PUMP: A Short Story

by Levi Heaton III

She exhaled deeply and grinned from ear to ear. Christy Arlington had always been the center of attention. The most sought after girl in her school, ever since puberty that is, and she knew it. She never had a problem finding a date for anything, and she never had to ask. That was a good thing too because she would never ask. She was Christy Arlington after all. She couldn’t remember a day when a boy hadn't at least attempted to ask her out. Not a single day. She used the word “attempted” because a good portion of the boys became nervous and began to stutter when they approached her with the intention of asking her out. They would smile stupidly and carry on in another direction. Usually, mumbling under their breath. Even the most popular boys couldn’t keep their attention on anything else when Chisty was around - she knew that too. But… this ASSHOLE, this nappy-toothed, nappy-haired, nappy-skinned, grotesque clothed, creepy degenerate freak of a human male had the audacity to pretend that she didn't even exist. As if she was not standing there, at that precise moment, pestering him to turn on the damn gas pump so she could get some friggin’ gas. Actually, she thought, he hasn’t completely erased me from his reality. Because, since she approached the counter, he hadn’t looked at anything other than her breasts. She hadn’t even seen him blink. She was used to boys staring at her breasts. It made her uncomfortable every time, but it was one of those things that she couldn’t escape. She had no intention of dressing like an old lady. So, she weighed the pros and cons and decided she would have to learn to deal with immature boys trying to look down my shirt sometimes. She had learned to use this to her advantage. Usually, boys would just give her anything she asked for. Hoping to be rewarded with her phone number. Sometimes they wanted more than that. It made her think less of them, but she didn’t refuse the special treatment. This loser definitely isn’t getting my number. Evidently, he was lingering in some deep subconsciousness and had no grasp on the here and now anyway. No matter what she did she couldn’t break his trance. He just stood there lightly swaying side to side and back and forth, not making a sound, just staring blankly at her chest. Or, maybe, not at my chest. “Hey”, she hadn’t been paying attention to the clerk. She had been in a daze of her own. There was a certain amount of shock on her brain. Residual confusion from the movie she had watched before stopping for gas. Something about a COP investigating a school bombing. It turned out to be some type of supernatural occurrence. Along with some psycho sacrificing children in an attempt to open a doorway to the dark dimension. She still hadn’t completely grasped the whole concept. She was definitely going to have to watch it again. It was one of those types of movies. She wouldn’t mind. He was still staring at her chest and it was becoming increasingly annoying. She crossed her arms over her breasts. This did nothing to deter his stare. She leaned out of his direct line of sight and he didn’t follow her. She wondered if he had been staring at her at all. For a moment she thought that he actually did not know she was there. Was he simply staring at nothing, she wondered, have I simply stood in his way? She shoved that epiphany aside quickly. Her fragile self-esteem couldn’t handle such a realization. She could not accept going completely unnoticed. Especially by someone so far beneath her on the social scale. “Hey, loser. What is wrong with you? Are you retarded or something? Did you forget to take your pills? Am I speaking too quickly for you?” She finished the sentence miming sign language and drawing out the words for added context.

Genres: Horror

58 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2019

Reviews

[Niki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utterly juvenile, read like a teenager's homework assignment.

The writing is clunky and disjointed, the characters don't even exist (surely there could have been a more nuanced way of writing the "spoiled princess" main character, instead of pages and pages of her explicitly demanding male attention and outright saying that she has daddy issues? Has the author ever met a human woman? This screamed "Male attention and entitlement, that's what girls are all about, amirite bros? *wink*"), and the ending is so abrupt I had to check there were no more pages left.

Honestly, nothing could set the tone better than the detailed description of the song "Thunderstruck" during the opening of the story that went on forever, lyrics, backup singers, and all, even before we're introduced to the main character (y'know, the person this was all about).

This was a cool idea, but the execution was atrocious.

**I received a free copy of this story from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.**

[Kristina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This story in the beginning had promise. I get that the reader isn't suppose to like the main character but she was awful. This read as a short story you would see from a high school student who's trying to be edgy but really it's in poor taste. It was all confusing and I felt like the longest short story I've ever read.

Maybe it's just not for me but only a couple pages into it, I wanted to DNF.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PUMP! PUMP!
Our protagonist, Christy, stops at a gas station to get a fill up. When she goes inside to pay for the gas, the clerk does not respond. Obviously, something is not right. At one point, Christy questions herself as to why she doesn't get in her car and drive to the next gas station up the road.
Christy is described as a self-focused young woman; someone not used to being ignored, especially by the opposite sex. The clerk does not respond, so Christy must verbally bash him for ignoring her. Makes sense...NOT.
Next thing you know, a word spoken "Pump". Nothing more. Christy has had enough and goes back to her car to leave. Doesn't happen. The fun begins.
Zombie....maybe. Alien....definitely (I believe). No one else in the vicinity. A physical beating that only the Hulk could endure....and Christy becomes.....Psych! Gotta read the story!

I found some information unnecessary. I found myself confused at times, and having to reread some portions. And where the hell was everybody. Apparently everyone within short distance of said gas station was deaf cuz there were some very loud bangs and booms.....I still enjoyed this short story. The melting zombie - bonus.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Levi Heaton III for a copy of this ARC in return for an honest review.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for 'PUMP: A short story' by Levi Heaton lll

Read and reviewed via NetGalley

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I would probably pick up more of his work if I happened upon any in the library.

This is a very quick and fast paced short story. The descriptions were gory and well done. Im not entirely sure what I thought of the "background" narrative, for example "but Christy wouldn't... ".

Can't say an awful lot really as the story was that short. I did at times feel that it is something any young teenager could have written but then in other parts it was quite good and developed.

I would recommend this book to fans of short stories and horrors.

58 pages

Free on kindle unlimited or £2.26 to purchase. I think this is quite steep considering I've seen many full page novels cheaper.

Rated 3/5 (It was OK ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon.Com and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christy is used to everything going her way and to getting everything she wants. She's young, beautiful and used to being spoiled by anyone who happens to be of the human male species. Daddy taught her to expect that. Tonight is no different and she expects no less from the guy at the counter of the gas station staring blankly at her chest. Suffice it to say, things don't go her way on this night..

No slow burn here....PUMP is a drag race. Christy goes from a spoiled little princess whosadly ignores her intuition, to a young woman that just wants to live. Chris, the hapless station attendant, undergoes changes of his own. These aren't exactly the only characters, but I don't want to give away any surprises either.

The writing is excellent. The description of the thoughts going to Christy's head and she tries to process what she's seeing and experiencing provide excellent visuals. I would recommend this to someone who wants a fast paced quick read. #netgalley #PUMP:AShortStory #goodreadsGiveaway

[RL Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty stand horror tale. A mysterious begin then goes full throttle. It really wasn't my thing but I'd check out the author again.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

Review on NetGalley

[SHHHjeanisreading · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was an exhausting, though short, read. I mean, it was all over the place.
There's a lot of point by point explanation or narration that didn't need to be there.