Denver, The Greenbriar Boys, Patrick Sky, Michael Peter Smith, Townes Van Zant and Dave Van Ronk,
Emmet Has been a part of the Central Wayne Arts Gathering for many years and we are thrilled to have him on our stage once again!
The Hall, Central Baptist Church
106 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087
Enter through doors off West Wayne Ave.
For more info contact Jeff at jlcarroll58@gmail.com
or Facebook.com/Central-Wayne-Arts-Gathering
HAVEN OF HORROR: HORROR SHORT STORY PART III
HAVEN OF HORROR
WARNING
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence. If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this. Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
They wondered for an explanation on the source of this ghastly conversion. No one could mine an answer. There were legends of drawings found in the cave, of beings beyond imagination. Monsters with no place in nature. From this knowledge they speculated that beyond this horrible transformation a third journey to, yet another transformation existed. But no one could be certain of the changes awaiting the morphed. Before they managed to isolate those transformed some of the residents journeyed deeper into the cave and thought they heard distant waves crashing on some unknown shore. What did the presence of this unknown ocean mean to those transformed? Could these transformed humans be destined for another phase dependent on the ocean? And what did that turn their friends and relatives into. Were there cities on the ocean floor awaiting new residents? As if all this wasn’t enough to challenge reality, a horrible event took place. The transformed began attacking the still normal residents. Devouring them. The number of mutants was not great and when their threat was realized, it was no problem to repel them to the entrance of the cave. And while a force of guards stood by, a small structure was built above the entrance with no windows and a solitary door. The residents of the town were now aware of the horror that awaited them and did not want to cut off a place where they might survive.
HAVEN OF HORROR: SHORT HORROR STORY PART II
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence.
If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this.
Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
HAVEN OF HORROR
Schuylkill Haven, a small town not appearing on any maps, was of little value to visitors who happened upon it. In fact, shunned visitors until they were needed. When this occurred, the residents revealed the heavily rutted road to the town visible and waited for guests. Just as the town was not on maps, so was the road. The entrance to the road was usually heavily concealed for the residents liked, needed their privacy. The road to the town was now uncovered and the people of the haven waited.
The town of Schuylkill Haven came into existence most unnaturally centuries ago. From a small hill far from any inhabitants, late in the 1600’s the town was born.
One day there was movement of the earth on the side of the hill. The bottom of the hill began to push outward forming a cavity which grew into a cave. The first residents of the town began to arrive from within.
Men, women, and children, all naked, streamed out of the newly formed fissure studied the surroundings. At first the light nearly blinded them, but eventually they adjusted to the harsh glow of daylight.
The new arrivals were helpless in this new world. With no food or lodging the were certainly doomed. Coming to their rescue was a wondering tribe of native Americans. With compassion for these new arrivals, they shared food with them, taught them how to plant crops, hunt, construct shelters and make clothing. Eventually explores happened upon the town and were amazed to find white men in such a remote location. With the explorers came more modern methods of agriculture and more substantial lodging. Slowly a town took shape and the residents thrived. But there was a disturbing knowledge revealed to the residents. The elders began to have a greenish tint to their skin and took on strange physical characteristics. Their heads became misshaped and enlarged with mouths wide and menacing. The residents knew they had a secret meant to be kept and concealed these morphed humans.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN: A HORROR SHORT STORY PART I
I’ll be posting short stories for a while again. The story I’m posting next has not been published. It will appear in seven parts.
WARNING
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence. If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this. Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
HAVEN OF HORROR
Jeff and Karen were recently married. Not much later Jeff accepted a better job than he had with more pay. They needed to move. With great anticipation they now were on a road trip to explore the area which would be their new home. Jeff loved wandering down roads he had never traveled, and for him this trip was a treat. A new area to be visited ripe for exploration.
As they drove along, not really sure where they were, Karen said, “I’m tired and hungry. Let’s stop at the next town for some rest and food.” They had been on the road for several days driving from California to Pennsylvania. Today, they had been driving for ten hours and they both needed rest and food.
Jeff spied what looked like a seldom used road, “Let’s go down that road. It must lead to somewhere.”
Karen looked at him as if to say, ‘Give me a break’ for it looked like it would lead to nowhere. The newness of marriage had not yet dissolved, but it was getting there.
Karen glanced at the maps they had brought along, “Jeff, this road is not on the map!”
Jeff’s response was, “Great.” Karen just shook her head. And off they went down an unmapped road hoping to find food and perhaps lodging for the night as the sky was steadily darkening the landscape. He looked at Karen and wondered if the stop would lead to ‘cuddling’ – and perhaps more. He wondered how long those episodes would last. He had heard stories.
With Karen constantly complaining about how tired and hungry she was, they approached a small town. Jeff was hungry too, and ready for some nighttime activity. As they entered the town it was as if they were visiting a page out of history. There was not a modern structure. It was like something of a lot for filming an old movie. There was a gas station with only one pump. An old guy in a chair was leaning against the building.
The old man waved and said, “Hi. Don’t see many strangers here.”
The town was Schuylkill Haven.
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