Mark Gagnon
Bio
My life has been spent traveling here and abroad. Now it's time to write.
I have three published books: Mitigating Circumstances, Short Stories for Open Minds, and Short Stories from an Untethered Mind. Unmitigated Greed is do out soon.
Achievements (1)
Stories (451)
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Transition from Despair
Mika’s logical mind was trapped inside the citadel walls of despair. His dire situation and his inability to find a resolution quickly only worsened the desperation he was feeling. Despair is a beast that blinds its victim from seeing rational solutions that would be obvious to the unencumbered mind. Despair is a self-perpetuating creature that feeds off the hopelessness of its prey. Yes, he must find an escape before his body and mind succumb to the ever-increasing pressure.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
A Cry for Help
Paul, I spotted your poster stapled to a tree and feel I must respond. You and I share a bond that most people will never understand. You have lost your favorite black T-shirt, and I have lost my pants. They are not just any pair of pants. My pants are made from the best corduroy money can buy. They give off a rubbing sound when I walk. This vip-vip sound makes me the center of attention wherever I go. People stop and scan the area in search of this unique sound. I can see a look of recognition form across their faces as I pass by them. Oh, that’s where the sound is coming from, is what they’re thinking.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Lighten Up
Michelangelo experienced an epiphany while lying on his back, staring at a blank section of the Sistine Chapel. This place is possitively humorless. All day long, I’m subjected to the droning of Gregorian chants. Nobody ever laughs or even smiles. The priests, monks, and nuns dress in lackluster clothes that purposely hide any suggestion of their human form. It must be the most depressing place on the planet.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Sanctuary
If I can just make it to that house, is the thought that plays on a continuous loop in my brain. The lights are on and smoke is drifting lazily from the chimney, so I have to believe someone is there who can help me. Every time I think I’m making progress; the house appears to maintain its distance. It’s frustrating, but I have no choice. To stop moving is to stop living.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Sewerdiferous
His gelatinous body quivered and roiled as Blobby slithered from one intersecting sewer pipe to another. He filled his lungs with the sewerdiferous aromas that permeated the air surrounding him. How could anyone not enjoy starting their day this way? Why would anyone choose to live in a world that didn’t smell like the one he grew up in?
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Meginormous
“Harry, Harry, look at the size of these footprints—there meginormous!” “You’re right Pete. I think we finally found his trail. These prints have to be three times the size of a normal human, and they look fresh. This could be the find of the century. We’ll be famous!”
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Mind the Gap
Mind the Gap is a phrase Archie heard over the loudspeakers every day when entering and exiting the tube, or as they call it in America, the subway. Naturally, he thought the announcement was referring to the space between the platform and the train car. He felt the need to remind people about a small void by using announcements and signs was silly and a waste of money. Seriously, how inept would a person need to be to step out of the car and wedge their foot in a space only a few inches wide? It was totally illogical.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Oops!
There are no words in the English language more terrifying than oops, damn, and oh crap. Simple paltry words, true, but they can strike terror in a person when spoken in the wrong setting. Every time I look in the mirror, each of those words haunts me. If you have a little time, I’ll be happy to explain.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Humor
Miss Celeste
Celeste was the center of attention wherever she went. It wasn’t because she was attractive, even though she was. It wasn’t because she was smart and witty; she was all that and more. No, it was because she accurately predicted the future for her clients. Celeste was a fortune teller extraordinaire. People came to her from around the world hoping to find out what the future had in store for them. She plied her craft with a flair for the dramatic, coupled with a high level of discretion her clients appreciated, but she remained an enigma.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Horror
Brothers In Arms
Franz Franz Anderson squatted with his back against a muddy wall of the trench assigned to him. Mud was the word of the day. The goopy stuff oozed over the top of his boots, stuck to his pants, coated his skin, and even infiltrated his food. When he ran for cover from incoming fire, it slowed his progress. If the officers ordered him “over the top," the mud transformed his charge into a slog. Just the rats that infested the trenches were unhindered by the mud. The only positive effect of having so much mud was that the British and French had to deal with it as well. When the phrase War is Hell was coined, what they really meant was War is Mud!
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Revenge
Zephyr meticulously mixed the potion to ensure its maximum strength. When his brew was complete, he drained every drop from the cauldron into a waiting mug and guzzled it down. The mixture took effect immediately. His beard changed from long and white to a salt-and-pepper gray stubble. Zephyr’s back straightened and stretched, adding several inches of height to his already imposing frame. His eye color transformed from a mysterious black to an alluring deep ocean blue. There was nothing about him that resembled his original self.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
