Stories

Everyone who comes out has a different story to tell: with some, it comes with a sudden flash of revelation; with others it may have been a long, slow, sometimes painful process of unwinding internalized constraints. For some, it is a matter of recognizing what they have always enjoyed; for others, it is an entry into entirely new experiences. As college seniors in the mid-70’s, Robert and his best friend Paul come out, each with a different story.

Welcome to Philpott Towers! Ten years apart in age, living very different lives, the Phillpott brothers are not close, but their father’s death sees the two returning to share their grandiose family home. Gray Philpott is a successful poet but rather less successful human being, now living with Vince, his solicitor elder brother in their father’s shadow—what could go wrong?

Close proximity forces both brothers to reassess their lives, and the Summer wreaks remarkable changes as the two settle into a new relationship, with both their lives and their emotional lives going in new directions.

The first day of practice at a new, elite school brings on a new way to train.

Originally a throwaway parody in The Straightest Lies We Tell Ourselves, this story lassos the cowboy trope of a city boy in search of himself and drags it straight, or not so straight, into a cowboy crisis.

William receives a note from Great Uncle Beauregard Sanders’ lawyer, informing William that he has just inherited a house. All William has to do is stay there tonight – on Halloween – to get his inheritance. Certainly, nothing weird could happen, right?

To secure his inheritance, Zayn hires River to play the role of his perfect boyfriend. It’s supposed to be simple—smiles for the family, a little hand-holding, and then part ways. But the longer they pretend, the more real their connection begins to feel.

Soon, Zayn and River discover that faking love is far easier than protecting their hearts. Will their deal end with both getting what they wanted—or will one of them lose something far more precious?

On Halloween night, Mason leads his friend up the old firewatch tower above Wilbur Falls — just to get away from the noise, the beer, and the same faces down by the creek. But something about the night feels different. The wind smells of smoke, the dark hums with electricity, and the space between them glows with something neither can name. High above their small town, mystery and longing blur together, and what begins as a quiet escape becomes a moment that will haunt them long after the night is gone.

A haunting Halloween tale about connection, silence, and the spark between two boys learning what it means to be seen.

This is a collection of my works from the 2025 Twitch Authtober Wordathon. Our collective goal is 1.5 million words by the end of the month, so I wanted to help by writing nothing but prompt responses.

A decade after drifting apart, four millennial friends who once bonded online reunite at a secluded cabin, answering an invitation from the friend who always promised they would one day meet. As old memories resurface and new ones take shape, one question lingers:

Where is Chris?

Every town has a history. Every town has stories that have been handed down through the ages . . stories that tell of people or events that may, or may not, be real. Thompsonville is no different. In fact, this town probably has more than most. Here’s just one of them!