Without thinking, I took my hand from Darren's. That subtle gesture made him appear stricken, and he rushed to say, "It's only a suggestion, Gale. I absolutely understand if you're not interested in doing that." I didn't tell him no outright. Instead, I racked my brain for another way. "Wouldn't it be easier if I went with you? I could stay at the hotel while you're working." Darren set his mouth in a grim line. "I wish I...

It was late July of 1977. Kelly and I were seventeen and had one more year of high school to go. My family were campers and my folks were okay with me inviting Kelly for our weekend at a state campground. Kelly and I drove separate from my folks and my sisters. We were camping with a couple of other families. One was my aunt, uncle, and their sons and the other were long-time family friends with their three kids. Rachel w...

It was October of 1987. Kelly and I lived in an area with a strong German heritage. There was a German social/sporting club a few small towns away that held a series of Octoberfest dances each year. They ran every other Saturday culminating in a big party on Halloween weekend, which that year was actually on Saturday. The fact that we were all taught the polka, schottische, and waltz in high school gym class tells you all...

Another overheated day in July. The humidity made it feel downright Venusian. Sweat stains blossomed on my sister's T-shirt. Her underarm stains expanded, joining up with her underboob stains, which joined with her interboob stain and her neckline stain, and pretty soon her whole T-shirt was saturated. This, despite the fact she wasn't exerting herself; she was lolling on our parents' sofa. We were watching a show about p...

Betsy seemed like almost the perfect mate. I was 28, single, had been very successful the first three years I worked for the most prestigious law firm in Austin trying lawsuits against large multinational corporations that tried to screw average people, and was tired of the dating scene. I wanted a woman to share my life with; and kids. Everything about Betsy said she was the one. Betsy was 22, a college graduate, and wor...

It was a lovely summers evening, when I got home from work. My lovely wife had flown back to England to visit family, so I was home alone for the weekend with nothing planned. Grabbing a cold beer from the fridge I headed straight out to the deck and uncovered the hot tub. We were lucky that our house was pretty isolated up in the hills, apart from our neighbours who I knew were away as well. I therefore, didn’t hesitate...

“Push harder, Thompson. Get motivated. Be a dolphin, not a walrus!” Another shitty swim practice, with the coach yelling at me way more than anyone else. “Why do I have to push myself to the puking stage every fucking day? Why can’t I just go to meets?” I tossed in my mind as I pushed even harder on my last lap of the day. I was a senior in High School, old for my class since I had been held back a year by my parents when...

I knelt down next to Mama in the bath and ran a scrunchie across her shoulders. Her head was back against the little purple pillow, one of those that suctions onto the side of the tub. I bought it for her from Wal-Mart. She had a scented towel across her eyes and her breaths came in slow and rhythmic succession so I knew she was asleep. I moved the scrunchie across the front of her chest and watched the water and soap flo...