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Short Stories




A Mere Mortal by Ramkumar Menon Tabor is old, helpless and all alone. He takes a journey through mystical paths and .... Read alo... [3,753 words]
Ed's Gift by Jeffrey (George) Winter An insignificant man imparts the truth of wisdom and peace. [1,308 words]
When I Lived In Sodom by Musau This is a story that tries to get under your skin but keeps you curious in spite of it. [2,472 words]
To Understand The True Meaning Of Meaning by Musau This is strictly for adult reading because of language and implicatio... [5,480 words]
Touchdowns, Dandelions, And The Hawk by Steven T Andy Clannons never wanted to go with his friend Sharon Hobaltz to one of ... [3,319 words]
You Are My Sunshine by Sue (Sooz) Simpson - [1,285 words]
White Icing by Sue (Sooz) Simpson - [1,385 words]
Until Tuesday by Alif Muhammad It is a work concerning a life that is altered completely by an event that reveals itself slowly ... [6,761 words]
Under The Whether by Sue (Sooz) Simpson - [1,626 words]
They Stole It From Me by Peter Izdebski A moment stolen; one which could have answered all that I needed to know; a moment which ... [960 words]
The Video Store Girl Part 1 by David MacDonald An employee at a video store meets a man who has different tastes in movies than sh... [3,786 words]
The Magic Mirror by Kurt Kitasaki A short story on the real priorities of athletes. [211 words]
The Joker by Sue (Sooz) Simpson - [2,032 words]
The Hour Of Its Birth Is The Hour Of Its Death... by Bruce E Losis Jr A short story... [667 words]
The Eleventh Child by Seventh Star Personal experiences from being the "baby" of a large family. [858 words]
Sunglasses by Fergus O'Ferguson The Sun can be hot. This might leave you feeling very cold. Sunglasses often help if your eyes are h... [3,311 words]
Scars On Scarlet by Andrea Diane Brown This is a short story I wrote on self mutilation. [804 words]
Part 4 Conclusion by David MacDonald The conclusion to The Video Store Girl. [3,679 words]
Part 3 by David MacDonald The Third part of The Video Store Girl. [2,934 words]
Part 2 by David MacDonald The Second part of The Video Store Girl. [3,994 words]
Once by Lawrence Peters For you. Always. [317 words]
Machines - A Short Short Tale by David B Doc Byron A freelance strongarm protects the tenants in his building. [499 words]
Life In Puerto Rico by Kelly McMonagle This is a short story about the three years I lived in Puerto Rico. [575 words]
Life Drawing by David MacDonald A woman, a model for a life drawing class, meets the man who drew her figure the best. [4,195 words]
Keep Your Enemies Close by Hope C Clarke - [3,437 words]
Handicapped - A Short Short Tale by David B Doc Byron An internet pornographer learns the errors of his ways. [554 words]
Ghost Town - Part Two by David B Doc Byron Lexxus Machine, the sorcerer who overlooks the ghost town, awaits the Darkman's arrival. [406 words]
Ghost Town - Part Three by David B Doc Byron Lexxus and the darkman finally meet on the streets of the ghost twon for the final show... [314 words]
Ghost Town - Part One by David B Doc Byron A futuristic bounty hunter seeks a legendary ghost town where a sorcerer supposedly can a... [527 words]
Genesis by B M Gerstenblith A symbolic parable, set in our time, meaningful throughout time, comtemplating the very end of time. [595 words]
Dinner Is Served by David B Doc Byron A small group of monsters gather at Dracula's castle for a Halloween dinner. [177 words]
Daynight by Adam Lear A world in which true destinies are unknown until just the right time. [4,128 words]
Darkness In Death And Dissolution by Norman A Rubin Retribution through the power of the judge of hell upon the act of murder. [2,447 words]
Contemplation by Musau This little story was written in rhyme over twenty years ago. Basically, the title sums it all u... [754 words]
Chipping Away The Truth by Jonathan McCullough I wrote this short story when I was supposed to be writing an essay for english. I woul... [1,217 words]
Bio Incubus by Michael S Upchurch A subterranean nightmare with catastrophic effects. [2,494 words]
A Tiny Mistake by Rachel V Hatch This is a funny, true story that actually happened to the author in her younger years. [205 words]
A Beautiful Thing by Ben Jonjak A girl picks a flower in a park despite her boyfriends objection and finds there is an unexpe... [996 words]
The Wildwood - A ''Short Short'' Tale. by David B Doc Byron After hundreds of years of being hunted for sport by man, wild animals p... [423 words]
The Red Moon - A ''Short Short'' Tale. by David B Doc Byron An ancient werewolf plans to plant hia seed in a new bloodline. [440 words]
No Good Bye by Rick Mantilla Just a story. [1,878 words]
Nasal Therapy by Michael S Upchurch Spooky story about a doctor's last day on the job. [1,657 words]
Interlude by Judith Goff Chance encounters can be dangerous.... [172 words]
Goldy's Last Goose by Gerald L Bosacker GOLDY’S LAST GOOSE (1666 Words) Bill Seeger sliced the home made bread carefully cutting... [1,681 words]
Gazabelle's Last Spell by J Brian Chamberlin Gazabelle is an aging wizard who finds he no longer fits in the new ways of the world. B... [7,691 words]
Belt A Fat Comedian by Gerald L Bosacker While attending the University of Minnesota, I was side-tracked from academics by economic ... [2,333 words]
A Sandy Surprise by Sara Burling A young girl in search of something she lost long ago. [807 words]
A Funny Memory by Jacqueline Anel Sheppard Chris gets stuck in a tree... how do his sisters pull him out? [639 words]
Soliloquy by Judith Goff A woman seeking love, finds more than she expected. [173 words]
Zipperhead by David B Doc Byron A woman attempts to hide the fact she has a son who's tastes in food tend to lean towards... uh... t... [2,186 words]
Watching And Waiting by Sue (Sooz) Simpson - [1,253 words]
Tusk by Sue (Sooz) Simpson - [1,012 words]
Tiny Pink Pills by Sunny Ain't life a bytch!!! [757 words]
The Weapon Of Hope by Jeffrey (George) Winter When all else fails, there is hope. Three short stories reveals where lies ours. [1,385 words]
The Sacred Cup by Francis James Chudley A short story set in a magical world the story revolves around our young hero Lippin. I wont tel... [5,513 words]
The Day Of The Sun by Kelly Allen Well, let's see. I swear I was possessed when I wrote this... this is not how I normally wri... [861 words]
The Day I Was Destined To Fly by Francis James Chudley This is the story which goes with the poem Casualty. It is an account of when I h... [1,185 words]
Swimming Lessons by Alan Johnson A short story about the life lessons I learned at swimming as a young boy and how I applied th... [1,131 words]
Strawman
Slug Jam For Grown-Ups by Rowan Davies Jessica is a perfect, pretty fourteen year old girl. After years of over-protection from... [5,502 words]
Redemption Part Two by David B Doc Byron An ex-hitman grows a heart. [203 words]
Redemption Part Three by David B Doc Byron An ex-hitman reflects back on his past. [683 words]
Redemption Part Four by David B Doc Byron An ex-hitman recieves an offer he cant refuse. [345 words]
Redemption Part 0ne by David B Doc Byron A hitman looks back on his past to realize he possess's something he didnt knew he had; a h... [869 words]
Our Friend Steven by John J Yezman My story speaks of the special relationship of three Catholic elementary school friends set i... [3,268 words]
My Uncle Louie, The Goniff by Norman A Rubin A humourous piece of a man who finds hard luck in the committing of criminal acts. A... [1,847 words]
Milk by Robert Hansford Everyday life isn't often easy, especially when you have a drug addiction, even if it only milk. [376 words]
Memoirs From The Row by David B Doc Byron A man in prison awaiting death reflects back on the reason he was doing time. Killing. [1,241 words]
Meat by David B Doc Byron A man loses his grip on reality after a tragic accident. [704 words]
Losing Control by Alicia Jones A girl's struggle to gain control of her life. [4,070 words]
Jingle Bell by Sunny Even simple liquieds have adverse effects on this universe. [537 words]
Her Name Is ... by Austin Oghenekevwe Osoroh Leoman Valloway It is a story centred on the emotions of a crippled woman; it is a perspEctive into the mind se... [1,245 words]
Headshot by David B Doc Byron A drug crazed lunatic on the run from the law hides out inside a wax museum. [1,055 words]
Hannibal, Revisited by David B Doc Byron Hannibal Lector recieves a very surprising phone call from an old friend. [515 words]
Grandma's Garden by Ken Whan Childhood. [1,937 words]
Go To Sleep by Michael S Upchurch A man with amnesia struggles to retain his sanity in his surrealistic world. [3,120 words]
Freakazoid by David B Doc Byron a man with a grudge becomes unhinged and plans to get revenge on the people who exploited his deform... [301 words]
Frankenstien by David B Doc Byron Two hitmen are in the process of disposing of a body, when the tides are turned with a twist endin... [880 words]
Feverblues by David B Doc Byron A small group of people left after a holocaust find ''alternative'' ways to survive. [1,333 words]
End Of The Search by Ramkumar Menon An Indian Boy. Lost Childhood. Search for the bygone days. The search was on. Is Ramu success... [1,202 words]
Dolls by David B Doc Byron Dolls in a toy store come to life under a witches spell and wreak havoc. [1,226 words]
Devronne (Sample Work) by Jacqueline Anel Sheppard Devronne is obsessed in obtaining his deceased wife's manor and nothing will get in his ... [2,814 words]
Devo-1959 by David B Doc Byron A man attempts to teach his robot how to drive a car. [835 words]
Champagne Secrets by Sassy Writer The story of two star crosses lovers enjoying an evening of passion and love. [953 words]
Bloody Retribution by Rowan Davies A man avenges the death of his father. [493 words]
Ant's Fortune by Michael S Upchurch Vacationers have a big problem with an ant covered fortune cookie [2,326 words]
Another Dead Weekend by David B Doc Byron A bored man wanders the streets of his hometown looking for a way to cure boredom. [509 words]
Abra Cadaver by David B Doc Byron an evil ventriloquist turns a man into wood. [874 words]

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TITLE (EDIT)
Strawman
DESCRIPTION
A scarecrow comes to life and desires freedom.
[960 words]
TITLE KEYWORD
Fantasy
AUTHOR
David B Doc Byron
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Just a wild and crazy guy!!
[September 2002]
AUTHOR'S E-MAIL ADDRESS
doch59@yahoo.com
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (184)
1:25 A.M. (Short Stories) Is he dreaming.... or is this reality? [262 words] [Horror]
3 A.M. (Poetry) - [128 words] [Mind]
Abomination (Poetry) A poem dedicated to H.P. Lovecraft. [70 words] [Horror]
Abra Cadaver (Short Stories) an evil ventriloquist turns a man into wood. [874 words]
Abra Cadavera (Poetry) The dead have a big party. [87 words] [Horror]
Another Dead Weekend (Short Stories) A bored man wanders the streets of his hometown looking for a way to cure boredom. [509 words] [Mind]
Billy Lee (Songs) A song about a young man who has gone wayward so many times he doesn't care about life anymore. [142 words] [Fan Fiction]
Bite (Poetry) A poem of vampire lust. [97 words] [Horror]
Blood Is Thicker Than Water (Short Stories) Two vampire siblings learn how to help each other in their time of need. [674 words] [Horror]
Bloodline (Poetry) This is a poem about a man's transformation into a lycanthrope that eventually turned into a short tale and then a short story. Go figure? [120 words] [Horror]
Book Of The Dead (Poetry) A sinner signs their soul away. [81 words] [Horror]
Brimstone (Short Stories) A telephone conversation between two of the US of A's most ''intelligent'' scientists. [421 words] [Science Fiction]
Bye-Bye, Baby (Poetry) The second poem in my ''PAIN'' collection. [162 words] [Mind]
Calling All Killers (Poetry) A vietnam soldier loses his mind. [179 words] [Mind]
Cannibals (Short Stories) Two holocaust survivors learn the hard way how to survive. [334 words] [Horror]
Catch Me If You Can (Poetry) Jack The Ripper, one of the infamous serial killers in history, leaves a calling card. [404 words] [Horror]
Caves (Poetry) A man ventures into an ancient cave filled with the ghosts of other wanderers. [101 words] [Horror]
Children Of The Night (Poetry) Vampires! Dark shadows! Ghosts! Blood sucking! I'm sorry, I couldn't resist! [108 words] [Horror]
Choices (Short Stories) Bad drivers are born losers. [376 words] [Mind]
City Of The Dead (Short Stories) The original story that inspired the poem ''Book of the dead.'' [407 words] [Horror]
Common Bonds (Poetry) The author wishes Jim Morrison a fond farewell. [87 words] [Spiritual]
Cryosleep (Short Stories) An ailen exacts his revenge upon his human oppressors. [386 words] [Science Fiction]
Dance Of Death (Poetry) A story of a young man grieving over his lost lover, only to discover shes not really dead.{At least not in the usual sense.} [566 words] [Horror]
Dante's Hotel (Poetry) A sinner checks into a Hotel he can't check out of. [103 words] [Horror]
Dead Letter Office - A Serial Short Story (Short Stories) A drug addled scientist attempts to create the perfect killing machine with DNA fusion. [256 words] [Science Fiction]
Deathchant (Poetry) A goodbye song for the dearly departed. [37 words] [Horror]
Devo-1959 (Short Stories) A man attempts to teach his robot how to drive a car. [835 words]
Dinner Is Served (Short Stories) A small group of monsters gather at Dracula's castle for a Halloween dinner. [177 words] [Humor]
Doc's Movie Review (Genres) Another review of an obscure 1980's splatter film. [406 words] [Movies]
Doc's Movie Review - ''Alone In The Dark '' (Genres) Yeah...I know. Another boring review. What can I say? I love horror films! [214 words] [Movies]
Doc's Movie Review; ''Last House On A Dead End Street'' (Genres) Horror movie fans; READ THIS REVIEW!! [344 words] [Movies]
Doc's Movie Review - ''Mark Of The Devil '' (Genres) Horror movie fans read this! [135 words] [Movies]
Doc's Recomendations (Reference) - [342 words] [Fan Fiction]
Dolls (Short Stories) Dolls in a toy store come to life under a witches spell and wreak havoc. [1,226 words] [Horror]
Dream Lover (Short Stories) A tale of true love that never dies. [417 words] [Horror]
Dreamer (Poetry) Figure it out yourself. [75 words] [Horror]
Dreamfix - I'm Closing The Story. (Short Stories) Since nobody wanted to read it or review it, I'm closing it. [154 words] [Mind]
Dreamfix - Part One (Short Stories) A junkie's drug induced demons catch up with him. [185 words] [Mind]
Dreamfix Part Three (Short Stories) Leo gets introduced to the ''Re-conditioning Center.'' [342 words] [Mind]
Dreamfix Part Two (Short Stories) A hopeless drug addict descends into junkie hell. [355 words] [Mind]
Faces (Poetry) A deformed girl finds a way to become beautiful. [140 words] [Horror]
Faust's Hotel (Poetry) A habitual sinner checks into a cheap Hotel he can't check out of. [103 words] [Horror]
Feverblues (Short Stories) A small group of people left after a holocaust find ''alternative'' ways to survive. [1,333 words] [Horror]
Frankenstien (Short Stories) Two hitmen are in the process of disposing of a body, when the tides are turned with a twist ending. [880 words] [Crime]
Freakazoid (Short Stories) a man with a grudge becomes unhinged and plans to get revenge on the people who exploited his deformed son. [301 words] [Mind]
Frightbaby (Poetry) A young ghoul's nursery rhyme. [94 words] [Horror]
Funeralchant Macabre (Poetry) A poem about a someone who isnt exactly torn up about a friends death. [117 words] [Humor]
Gamepoint - A Short Short (Short Stories) a fighter narrates a story about his life in the ring. [546 words] [Fan Fiction]
Ghost Town - Part One (Short Stories) A futuristic bounty hunter seeks a legendary ghost town where a sorcerer supposedly can arise the dead. [527 words] [Science Fiction]
Ghost Town - Part Three (Short Stories) Lexxus and the darkman finally meet on the streets of the ghost twon for the final showdown. [314 words] [Science Fiction]
Ghost Town - Part Two (Short Stories) Lexxus Machine, the sorcerer who overlooks the ghost town, awaits the Darkman's arrival. [406 words] [Science Fiction]
Ghosts- A ''Short-Short'' Short Story (Short Stories) A man's demons catch up with him. [418 words] [Horror]
Go Down Dead Part Four (Short Stories) Sampson Faith gets his ''faith'' tested. [362 words] [Science Fiction]
Go Down Dead Part One (Short Stories) A futuristic western. [360 words] [Science Fiction]
Go Down Dead Part Three (Short Stories) Sampson's battle with the undead begins. [403 words] [Science Fiction]
Go Down Dead Part Two (Short Stories) Sampson is forced to confront the living dead. [401 words] [Science Fiction]
Go Down Dead - The End (Short Stories) Sampson finally realizes what it's been about. [463 words] [Science Fiction]
Good Advice (Essays) A dying man's advice to the living. [585 words] [Spiritual]
Green (Short Stories) A man's guilt catches up with him. [496 words] [Mind]
Handicapped - A Short Short Tale (Short Stories) An internet pornographer learns the errors of his ways. [554 words] [Fan Fiction]
Hannibal, Revisited (Short Stories) Hannibal Lector recieves a very surprising phone call from an old friend. [515 words] [Humor]
Headshot (Short Stories) A drug crazed lunatic on the run from the law hides out inside a wax museum. [1,055 words] [Mind]
Headstones (Short Stories) - [200 words] [Horror]
Hearts (Short Stories) - [264 words] [Mind]
Hounds (Poetry) Doc Haliday, legendary sidekick of Wyatt Earp, pays his dues. [180 words] [Fan Fiction]
H.P. Lovecraft; True Master Of Horror Fiction (Non-Fiction) My perosnal opinion of H.P. Lovecraft's works. [401 words] [Horror]
If Only When (Poetry) The last poem in my PAIN collection. [85 words] [Mind]
I'm Coming For You (Short Stories) A devout Atheist decides to meet his maker... ....the hard way. [526 words] [Mind]
Imposter (Poetry) A drug addict reflects back on her life after her arrest. [94 words] [Mind]
Inbred (Short Stories) A story based on the mass murderer Ed Gein. [303 words] [Horror]
Insideout (Short Stories) A woman born deformed longs to be beautiful. [791 words] [Horror]
It Runs In The Family (Short Stories) A subject I've never had to deal with, but have known people who have. [214 words] [Mind]
It's All In The Teeth (Short Stories) Like alot of my darker work, there is no logical explanation. [388 words] [Horror]
Jolie Marie (Poetry) A poem about a cajun girl bitten by a werewolf. [252 words] [Horror]
Letters From Purgatory (Short Stories) Figure it out as you go along. [244 words] [Horror]
Letters From Purgatory - Interlude (Short Stories) - [70 words] [Horror]
Letters From Purgatory Part 2 (Short Stories) You figure it out as you go along. [186 words] [Horror]
Letters From Purgatory Part 3 (Short Stories) He's getting closer to the truth! [227 words] [Horror]
Letters From Purgatory -Part 4-Ending (Short Stories) The secret is finally revealed! [147 words] [Horror]
Letters From The Wasteland (Novels) A serial novel about a young drifter who stumbles on to a secret society run by a lunatic who fancies himself the second coming of the anti-christ. [1,899 words] [Horror]
Letters From The Wasteland-- Installment Two (Novels) JR Walker's brother, Billy, is on the search for JR when he runs into unexpected trouble. [813 words] [Horror]
Letters From The Wasteland-Installment - Three (Novels) The dark one, Ted Lexxus, is lead to his isolation cell, unknowing to his captors he has a plan for escape. [566 words] [Horror]
Letters From The Wasteland--Installment 4-Part5 (Novels) JR Walker and the nun get aquainted under the worst of circumstances, and JR comes up with a plan for escape. [729 words] [Horror]
Letters From The Wasteland-Installment 5 Part6 (Novels) Billy Walker is still being chased by the crazy cop. [815 words] [Horror]
Life Sucks (Short Stories) - [360 words]
Life Sucks - Part 2 (Short Stories) Haven't you figured it out yet? [144 words] [Mind]
Lifelights (Poetry) You figure it out. [237 words] [Horror]
Lizardman (Poetry) A poem about a legendary swamp dwelling beast. [128 words] [Horror]
Love And Sacrifice (Poetry) Werewolves, man!!!!! [147 words] [Horror]
Loverdoll (Short Stories) - [400 words] [Horror]
Machines - A Short Short Tale (Short Stories) A freelance strongarm protects the tenants in his building. [499 words] [Mind]
Magic (Short Stories) A magician meets up with his successor. [263 words] [Horror]
Mdern Myths And Urban Legends Part Two (Genres) - [147 words] [Horror]
Meat (Short Stories) A man loses his grip on reality after a tragic accident. [704 words] [Mind]
Memoirs From The Row (Short Stories) A man in prison awaiting death reflects back on the reason he was doing time. Killing. [1,241 words] [Crime]
Millineums Later (Poetry) A scorned lover reflects on the past. [76 words] [Relationships]
Modern Myths And Urban Legends - Part 1 (Genres) An examination of myths and legends that alot of people find so true to life. [137 words] [Humor]
Mother Trucker - Ending (Short Stories) - [237 words] [Horror]
Mother - Trucker - Part One (Short Stories) A tale of revenge. [236 words] [Horror]
Movie Review - By: ''Doc'' (Genres) The first in my reviews of obscure 1980's horror films. [448 words] [Movies]
Movie Review: Don't Go In The House (Genres) Another review of 1980's horror films. [430 words] [Movies]
Mr. Nasty - A Crimehorror Tale Part One (Short Stories) A stupid redneck learns why alot of folks carry handguns. [391 words] [Crime]
Mr. Nasty - Ending (Short Stories) - [437 words] [Crime]
Naked - Poem Three Of The Pain Collection (Poetry) - [143 words] [Mind]
No Matter At All (Songs) Two college classmates have trouble with their relationship. [202 words] [Relationships]
Offerings (Screenplays) A screenplay for a short, fifteen minute film about a young man meeting up with the devil after a genocide has occurred. [588 words] [Movies]
Our City's Finest (Short Stories) A cop hunts a serial killer? [408 words] [Crime]
Pain (Poetry) - [169 words] [Mind]
Paranoia (Short Stories) If Michelle liked my story ''MAGIC,'' she'll love this one. [444 words] [Mind]
Passing Through Heaven's Door (Poetry) A dedication to the late Warren Zevon [161 words] [Motivational]
Podunk (Short Stories) A small group of rednecks find out what it's like not to get the last laugh on a minority. [763 words] [Humor]
Prisoner (Poetry) A dark seduction. [130 words] [Horror]
Prophecies (Short Stories) A different take on the typical werewolf tale. [886 words] [Science Fiction]
Pulp-Affliction (Short Stories) You figure it out. [568 words] [Mind]
Quotable Quotes (Non-Fiction) - [76 words] [Mind]
Redemption Part 0ne (Short Stories) A hitman looks back on his past to realize he possess's something he didnt knew he had; a heart. [869 words] [Crime]
Redemption Part Four (Short Stories) An ex-hitman recieves an offer he cant refuse. [345 words] [Crime]
Redemption Part Three (Short Stories) An ex-hitman reflects back on his past. [683 words] [Crime]
Redemption Part Two (Short Stories) An ex-hitman grows a heart. [203 words] [Crime]
Remember Me In Your Heart (Poetry) A song written by my late father, David Doc Byron. [190 words] [Motivational]
Roadkill; The Last Days Of John Martin (Genres) Yet another review of an obscure 80's horror flick. [390 words] [Movies]
Scarecrow (Poetry) A poem about a scarecrow. What else can I say? [80 words] [Fantasy]
Shadowman (Poetry) Let my son figure it out since he's hanging around. [110 words] [Horror]
Shapeshifter Part Five (Short Stories) Billy pays his strange new friends a visit. [207 words] [Horror]
Shapeshifter Part Four (Short Stories) Billy decides to make a major ''change.'' [184 words] [Horror]
Shapeshifter - Part One (Short Stories) - [412 words] [Horror]
Shapeshifter Part Three (Short Stories) - [259 words] [Horror]
Shapeshifter Part Two (Short Stories) - [219 words] [Horror]
Shapeshifter The End (Short Stories) Uh uh...no way. Gotta read it!!!! [245 words] [Horror]
Sheela (Short Stories) An avid fan of hunting wild game is suddenly faced with the idea of preserving life. [674 words] [Fantasy]
Skins (Poetry) - [105 words] [Horror]
Solitaire (Short Stories) An abused child seeks solace in her own little world. [952 words] [Mind]
Taking Care Of Your Own (Short Stories) The father of a quadrepalegic finds out love does not conquer all. [521 words] [Humor]
Tender Nights (Poetry) A man's nightmares begin to torture him. [115 words] [Mind]
The 2nd Party - Part 0ne (Short Stories) An ex-hitman reflects back on the job that changed his life forever. [295 words] [Crime]
The Awakening, Part 1 (Short Stories) The first half of a story me and my son had collaborated on. [491 words] [Horror]
The Blood Taster's Club - Ending (Short Stories) - [428 words] [Horror]
The Blood Taster's Club Part One (Short Stories) - [390 words] [Horror]
The Boneyard (Non-Fiction) - [476 words]
The Brethren Ending (Short Stories) - [478 words] [Horror]
The Brethren Part One (Short Stories) A lonely farmer finds his destiny in his own back yard. [384 words] [Horror]
The Hunger (Short Stories) An ancient planet/entity/being voices it's opinion. [243 words] [Mind]
The Immortality Thief (Short Stories) A college professor meets up with his worst nightmare. [480 words] [Science Fiction]
The Long Ride Home (Short Stories) An alien from another world gets captured and examined. [574 words] [Science Fiction]
The Messiah (Short Stories) A small town youth grows up to be the anti-christ. [331 words] [Horror]
The Optimist Club (Short Stories) Its a surprise. [395 words] [Horror]
The Raod To Hell - Part Two (Short Stories) Leo meets up with an old ''friend.'' [192 words] [Horror]
The Red Moon - A ''Short Short'' Tale. (Short Stories) An ancient werewolf plans to plant hia seed in a new bloodline. [440 words] [Horror]
The Road To Hell - Part Four (Short Stories) - [145 words] [Horror]
The Road To Hell Part Three (Short Stories) - [305 words] [Horror]
The Running (Short Stories) A man left alone after a holocaust reflects back on his former life. [437 words] [Mind]
The Saviour Part One (Short Stories) A serial killer helps sinners redeem themselves in his own way. [385 words] [Horror]
The Saviour Part Three (Short Stories) The investigation into mysterious deaths continues. [287 words] [Horror]
The Saviour Part Two (Short Stories) The ''Saviour'' tries to figure himself out. [244 words] [Horror]
The Secret Of Pimples (Short Stories) You'll never see this one coming.... [362 words] [Horror]
The Vagabond Heart (Poetry) a poem about an evil entity. [110 words] [Horror]
The Wildwood (Novels) A novelette about an ancient entity that travels the universe in search of any type of wildlife that it can use to take power over mankind and other lifeforms for evil purposes. [533 words] [Fantasy]
The Wildwood - A ''Short Short'' Tale. (Short Stories) After hundreds of years of being hunted for sport by man, wild animals plan a rebellion. [423 words] [Fantasy]
The Wildwood Part Four (Novels) Nakata, the evil entity who plans to oblierate mankind, observes the earth from his lunar perch. [213 words] [Fantasy]
The Wildwood Part Three (Novels) Alex realizes that the shapes he saw on the moon werent just shadows. [305 words] [Fantasy]
The Wildwood Part Two (Novels) Lester Talbot, an old man living in a hillside cabin alone, experiences something he's sure is paranormal. [678 words] [Fantasy]
The Wish (Songs) - [128 words] [Romance]
The Wolf Part 0ne (Novels) The Wolf investigates the abuse case of a neighbor. [237 words] [Crime]
The Wolf Prologue (Novels) A self educated street tough decides to become a modern day Robin Hood. [1,115 words] [Crime]
There's Nothing Left Here (Poetry) A pessimist examines life. [124 words] [Mind]
Timebomb (Poetry) A poem dedicated to the late Ted Bundy. [155 words] [Crime]
To All My Favorite Writers; You Know Who You Are (Non-Fiction) Update on my college placement tests. [412 words] [Humor]
To ''C'' From Doc (Non-Fiction) A personal rebuttal to a nasty review. [434 words] [Self-Help]
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Strawman
David B Doc Byron

     Strawman looked up at the night sky; the
clouds parted as he did so, revealing a fat, full
moon overhead.
He loved the full moon; he loved the way it bathed
his otherwise rough, decaying, yellow tinged face
with gray-white moonbeams of life giving light.
He didnt like the sunlight; the daylight. It
burned his face, made his ...skin?, feel old,
dried up, weathered.
He had been hanging around out in the cornfield
too long. Too many years stretched out across
that makeshift wooden crucifix, his thin, bony
hands with the sandpaper like palms tied up to
that old rotted wood, termites and ants and
other small insects gnawing away at him as if
he were a corncob corpse.
    The tattered clothes he wore tonight
needed replacing; he would have to take a
chance and climb down from his old wooden
perch and stroll over to the nearest farm
and snatch some clean duds from the clothesline
again.
Clothesline hand me downs, yes, but -
Strawman was used to that.
He had spent many a year hanging around out
there in old man Gristly's cornfield, watching
the world go by, the crows fly by and shit on
him, the corn grow and then wither away in rotten
stalks that fell to the ground like weatherbeaten
dominoes.
He had watched the seasons come and go, had
frozen to death in winter, burned up like
hellsfire in summer, had found himself praying
for spring even though he had no inpaticular
place to go.
       Strawman was getting older now, and
he knew it.
He glanced away from the moon now, and back
down at his surroundings.
Same old same old.
He tried lifting his weak arms to position his
elbows over the top edge of the cross, the old
cross he had been expected to bear all of these
years. He was trying to lift himself up, get a
good grip on the top of the cross, be in a
position where he could reach over and untie
one bony hand, then the other. Then, attempt
to drop gracefully to the ground below.
His old bones hurt bad now, his old straw
bones, it hurt bad when he hit the ground.
His old weather beaten face grimaced with
pain as he landed. The last six decades had
caught up with him, yes indeedy.

        Suddenly, a sound in the distance
startled him; the sound of a train horn
blaring. The sound seemed to summon him,
beckon him?
He listened to the sound, the clickety-clack
of the train's huge iron wheels running over
the old worn out tracks, and he suddenly
realized he had had too much of that old field
behind him, all around him, surrounding him
like prison walls all of those years.
All the crowshit, insects, all of the....
He heard it again.
This time, closer. It was calling to him...

       He suddenly forgot about his new clothes,
and the same old same old.
He realized with sudden yet terrifying clarity
that he wanted to be on that train, get away
from the walls of his cornfield prison, see
what else was out there in the world.
He knew he wouldnt fit in, but...who did fit
in in this cold, cruel world, anyway?
He managed to stand up, bracing himself against
the old wooden cross he had had to bear all
those years, faced the south, where the sound
of the train was coming from.
Barely standing on wobbly, sawdust legs, the
old shoes on his straw feet feeling worn, but
comfortable now, he couldnt wait to use them
for walking instead of just for show. To impress
old man Gristly's neighbors. To impress the crows,
the bugs, or the ...

        He blinked his old coat button eyes,
adjusting them to the light ahead of him, the
moonlight, his favorite kind of light, and
started walking towards the sound of the train.
He walked through the dead corn now, his corncob
ears perked up at attention like a dog's ears
hearing a silent whistle only the dog can hear.
Grasping at old rotten cornstalks, the stalks brittle and breaking easily,
even in the grasp of a strawman, a nobody, a man
made of straw, made for show, for fright effect.
He felt the bugs falling off of him now, felt
the cold night air blowing through his tattered
clothes, he felt....
Almost human?

          Oh God, he thought, inside his dusty
mind, please ...please let me reach the train
tracks in time....
He finally reached the tracks, the train's
headlights blinding his button eyes, the sound
deafening, his salvation close...
He stumbled on to the tracks, not knowing why,
he should have known the huge iron monolith
would hit him head on, knock him into oblivion,
blast his old tattered body apart....
He stood directly in front of the train, his
button eyes gleaming in it's lights like two
black pearls, a smile on his weathered face.
The train hit him at forty miles an hour, his
body disintegrating into a huge cloud of
tattered clothing, straw, corn cobs and dust.
His old hat blew away in the wind from the rushing
train, the horn still blaring, the lights
flashing, it didnt have time to stop.

        The strawman died.
But, then again, he was already dead.
At least on the outside.
But then again, isnt that always the way it goes?
A heart of gold on the inside, but nobody ever
sees that.

           A few days later, old man Gristly
hung up another strawman to dry. Watch over dead
things, be all alone.
But not for long.
The new strawman opened his coat button eyes,
perked up his corncob ears, looked up at the
fat, full moon, listened to the sound of a
train in the distance.

A tear ran down his pumpkin face, and he longed
for freedom.

 

READER'S REVIEWS (5)
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"Double cool story!" -- Tomcat, Rio de J., Argentina.
"A brilliant story with some brilliant descriptions, I could totally see the scarecrow and felt what he was going through. I do have a couple of gripes tho after all it is constructive critisism LOL. Just that a few bits were to corny like: But, then again, he was already dead. At least on the outside. But then again, isnt that always the way it goes? A heart of gold on the inside, but nobody ever sees that. I didnt think it needed that cus its sort of going away from the speed a fluency of the story. Also if you took oput the swearing it could almost be a childrens story like a fable it reminds me of the grousome childrens tales that Rohld dhal used to right, excellent buddy keep up the good work. " -- L A Winterburn.
"I loved it! Thought it was brilliant as well. I do agree with LAW that without the cursing it would make a lovely children's story. Consider that?" -- Karen.
"Very nice,vivid story.It kinda reminds me of a bedtime story." -- danielle.
"excellent! Doc, you are simply the best! " -- e. rocco caldwell.

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2002 David B Doc Byron
STORYMANIA PUBLICATION DATE
September 2002
NUMBER OF TIMES TITLE VIEWED
2983
 

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