Jenene beckoned for him to follow her outside onto the porch, not wanting their daughter to hear.

“Why are you here,” she asked.

“To ask if you’d give me another chance, a fresh start.”

She turned away “Carlo that won’t work anymore,” as she disappeared behind the door.

He banged and shouted, “You mark my words I’ll get you back, Bitch.”

She called 911 and put her gun under her pillow.

You would think after removing four pounds of breast that having a simple mammogram would be nothing. However, in the back of her mind Frances always worried until she got the results. She was beyond being embarrassed when the tech would grab a boob and placed it on the Lucite shelf, squeezed the hell out of it, “Hold your breath,” she’d say as if it was an everyday occasion.

Maybe for the tech, but Frances, was on the other end; fibrocystic disease, what a pain after thirty years and…

How many times had she tried to leave him over the seventeen years they were married? Doesn’t matter now; Eileen and the children have successfully escaped his wrath and they’re on their way to a life of normalcy.

Jim’s father, a kind man had passed away a few years ago and several times Eileen would wake during the night hearing him stand in front of the fridge on that squeaky board, or feel a cool breeze hover over her bed. These visits had reassured her he was watching…

Yesterday was my birthday and I didn't invite "SANDY" to my party, but she slapped the windows and knocked at the door. We went out and she rocked the car. Geeez three more days of this in VA Beach.

October 28th

They just announced one of VA Beach's last wooden fishing piers has damage. Is nothing sacred?

 BAM!

“Lady, I’m in a truck couldn’t you see me?”

Jenny finished her text, “Don’t holler at me, I know how to drive.” She slid her finger along the face of her iPhone.

“I don’t believe you young lady. You’re texting again.”

Part two

“I wanted my dad to come right away,” Jenny continued to watch the screen.

The truck driver threw his ball…

After running errands and going to Assisted Living my husband and I hunkered down to watch the Hunger Games. At first I was upset and then I became engulfed into the movie. I hope our wonderful world would never turn into any thing like children killing each other because out of two dozen that are chosen each year only one can return home after the games are played. I woke up thinking of nothing else this morning.

Have you seen the movie or read the books? What did you think…

On the other side of the wall in apartment 3 B, the nineteen fifties and sixties best collection rocked loud and clear.

Ms. Davis must have thought he was at work, because she was the perfect neighbor; never loud, begged, borrowed or stole from anyone.

As a matter-of-fact, Bill hadn’t seen her since the boyfriend moved in this past weekend.

After hearing the same song by Martha and the Vandellas three times he wondered…were his neighbors wasted or had they left with the…

While reclining in the dental chair the assistant handed me a mirror and pointed to my root canal.

I suddenly realized that if you are laying on your back you could look anywhere from fifteen to twenty five years younger; depending on age, how you’ve lived your life and the elasticity of your skin.

Then I imagined how every person that looked like a Shar-Pei puppy that crossed my path could look in the prone position. This was becoming an obsession; not fun…

Someone’s calling me; it’s probably over, the doctor’s finished the biopsy and he’s ready to explain how I’ll take care of my tongue.

 Tom’s probably standing behind me looking at the specimen and waiting to take me home.

“We need you to wake up so we can put the dam in your mouth,” the assistant gently tapped my arm.

“It’s not over,” I said as if my voice was in a distance.

“We’re just beginning, you fell asleep on us,” the surgeon…

The gleam in Clare’s brown eyes didn’t dim when Ben sat across from the table to share a thought. They’d had a rough six years but this last one was the toughest!

“We need to get away before one of us has a breakdown,” he said.

She stirred her Chai latte and waited for…

With one step he would reach the center of the porch, with two, cross the threshold to the truth. In the past

he had wanted to be her whole life. But she was always too busy entertaining all those friends.

After years of rejection, wanderlust enticed him all over the world never to look back; after all…why bother?

Now he’s older maybe she would take notice of his achievements and they could share what was left of their life.

The silver haired man…

 I loved you while in the earth’s womb; before you had a chance to wrap your tentacles around my weary heart. I had only dreamed of a beauty like yours to share my lonely days, nights and ambitions. Yet there is a mystery that seeps through your raven eyes, I’m drawn to your porcelain skin and tranquil mind.

I had hoped to treasure you alone, but the world has witnessed your charm. They’re at the door searching for tenderness if only for a brief moment in…

At Harry’s suggestion I restacked these in order for those that did not read The Homecoming first.

The Homecoming

The phone rang four times, but no one answered. The grandfather’s clock bonged and played Westminster’s, which no one heard.

A faithful spotted dog sat by his side licking the last few drops of blood that oozed from his master’s body just before the flicker of life left his…

The phone rang four times, but no one answered. The grandfather’s clock bonged and played Westminster’s, which no one heard.

A faithful spotted dog sat by his side licking the last few drops of blood that oozed from his master’s body just before the flicker of life left his heart.

Down the street his small boy skipped; daddy was coming home today. Then he brought in the garbage cans just as mommy pulled into the driveway behind a rental…

Ms. Bea

It’s not enough that she’s had a fractured hip repair, cancer, seven bi-pass surgery, congested heart failure, five strokes and a heart attack. She can’t find a damn thing to wear in her closet after shrinking three inches and losing fifty pounds.

A good appearance would be nice at assisted living; make a gal feel like she can still look nice with the rest of them. It’s hard to walk with your pants falling off of you at ninety-two, swollen ankles and a…

Her sashay excited the room. No man unable to gawk. She slid out a cigarette. Watched them scamper to ignite. She’d just play it cool. Keep as many in the room before she escaped to hit the detonator.

My heart done turnt cold. I don’t love that sardine eatin, butt scratchin varmit anymore.

Caught him sniffing rount the town hor; she has as many fleas as Kooter our coon dawg.

I antistapates cutting Jasper’s pecker off with a kitchen knife and throing it over the side of Phillips Bridge.

A couple more’n dem drinks and he’ll pass plum out. Ya’ll don’t tell on me now ya heah.

Her judgment and quality of life are impaired. She goes four, five nights without sleep and then she has to take one. The next day realizes she’s uploaded things she doesn’t remember; nor taking the time to edit; responded to emails and stories in a manner that she can’t understand. How can others?

He can’t help her while sleeping like a baby and snoring like a bear. How does one handle all that life throws at them without Ambien?

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.…

Saturday night, Rita’s red light burned out, you know the kind that blinks.

To replace it, the nearest Supper Wiggly was at least ten miles away; no time for that, but the rent money was due.

So she decided to go next door to the Toot’n’Tell It where they had a Big Red Box.

She dabbed a little Lola behind her ears and then stood there in her finest black tights, red midriff expansion shirt and her six inch hi-heels.

Rita had to think fast, and then it came to her.…