Altimexis - Stories

A Tale of Love and Horror by Altimexis. (2010 Winter Anthology - Haunted)

Although modern day “Naptown” is very different from Indianapolis in 1972, it's still in the Bible Belt and gay teens face challenges even today. Let me explain what I faced that led me deeply into the closet. (Revised June 18, 2010)

In 1969, when I was 13, my parents and I set out on an adventure. We took the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco. My mom refused to fly and there wasn't time to drive during my winter school break. Besides which, highways could be treacherous in the winter. Nothing was going to keep us from seeing my new nephew, but the train was much more than a means of transportation.

This story is autobiographical, but some memories have faded and where necessary, I've embellished things to make the story more complete. Even so, this is an accurate portrayal of an experience that has stayed with me for more than 50 years.

When Tom wakes up the morning of September 11, he knows right away something is off. It doesn’t take him long to discover that Clark, his love, is trapped in Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. Their only hope is a legend from Clark’s Grandmother for a chance to dream again.

In the author’s serial novel, Brilliant Boy Billionaire, Chapter 34, J.J. remembered how he was taken in by the Rodriguez family, seemingly by fate. Known to them as Simon, he learned the true meaning of All Hallows Eve as they celebrated the Day of the Dead and remembered the son they’d lost in Afghanistan. In the end, J.J. learned that his suspicion of having a guardian angel was true.

David and Jeremy face homophobia as they do a little back-to-school shoping. Not only do they come out, but they make new friends and find acceptance. (August, 2007)

This 2007 Back to School Story Collection entry is the 2nd in the Naptown Tales series, which can also be found at Awesome Dude and Nifty. A slightly modified version more suitable for younger teens can also be found at Codey’s World. Please see the Introduction for important background.

This fictional story is a semi-autobiographic account of the author's decision to come out to his wife. (2007 Spring Anthology - Endings and Beginnings)

Cole Parker's Second Place Prize-Winning Entry:
This kid forgot his jockstrap, and you happen to have a spare? (May, 2008)

This is the 12th story in the Naptown Tales series, which can also be found at Awesome Dude and Nifty. Please see the Introduction for important background on the series

David and Jeremy aren't about to let tradition keep them for dancing together at Homecoming. GSA president Paul has a plan, but it seems to run into a snag at first. (Fall 2007 Anthology - Worth Fighting For) This is the 3rd story in the Naptown Tales series, which can also be found at Awesome Dude and Nifty. A slightly modified version more suitable for younger teens can be found at Codey’s World. Please see the Introduction for important background info.

Sam couldn't explain why he spent so much time on his long journey, reliving life through dream novels as a teenage boy on Earth, a planet humans had long ago abandoned. Not that anyone even knew where it was anymore. Now, humans were, methodically searching the galaxy for planets suitable for terraforming, spending hundreds of years building interconnecting black strings and then sending colony ships of embryos in stasis. Sam was the only adult crew member on his ship, one of an armada that comes under attack. As the sole survivor, he must figure out what to do when faced with almost certain oblivion.