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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Something Very Fishy
Doris would tell her friends whenever they asked how she was doing, “I have four loves in my life: Harold, may he rest in peace; Kathy, my beautiful daughter; this solarium; and my saltwater aquarium. I miss Harold, but I still have the other three, so I’m doing just fine." She was content with where life had placed her, and at seventy-six, contentment was really all she could ask for.
By Mark Gagnon5 months ago in Fiction
Jocko
Every time I talk about my childhood pet I always get the strangest looks. Yes I understand, most young boys have a dog or cat, maybe a bird or possibly a rabbit, but how many do you know have ever had a pet bull? Well, I have, and his name was Jocko. He was born several months after my family moved into a small cottage located on a dairy farm in Horseheads, NY.
By Mark Gagnon5 months ago in Journal
What Did You Say It Was
People enjoy hobbies but not everyone enjoys the same thing. What one person may consider a captivating way to spend their spare time another individual may think the very same activity is boring or weird. Charlie and Bishop are two such individuals living on different sides of the spectrum. Charlie considers himself an ophiologist. It’s a fancy word for a person who studies snakes.
By Mark Gagnon5 months ago in Fiction
I'm Still the Best
Wayland strode purposefully along the nearly deserted city street. The lack of fellow pedestrians worked to his advantage and disadvantage. He should be able to spot a tail sent by the opposition, but there was no crowd to blend into should he need to duck out of sight. In his line of work, every plus came with at least one and usually multiple negatives. The game, as Wayland liked to call it, generated an adrenalin rush he found intoxicating.
By Mark Gagnon5 months ago in Fiction
Rags to Riches
Every time I think my life couldn’t possibly be any better, POOF! WHAM! KAPOW! It becomes more heavenly. It didn’t start that way, not by a long shot. I was born into a dirt-poor family, the middle child of seven brothers and sisters. We usually had at least one meal a day during the summer and three when school was in session. All my clothes, from underwear to shoes, were hand-me-downs from my older siblings. My parents possessed no special skills, so they earned a living as day laborers. It looked like life had dealt me a losing hand from the start.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Criminal
That's Called Fashion?
Last week, a group of people gathered in the hotel lobby where I work. They were waiting for their ride to a company Christmas party. The women were dressed in elaborate evening wear, covering just enough of their bodies to stay legal, but not enough to hide much else. The men wore the usual suit or sports coat and slacks. Some had ties, while others sported open shirt collars. What many of the men were not wearing were socks.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Men
An Unusual Acquaintance
When I opened the front door the smell of burnt food was overpowering. I knew I hadn’t left the oven on before going to work so the culprit had to be Carl. He was always experimenting with new recipes or looking for creative ways to build things. I can’t blame him for wanting to expand his imagination, but a little common sense might make his projects less devastating.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Horror
Everyone Needs One
Marty made his daily pilgrimage to the mailbox. As usual, it was crammed with one or two bills that needed paying and a plethora of junk mail. By far, the biggest offender of landfill stuffing is the funeral industry. He always received at least two and up to five letters per week, inviting him to various restaurants. After attending a seminar about burial and cremation options, he was offered a free meal. Marty never thought that caskets and chicken pot pie complimented each other, but apparently morticians do.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Fiction
Time Will Tell
Everyone thought of Marty as a dim bulb. When talking about him, people would use descriptors like: not the sharpest knife in the draw, lights are on but nobody’s home, nice guy but not playing with a full deck. His reputation for being not quite with it started when he began his freshman year of high school.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Humans
Our True Heritage
Our society has existed in this remote valley for a thousand years. We had enough land to farm and game to hunt so that our clan has been able to stay totally isolated from the rest of the planet. Clan members resembled early pioneers in dress, housing, and way of life. Their government functions similar to an oligarchy, minus the royal titles and trappings, but keeping all the brutality and iron-fisted rule. Four families controlled all government functions:
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Fiction
The Incident
They just stood there staring at each other. I’m not sure if everyone was simply at a loss for words or afraid to be the first to say something. True, an incident like this does take time to process, but someone had to be the first to speak. Since he was the oldest of the group and the owner of the small manufacturing plant, Peter knew that the responsibility to start a conversation about the incident fell directly on him. He squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and began.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Fiction
There's Always a Catch
The Hummingbird symbolizes happiness and joy. It appears out of nowhere and briefly, spreads happiness and joy into the lives of those it passes. It carries messages from those who have passed on to their living relatives, according to ancient Native American lore.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Fiction
