James Pyles's Blog, page 214
March 8, 2017
Tahji’s Freedom
Tahji was curious. He’d never seen so many people before. He half hid behind the post to get a better look through the doorway. They were talking their people talk. Tahji could understand a little of it when one talked, but they were all speaking at once. It was so confusing. Perhaps if he got […]
March 7, 2017
The Lost Steinway
Of all places, she found it in the first floor public men’s room in a deserted hotel in upstate New York. It was Monday, September 2, 1985, 4:35 a.m. In less than two hours, the demolition crew would be here to level the place. They would have destroyed this priceless treasure. NaCumbea placed her hand […]
Unraveling
A Martin Fields and NaCumbea Time Travel Story Martin thought, “If we ever get out of this mess, I’m going to have to bring NaCumbea here. This must be the ultimate time tourist’s destination.” The Temple of Karnak. Even the sacred enclosure of Amun alone could contain ten average-sized European Cathedrals. “So here I am. […]
March 6, 2017
The Invisibles
The Thirteenth Story in the Adventures of the Ambrosial Dragon: A Children’s Fantasy Series It was one of those rare days when Buddy was at home watching eight-year-old Landon and his 20-month-old sister Dani while everyone else was out. Grandpa, Dad, and Dad’s cousin Nate went out for lunch and to see a movie, while […]
March 5, 2017
Is That You Talking?
I bought the one that said “Corona Extra” on it because it looked cool. Now that I’ve got the place to myself, I decided I wanted to be able to make a small fire on the back patio for those cold evenings when I needed to be comforted. “Ouch! That’s hot!” It’s the first time […]
March 4, 2017
Through the Dreamgate
The Twelfth Story in the Adventures of the Ambrosial Dragon: A Children’s Fantasy Series Landon woke up startled. It’s okay, he told himself. Just another dream, a nightmare about that mummy coming after him. The eight-year-old boy had been having these dreams ever since returning home from Egypt. He didn’t understand it, because plenty of other […]
The Old Neighborhood
I didn’t realize how long it had been since I’d last seen the old neighborhood, the one my Grandpa lived in when I was a little boy. I took my grandson not realizing that everyone living there now was African-American. Seth and I stood out quite a bit. No one seemed mad, but they all […]
March 3, 2017
My Published Stories at “Theme of Absence”
I’ve been devoting the vast majority of my fiction writing lately to my own blog, but I do have two of my stories published elsewhere. They don’t appear on my blog because one of the conditions of publication was that they be totally unique works. Both of them are at Theme of Absence. The first […]
The Ghost in the Bathroom Mirror
“I saw the ghost again, Grandpa. I saw it when I was taking a shower.” Little Josh dissolved into tears in front of his grandparents. “It’s okay, Josh. We’re here.” Grandpa hugged the sobbing child. “I’m right here, little one. It’s going to be alright. We won’t let any ghost hurt you.” “But…but how can […]
March 1, 2017
The Listener
I always feel better when I talk to you. I don’t know what’s kept me away so long. Well, I guess I do. The same things in my life that I should bring me closer to you. My worries, job pressure, my son’s relationship with that horrible woman, all the things I am absolutely powerless […]
