James Pyles's Blog, page 145
June 12, 2018
A Suburban Horror Story
“How did it happen? I mean, who was looking after her?” Gerald and Marni were standing with the crowd of neighbors on the other side of the street watching. Police cars, fire, and paramedic units were seemingly cast in random arrangements in front of the stylish home in the upscale neighborhood. “I think her brother was supposed […]
June 11, 2018
The Eshana
The eastern horizon bled the color of garnet, quickening a new morning and the possibility of survival. Once the air temperature rose to somewhere near four degrees C, Tatiana could shed her alien enhancements and revert to humanoid form. She had survived the night crossing of the Gael badlands and once she made it to […]
June 10, 2018
The Quest to Save Landon
Nine-year-old Landon and his classmate and friend Ana were in school, which was strange, because school was out for the summer. What was even stranger was that Landon was at the head of the class and Ana was the only student. “Now today class, I want to introduce you to magic wands.” He was wearing a […]
Sea Angel
“You weren’t kidding, Somata. An actual sea water pool.” Gary had been dating the beautiful model for weeks, but this was the first time she’d invited him over to her place by the beach. “It helps to live so near the ocean. You can’t see the machinery, but the pool’s water is constantly being recycled […]
57 Pink Flamingos
“$2500! You spent $2500 on that?” Jeanette watched in horror as she watched her husband Terry insert the last of the 57 pink flamingos he’s purchased on Amazon into their front lawn. The driveway was littered with the debris of cardboard shipping boxes. “Come on. We can afford it. You know how much dough we […]
June 9, 2018
Comic Books Have Gone Crazy
“I’ve kept a limited number of comic books from my youth, ranging from the 1960s to the 1980s, and occasionally take a few out and read them. I’m not really into comic books anymore, especially the current titles, and for a lot of reasons. Originally, I started collecting them in the late 1960s when I was […]
Paradise is in Orbit
Fred, the male mail carrier sat in the Outer Ring Coffee Shoppe eating his chocolate mousse out of a vintage cup bearing the image of Bullwinkle the Moose. Except for the baristas behind the counter, he was the only human in the room. “How wazz ur confekshun, Fred?” Phebb was one of the refuge aliens […]
Spirits of the Canyon
“The stars are very beautiful Travis, but I still don’t understand what you expect us to see out here. I mean camping in Palo Duro Canyon under the Milky Way is a very romantic honeymoon, but…” “Cassie, our ancestors lived here for thousands of years before being displaced, first by the Comanche and Kiowa, and […]
June 8, 2018
Saigon
The video footage was grainy, but Taylor recognized them easily. “You’re worth every penny I paid you, Tran. Now blow. I’ll watch the rest alone.” The Vietnamese photojournalist left the darkened hotel room without a word. He moonlighted at this sort of work, taking photos and video of unsuspecting couples, and since he’d already been […]
June 7, 2018
Descent
The little girl had picked up the carrion bird’s feather, the only remains of her connection to the griffon vulture who had delivered the dire news of the Great Gray God, and tucked it in her pocket. For a few short minutes when their minds met, she had seen through his eyes, had seen the […]
