Latest Stories
Most recently published stories on Vocal.
The Barn
It’s not that I don’t like Boston; on the contrary, it’s a great city if city life is what you want. I’m just through with all the noise and inconvenience that goes along with it. I wanted quiet roads, trees, starry nights, and crickets. I wanted to build a house in Williamstown, MA. My realtor called and told me about a plot of land she felt would be perfect for me. The only extra expense I would have would be the demolition of a dilapidated barn. A fire had destroyed the house more than 100 years ago. I looked at the pictures she sent, found the location on Google Maps, and bought the plot sight unseen. The following weekend, I packed up the car and headed for Western Massachusetts.
By Mark Gagnon5 days ago in Fiction
Tyra Banks: From Runways to Real Power
Tyra Banks is more than a familiar face from fashion magazines or television screens. For many people, she represents ambition, resilience, and the courage to redefine yourself. Her journey did not follow a straight path. It moved through rejection, criticism, reinvention, and bold decisions that surprised the industry.
By Muqadas khan5 days ago in Humans
Firebug: Ch. 20 - Making Plans
"Whoa..." "Tell me about it." "And you had no idea?" "None whatsoever," Theo sighed, snuggling closer to Roman. A chill wind ruffled his curls, forcing him to pull their shared, oversized blanket tighter around his shoulders. Halloween was hours away, but Winter's chill already had a firm grip on the city. Then again, it was always cold out on the fire escape.
By Natalie Gray5 days ago in Chapters
Pawtucket: A Small City with a Powerful Story
Some cities whisper their history. Others carry it in brick walls, quiet rivers, and streets that remember what came before. Pawtucket is one of those places. At first glance, it may seem like just another small New England city. But if you slow down and look closer, you begin to see layers. Old mill buildings standing beside new art studios. Families who have lived there for generations. Young creatives searching for affordable space and a fresh start.
By Muqadas khan5 days ago in Humans
Nonsense Poetry Contest
Author's Note: Poem a Day in February (PaDiF) is fun for everyone who joins in. There are prizes for placing like pictured above, their are booklets that have your poems in. I write poetry every day on PaDiF for fun and for encouragement. I am not entered in most of the contests. This year two regulars stepped up and donated prizes and agreed to be my partner in this endeavor. We will get a new writer on occasion. I have fun with the regulars all year long as we have one day a month where we rhyme. Below, please find three poems of the five that placed:
By Denise E Lindquist5 days ago in Poets
Where Have all the Travel Blogs Gone?
I went to India recently. As most everyone does, I needed a visa, but unlike most people, I couldn't take advantage of their handy eVisa. Instead, I had to trek into town (1 hour) to wait in line (1.5 hours) to get in to be seen (1 hour), only to be told that I was missing the documents necessary to apply for a visa. What?! I had everything listed on the website?! Too bad, come back again tomorrow to do this all over again.
By Melissa in the Blue5 days ago in Wander
Creating Gray: The Newspeak Era
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." — The Ten Commandments This is the fourth entry in the Gray trilogy. In this installment, I examine how lies and distractions blur the lines between black and white. Few recent moments illustrate this better than the government’s response to the killing of Alex Pretti.
By Carl J. Petersen5 days ago in The Swamp
