Roy L. Pickering Jr.'s Blog, page 29

SHORT STORY XV

In honor of Halloween I've decided to post a story of love from beyond the grave for the fifteenth installment of Short Story Sunday. Enjoy!




HAUNTED


By Roy L. Pickering Jr.Copyright by Roy L. Pickering Jr.



Michael gazed across the Hudson River towards New Jersey. He was treated to the sight of a seagull pirouetting just above the reach of waves that followed a ferry like a puppy at its master's feet. Watching boats pass by his vantage point on the Upper West Side of Manhattan was Prozac to Mich...

J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets

x x x x x x
Anatomy of a Championship Deferred (or Life as a NY Jets fan) x x x x x x Men who go to strip clubs for lap dances and people who root for the NY Jets have something in common. They are willing to invest their time and money in being teased. If you are in search of a sure thing, the Jets are not the team for you. Their roommates the Giants would perhaps be more to your liking. Jets fans have been the recipient of precisely one guarantee...

The Fight Over Award for Peace

Once again, my thoughts one edited tweet at a time.


Congratulations @BarackObama




1st black President: Check; Nobel Peace prize: Check; Best jump shot ever for a POTUS: CHECK; Cured cancer: Give him a few more months people.

Sometimes Peace Prize is awarded for promises made that committee hopes you'll keep, rather than for past accomplishments. Optimism prize.

As 1st black President, Obama was already expected to walk on water & end recession by multiplying a single loaf of bread. And now he's...

Another Twitter Rant

My latest rant on Twitter that I decided to cobble together with a little editing and post here as a semi-cohesive piece was set in motion by the murder of Derrion Albert, may he rest in peace.



I don't have stats @ my disposal so no idea if cases of police brutality nationwide dropped after Rodney King beat down & subsequent riots.

But if the number did go down due to extra spotlight on such behavior, is there hope that Derrion Albert's murder will result in less "black on black crime"?

"Black o...

SHORT STORY XIV

The war between the sexes and the races will continue to be waged, and casualties are inevitable.



CASUALTIES OF WAR


BY ROY L. PICKERING JR.
Copyright by Roy L. Pickering Jr.



My name is James. I am being called a rapist and a murderer. But the truth is, I'm a good person. Not a saint by any means. But a rapist? Not at all. A killer? Ridiculous. I am innocent, though there is blood on my hands and I am responsible for it being there. But how responsible? Any minute now I should wake up from this...

Bring on the Bestsellers

Several years ago a novel entitled The Bridges of Madison County burst upon the literary scene and clung to its position atop the Bestseller list with a tenacity that was the envy of barnacles everywhere. Eventually a movie adaption was made that also became a big hit. A commonly expressed sentiment at the time was that the movie was better than the book. Considering that the film starred Meryl Streep and was directed by Clint Eastwood, this was not necessarily an insult. But in many cases...

Another Author Interview

Below you'll find my most recent interview. But even though this is my blog I don't wish to do all the talking, so please check it out and there share your own thoughts. x x x x x Interview
The following is an exclusive Whispers of the Muse interview conducted by Deborah Riley-Magnus with author, Roy L. Pickering, Jr.

Muse: Roy, first of all, Whispers of the Muse welcomes you and Patches of Grey to the site. Tell us a little about yourself. What part of the world do you...

You Must Be Kidding!!!

Whatever happened to notions like civility, decorum, self control, keeping it to yourself if "it' isn't very pleasant. In recent days we've had several public displays from people acting as if they didn't know no better when of course they did. Rep. Joe Wilson got the ball rolling by shouting out "you lie" when the President of the United States was speaking during Obama's address to Congress. Since then he has offered a mild apology, refused to repeat it, and has yet to acknowlege that in...

Short Story XIII

It may be true that not every virgin is destined to become a whore, but it also cannot be denied that every whore was once a virgin. The road in between is paved by circumstance.


My First Time

By Roy L. Pickering Jr.
Copyright by By Roy L. Pickering Jr.


"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I just lost my head for a moment. Are you okay? Have I hurt you? Let me help you up. I'm so sorry."

She looks up with eyes of ice. Her bloodied upper lip is already swelling, the bruise on her cheekbone...

Short Story XII

"...as for regrets, he had discovered their uselessness a long time ago."


ONE FOR THE ROAD

By Roy L. Pickering Jr.Copyright by Roy L. Pickering Jr.




The old man drank his beer slowly, savoring every droplet of the liquid gold. His one good eye occasionally took in fellow patrons, though he did not wonder what their stories were, their presence mattering not in the least to him, except as objects to keep his retina engaged. He regarded the reflection of his mirrored image, examined the busy intersect