Bill W

Pulse Nightclub Lights dim, it’s Latin Night Couples dancing, much drinking, last call But things change, shots ring out, bodies fall to the floor Patrons scramble and cower in fear Some grab phones, dial for help Nine-one-one Gay Patrons Man has rifle and Glock Shoots quickly, hate in eyes, no pity No one knows him, what provoked this, why such anger? Muslim man, angered by bombings in Muslim countries, must stop Seeks vengeance Hostages Taken in a bathroom

I've never tried a Skyscraper poem before, but I thought I'd give it a try. I've written a four-stanza skyscraper poem about the Pulse Nightclub shooting. I thought I saw it listed as part of the prompt, but when I finished my poem, I could not find any mention of the Pulse Nightclub again. Do I still post it, and if so do I post it with my other prompts?

I would like to write a story to prompt #30, but with the short lead time before St. Patrick's Day, I just don't have the time. Sorry.

I'm sorry your coffee got cold while spending so much time reading my lengthy story. I described the aliens in some detail and you can use your imagination to fill in the blanks. As far as the helicopter is concerned, it was just a noise that he associated with the sound of a helicopter, or it could have been a random helicopter flying by, but it helped to wake him up. A great many agencies, companies, and individuals use helicopters, so it was probably just a coincidence, or was the helicopter possibly searching for the alien craft as well? The intent of the story was merely to fulfill the requirements of the prompt... a story that started and ended the same way. I'm sorry if it left you wanting for more.

@Aditus, I've taken up your challenge on P#27 and wrote a short story that's just under 1100 words in length, but now what do I do with it? Is there a special place these get posted, like the anthologies, or am I supposed to post it with my other stories? Please let me know. Here's the link for my story: https://gayauthors.org/story/bill-w/my-prompt-stories/1

Yes, Mawgrim, the things our brain can think up while we are sleeping. It's amazing. Sorry I missed answering to your comment earlier. I guess I got sidetracked.

Thank you, Chris. I'm glad you approve.

Hey, can I help it if those shows steal my ideas? Yes, it was short, but I hope it met the requirements of the prompt.

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I was sitting on the sofa in my living room when I happened to glance out of one of the windows. “What the fuck?” I gasped. “This can’t be happening!” I live in the country and I watched as a noiseless vehicle descended out of the sky and landed in the field across the road from the house. I’d never seen anything like it before and it didn’t appear to be something that had originated on earth. ‘Where the hell did it come from and who, or what, is inside?’ I silently debated

This is a collection of stories I wrote based on various prompts.

@Aditus, I've taken up your challenge on P#27 and wrote a short story that's just under 1100 words in length, but now what do I do with it? Is there a special place these get posted, like the anthologies, or am I supposed to post it with my other stories? Please let me know.

They probably hadn't reached puberty yet.

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this book, but I'm currently into Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. He also wrote The Martian, but Project Hail Mary is a sci-fi story about a junior high school science teacher who is recruited to help save earth from impending doom. To do this, he has to find the solution to the problem by going to another star, and while there he runs into a alien ship that's trying to solve the same problem to save its planet. It's very compelling and filled with a ton of science facts, but not so many that it turns you off unless you're a science nerd. Very enjoyable.

And baby porcupines are called porcupettes - although I don't think they'd make very good pets - too many owies.

As a teen in the 1960s, I was looking forward to my favorite Sci-Fi book, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, being made into a movie. Unfortunately, the idea was scrapped when it was decided that intelligent life couldn't exist on Mars. Since then, the story has been converted into many other forms, including a TV miniseries back in the 1980s.

What a loss and just 17 days short of her 100th birthday. I can't thank her enough for the enjoyment she gave me with her appearances of various game shows, guest appearances, her role as Ann Nivens on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, and her role as Rose on The Golden Girls. Rest in peace, Betty. You've certainly earned it and now you can be with your loving husband, Allen Ludden.

I wish all my friends at Gay Authors a Very Happy New Year. May this one be better than the last few.

Thank you for the feedback, Tony. Yes, I'm sure you are right about the younger boys, but is someone that age ever able to cope with death, especially their own? Unfortunately, in order to get rid of Daniel's ghost Brendan and Trevor made a hasty decision without considering all of the consequences, but at least now they are no longer under attack. I'm glad you enjoyed this story. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you, Tony. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you, Tony, and I think we all wish friendships that had been interrupted could enjoy a happy reunion, but life is more complicated than that. Since this was written for an Anthology, I prefer to keep the stories short while still getting the point across, and sometimes this means leaving a few loose ends. However, I think it is safe to assume that they had a long and happy life together. Thank you for the feedback.

Read it. Twice. Often when I read stories, my 'Editor's Eye' automatically tends to pick up errors, (spelling, punctuation and/or grammar), which slows my enjoyment of the story. With many of your stories, like this one Bill, I read them a second time to get the full impact or enjoyment out of them. Wow. Tony (Anton) Thank you, Tony, and I'm glad you aren't too taxed when you read them with your editor's eye. I'm also glad you enjoy them enough to read them a second time. Thanks for the feedback.

Thank you for saying that, and I am a father and uncle, although I'm not sure my children, niece, and nephews would rank me quite as highly as you did. I'm glad you enjoyed this story and I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as well.

Maybe someday science will come up with a way.

Anton, thank you for your kind words about my story and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the mound in the snow might have been in worse shape, but I wanted to keep this a fairly positive Christmas tale. Even an old guy like me can remember how devastated I was when I first learned that Santa wasn't real, so I hope this gives parents an idea about how they can keep the myth alive for their children. Thank you for the wonderful suggestions you made as well. There are ways we can help ourselves, our loved ones, and those around us fight this dreaded COVID problem if we're not too obstinate about taking the steps that are currently available. I've had all three shots as well, and I wear a mask when going out to public places, like the grocery store and doctor's office, and I hope everyone is doing the same. And yes, we can help strangers in need as well. It may not be much, but sometimes just offering to help or doing what we can will lift a person's spirit enough that it gives them a reason to keep fighting to survive. Have a very Merry Christmas and we pray for a better New Year.