literature
Whether written centuries ago or just last year, literary couples show that love is timeless.
Lauren DeBeaux
August 1st 1990 On this day in 1970 my husband was arrested and sent to prison for twenty five years for his part in running a drug and prostitution ring in Chesterton, North Carolina. One year later he was killed in prison and from his death I inherited a five hundred thousand dollar life insurance policy and I also inherited two acres of land and the home we shared together in Chesterton. The locals in Chesterton gossip that I had something to do with my husband being arrested and for once they are right. My husband who’s name was Jason was the town’s golden boy. He came from a wealthy family and was the star basketball player of his high school basketball team. He was tall and handsome and had a smile that could light up anyroom. Jason worked at his parents grocery store after school where he was often seen sneaking free food away to the customers who didn't have enough money to pay their bill. The town looked at Jason as the young man with the heart of gold and they hated me for taking him away from them. When Jason graduated from high school his mother fell ill with cancer, so instead of going to college as he had planned Jason stayed in Chesterton and took a job at the local steel mill to stay close to his mother. I first met Jason working at a local bar in town as a barmaid. Jason would come in every Friday with his co-workers after work for a drink. Right away I could see that Jason was not like his other co workers, while the majority of his friends would get pissy drunk and gamble all their wages away for the week in card games, Jason would just sit back in his chair and sip his drink while listening to the live band play music. I also noticed that Jason was not a big drinker, he never ordered more than one or two drinks while his co workers would order drinks until they couldn't stand up straight. On several occasions a few of Jason’s co workers would get into drunken fights at the bar and being the good friend that Jason was he would always break it up and make sure that no one was hurt and that everyone got home safe. Even more interesting was the fact that Jason never talked to me or flirted with me. Every man that entered that bar at some point tried to hit on me but Jason never did, he actually never even looked my way unless he was ordering a drink. I started to think in the back of my mind that he may have been gay until one day he proved me compltley wrong and pushed that thought right out of my brain. One friday night I was working at the bar when Jason and his co workers entered the bar for their regular friday night routine, that's when one of the men approached me and ordered a shot of whisky, apparently I did not pour the shot fast enough because the next thing I knew the man jumped behind the bar and put his hands around my neck yelling and screaming that I was taking to long to prepare his drink. Scared and gasping for air I attempted to grab the baseball bat from behind the bar to hit the man with so he would stop choking me and before I could Jason jumped up from his bar stool grabbed the man by his collar and dragged him to the middle of the bar room floor where he consistently punched the man in the face until some of his other co workers pulled him off the asshole. I stood up gasping for air and completely shocked at what just happened, Jason walked over to me and led me to sit down at a table across the room.
By Stephanie Hudson5 years ago in Humans
The Bluebird
Other men in history have fathered children in four decades, but all my children are with the same woman. Isabel’s favourite word is still Daddy and we’ve raised our share of eyebrows in town. Even better are the reactions when the silver-haired goddess -- my wife -- approaches us to shouts of “Mommy! Mommy, over here!”
By Kate Baggott5 years ago in Humans
Jack & Tammy: Night
Tammy is sleeping on her side. It has been a long day and she took a long warm shower when she got home. Probably headed to bed an hour or two longer than she needed to. Sarah had beat her to the punch and was already in the bedroom sleeping in her basket, eyes parting open briefly to acknowledge Tammy as she stripped on her way to the bathroom.
By Hanna Hell5 years ago in Humans
The Heart's Connection
Belinda Llamas hasn’t celebrated Christmas in seven years. Christmas stole her husband Noel, twins Blyss and Nigel away from her. So, she blocks the door to Christmas and its attachments in her heart. As an Advertising Executive, she would refuse all Ads related to Christmas. She would watch no TV, nor listen to and look at anything that promotes or advertises Christmas. At the start of December, she would ask to work from home. Then on December 24, she would leave New York and go to her cabin in the Rockies. A place where Christmas and its pain won’t be able to reach her. She sends no Christmas cards and accepts none.
By Annelise Lords 5 years ago in Humans
Broken
This was becoming annoying. "Downright annoying," as Granma Beth would have said. The Sobieski's had planted dill in their front flowerbeds and put little gnomes on both sides of the front steps. While not as annoying as the Granger's solar lights along the driveway and sidewalk, this was still an insult to what was expected in Pierce Meadows. Mavis and her neighbour Jill considered and debated over the back fence whether they should "just march over there and set them straight." In the end, they just complained to each other, but the disregard for what was expected kept nagging. "Why couldn't things stay the same." There is safety in sameness.
By Bob McInnis5 years ago in Humans
The Long Road To Happiness
Lyn was a high school freshman at Olympic High School in her hometown of Camden, Maine. She was your typical teenager, hanging out with friends, going to the movies, and watching hockey games on the weekends. And this Friday started out as any other day had. Lyn had gone to school and then went to hang out with her friend, Anne.
By Stefanie Daby-Pabins5 years ago in Humans
Check The Messenger Before You Take The Message.
The ringing of her cellphone snatches her attention away from her laptop, but only for a second. Recognizing the number, Nelly reverts her attention to her work. Half an hour later the ringing of her doorbell pulls her attention away again. Checking her doorbell-cam with her cellphone, she said into the phone, “It’s open Lizzie.” Using the App on her cell phone to open her front door.
By Annelise Lords 5 years ago in Humans
What Did You Do?
There is something about night time that seems just a bit out of step with the world in the day. Charleston didn’t seem to be a bad place, overall, but it definitely wasn’t New York. Jazz music floated in the night around their carriage, a different flavor than New York, possibly even better, but it brought with it resentment and sadness. With his knee the way it was, it’s not like he could dance even if he was in New York. He leaned against the wall, pulled his hat over his eyes, and imaged dancing, just for Jack, his feet moving like lightning.
By Duointherain5 years ago in Humans
MARY IS IN DANGER
THE HARASSMENT OF MARY Once upon a time in a city of Pittsburgh, a man robbed a woman who was leaving McDonald's after dark. The woman, Mary, was short, blond, blue-eyed, and she worked at the restaurant. She'd gone there that night to buy a hamburger. The man forced Mary to give him her purse.
By Sandra Bongjoh5 years ago in Humans
Granny and Goose
It was close to Christmas and that usually meant baking and cooking and family and friends. This year was a little different though. Joann was feeling sad about the upcoming holidays because it would be the first without her husband, Earl. She didn't really feel up to her usual spread of candies and sweets and lovely dishes. She was still having her family over and for Christmas and was still planning on being part of the cooking, but she had decided to not makes sweets this year. She just didn't have the heart. How would it be without Earl there, sticking his finger into batches, burning his tongue on fresh baked cookies because he just couldn't wait, and proclaiming how delicious everything was. It brought a tear to her eye to think of it and she just couldn't imagine doing it without him here.
By Tabitha White5 years ago in Humans
