Coffin Walker

The stars wink at me, shining eyes in a midnight blanket, but with no mouth to smile, or ears to hear my cry: I can’t get out. I seep into the earth, like the river when it wells with tears on a blistering summer day, as if it misses the birds that played on its

The Sad End of Harold the Bush Muncher

Giovanni has been in love with Carmela, but he could never win her heart. Now he’s going to finally meet up with her, hoping to heal her heart and win her love at last–but she has a secret that he didn’t expect.

Pacifican Capsule

In the early morning of June 15, Jesse Hart of the Anthropological Researches Guild led a team deep into the heart of Pacifica, the rain forest where the Pacific Ocean once rolled in prehistoric majesty. In the grueling noonday humidity, where pockmarked ships and ancient submarines rust beside the bones of a thousand sea monsters, he dug up a secret in the Nautilus Ruins.

Love Notes

My dear forest friend, How often have I thought of you in my ramblings upon these mountains for the last week! I am sure you have heard the awful stories about you. I must make it clear that I had no joy in it. And if you thought I did, you cannot be a friend

64 Dresses

“Have you heard of Pricilla?” said Mrs. Callahan as I unpacked my bags. The bare room needed posters and pictures, a pink lamp and a lacy curtain to dress the naked window. Above all, it howled for a serious airing after Mrs. Callahan left. Her perfume stung like juniper. “Who is that?” I said without

Red Knob

Beneath an orange sunset, a basketball propelled from strong, skillful fingers; the backboard shuddered, the metal ring rattled. A statue on a tricycle watched the solitary player from the sidelines. Sometimes it moved, revealing itself to be a live girl in white overalls. Swish went the ball in the hoop and a woman’s voice called

Headlights

I’m missing something. It’s on the tip of my mind. Where am I, anyway? I’ve been wandering through broken cars on an empty freeway for hours. Well, it used to be a freeway. The cement dividers just stopped and it turned into a regular highway. Reminds me of switching crayons when I was a baby

Tiger

​Selena practically hopped down the baking aisle in the Wal-Mart. She snatched up a chocolate cake mix, fudge frosting, and a number one-shaped candle. She tossed the things on top of a twelve-pack of Coca-Cola, a package of steaks, hotdogs, ground beef and Blue Bird flour. She touched her new haircut for the umpteenth time:

Tales by Mara

Hello everyone! My name is Mara. Here you’ll find not blog posts, do-it-yourself, the latest news, politics, or social issues, but short stories. Every month, you will receive a new short story to read and written by yours truly. These stories will be good ole fashion fun. Some will be horror, some will be fantasy,