Short Stories

(Before the Deadly Shade of Red) Gazing woefully out the window, she watched as the rain and wind blew through the trees like some demonic demon. She recalled that day well, it was forever burned into her memory, she was fourteen and her mother had just died. All the family, the cousins and family friends half of whom she had never met had gathered for the occasion, as she sat by the window, the noise became unbearable, she had to escape the constant chatter, the pity that was being applied was like overly sweet icing on a cake all gooey and sickening. Rising herself from the chair, she edged her way across the room and out into the hallway down to her mother's room. It was empty now, quiet and lonely. Making her way over to the dresser, she began flicking aside things that were on top, pulling open drawers, she casually looked over the cut glass rings, necklaces and brooches. Something caught her eye, on closer inspection, she saw a small dimple located to the back of the drawe...

  Splash! There it was again, the satisfying sound to the end of another nightmare she hit the speed dial on her cell phone. ‘Hi,’ the voice chimed. ‘We can’t keep this up, you know.' she responded. ‘Why not’ questioned the voice. ‘It isn’t right’ was her reply. ‘Oh don’t be silly, it’s fun’ said the voice hanging up. The line went dead. Driving back into town, she turned the rearview mirror towards herself, checking her cherry red lipstick was not smeared she hated the thought that someone may see her with smudged lipstick it was pet peeve she had, satisfied all was in order she twisted the mirror back into place. Driving to the condo garage she drew into her designated parking space, then shutting off the car engine, she again turned the rear-view mirror in her direction, withdrawing a handy wipe from her tote and proceeded to brutally clean every trace of the cherry red colouring from her face. As she entered the condo she could hear the shower running and cr...

  Turning on the radio Sue listened to the news broadcast.  'At around 9:33 this morning a white compact SUV was spotted speeding recklessly through the city streets. As police gave chase, there appeared to be a young lady around the age of 19 years of age recklessly driving and hysterically laughing while making obscene gestures at the police officers.' 'According to early reports, there was also a young man in the SUV, described as being around the same age with light coloured hair and wearing dark-rimmed glasses, he was reportedly seen frantically waving at the officer through the passenger window.' The announcer proclaimed how, 'Our on-the-spot reporter has uncovered that there had been a young lady fitting the description apparently staggering outside a residence on the east side of the city approximately an hour earlier.' Just then a voice in a broad ascent was heard saying, 'She ad on a purple velvet ...

      When the call came in everyone looked at each other in confusion. ‘There must be a mistake,’ someone said ‘No way that can’t happen, it’s impossible,’ said another A call for quiet, was heard above the voices, silence befell the room as they all listened they could hear the familiar voice over the speakers. ‘Who are you and what do you want here’ There was no reply, just a low pitch hum which grew in intensity then stopped abruptly, again they heard the voice repeat the question, again the hum began louder this time then a petrifying shrill beckoned from the speakers, the line went dead. Twenty-five years almost to the day, it had started again, once more a research team was sent to the area. This time a group of five agents and four researchers had been assigned the task to investigate the source of the radio signals being transmitted from the abandoned town. The team emerging from the swampy wooded area to the south of the town could see the rusting structure and ...

      It has been over four decades since I lived in the house at the top and to the left of Gallows Cove Road in Torbay.  The first, house to the right was bungalow owned by an older couple, the next across the road was a newer bungalow where I lived, and then further down to the right was a two-story cedar-covered house that was rented to a young couple from the US who were personal friends of mine at the time, he worked at the university in St. John’s, while his lady friend was an artist who lived at home. The fourth and last house was an old two-story Salt and Pepper style home occupied by two farmer brothers who were now retired and owned the land in front and around the house. This house was where they were born, grew up, and lived all their lives. They also owned the large garden running directly below the house which ran parallel to the road past their home for about another acre. At the end of the brothers’ property the pavement stopped a...