Stories

Young Brian has recently found himself completely wrapped up in a new obsession, and it's all surrounding the super cute teen boy that has just moved into the neighborhood. He's been trying to catch a glimpse of him whenever he gets the chance, but had no way to actually meet him, up close and personal. However, once the Spring rolls around, the neighborhood's annual block party is certain to bring him out of his hiding place, and give Brian the chance to finally mingle with his beautiful new crush. What happens next...is anybody's guess.

Jake is a rebellious teenager, perhaps as a response to his father - the captain of the local police force - who has very strict ideas about how Jake should live his life. A mysterious smile is exactly what Jake needed to show his dad that his life is his own.

Adam is a 14 year old boy living in a commune in the wilds of Oregon. The story deals with events during the summer as he becomes sexually aware and involved with Gabriel, who is a couple of months older.

Boccaccio's Decameron, a story of renewal and recreation in defiance of a decimating pandemic, relates how ten self-isolated Italians pass the time regaling each other with tall tales during the Black Plague. While Covid19 wasn't nearly as decimating, the opportunity for such entertainment did exist. As a takeoff on that idea, this short story might well be a modern version of one of the tales, recounting events of earlier, less stressful times.

‘They say that sometimes you’ve just gotta take a chance or two, don’t ya know?’

And that applies to life and to love, as thirteen year old friends, Christian Miller and Jeremy Hutton are about to discover.

Twelve year old Bobby travels by train to visit his grandparents for Christmas, but all is not as he remembered from the previous summer. For one, there is his thirteen year old cousin, Carl, who Bobby never met.

Lest we forget our dead.

Posted on this, the fiftieth anniversary

of the UpStairs Lounge attack,

June 24th, 1973.

WAR IS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN (Amorous Things, Library of Horror Press 2010) tells the story of two young men: one, a grocery store clerk; the other: a soon-to-be-armed-service member. In the midst of John's preparation to join the military, his partner, Markus, is almost unable to function, as his partner's past comes flooding back like a tidal wave approaching a shore in the form of words from a dead man's lips.

An athletic high-school senior and a studious freshman form an unusual friendship.

James and Camden are rowing buddies. They happen to share a secret; both are secretly pining for each other. On one hot afternoon, during rowing practice, will they finally be brave enough to admit their secret love for each other?