James Pyles's Blog, page 205

Z is for Zebra

Daniel put the yo-yo back in his pocket as he reached the fenced pasture. The only horse he knew by name was Champion. The ten year old pulled up some grass from his side of the fence and coaxed the horse over. Of course the three others started moving toward him as well. “Just came […]

Y is for Yo-Yo

Little Danny Harris had turned four years old a few months ago, but his Uncle Ethan and Aunt Abby couldn’t travel to California for the birthday party. So when his Mom and Dad took Danny to Dad’s Uncle’s farm in Idaho, the older couple doted on him. “Here’s ya go, Danny. A brand new yo-yo.” […]

The Guide

“This place is no good, Mom. Too many people. Too much activity.” “No, it’s not like your Dad’s favorite fishing hole.” “Not by a long shot. I know I promised you an exotic vacation after Dad died, but maybe we’re better off at home.” “You’re right, Mike. We should honor your Dad. Let’s go back […]

X is for Xylophone

Wichita Township wasn’t very big and it didn’t take Daniel long to find the main street. It was still raining, night was falling, and very few people (or whatever) were out. That was good, since he wasn’t anxious to attract attention, but he still needed to find some place to stay. If the person who was […]

Traitor

Traitor’s Gate. Entrance to the “last mile”. It describes the final moments of Dr. Marcus Young Smith. The gate rose before him and his silent guards. He wore the traditional white shirt and black trousers of the condemned. At thirty-nine, he would be neither the youngest nor the oldest person executed for high treason, but […]

W is for Whale

Daniel was cold, shivering, vomiting seawater, but alive on the beach at the sea’s edge. It was still raining, but he was past being bothered by the continual wetness. Slowly, the retching ceased and he was able to catch his breath. Why was he alive? “Glad to see you’re doing better, kiddo.” The ten year […]

V is for Violin

The sound of the rain beating against the wooden planks of the pier made hearing the music almost impossible. Daniel limped closer to the couple, the male figure holding the umbrella over himself and the woman playing the violin. What was that melody? It sounded so familiar and yet it seemed incomprehensible. The ten year […]

U is for Umbrella

After he opened his eyes, it took Daniel long seconds to remember what had happened to him. His head hurt. He ached all over. There was sand. Some reeds. What was on top of him? Part of the passenger car, really, just a bunch of shattered boards and upholstery, but it formed a kind of shelter […]

T is for Train

“A train whistle.” Daniel’s only experience hearing a train whistle, at least as far as he could remember, was from the third Back to the Future movie. Doc and Marty were trapped in 1885, and they had to steal an old steam locomotive to push the DeLorean up to eighty-eight miles per hour. The ten […]

S is for Sheep

Daniel’s eyes widened with terror as the enormous bird of prey descended toward them with the speed of a hawk. “This is going to be close, Daniel.” He could feel the grip of her pinions tighten around him, securing the boy to her body, then she suddenly changed the angle of her descent, making an almost […]