Adventures in Writing

  A woman sits alone on her couch. Arms folder as she recounts the events of her day. Behind her, her husband watches as she drops her head into her hands. She’s clearly frustrated and from the look of it on the verge of tears. Her husband drops his head. He understands her frustration. They’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year to no avail. He also knows his wife has put on a brave face and tried to keep a positive out look. On the table next to his wife is a letter. He notices it’s a baby announcement from his wife’s younger sister. His heart breaks. He feels ashamed and angry about the situation. Thinking to himself he catches his wife out of the corner of his eye grabbing a tissue. This was it. This was her breaking point. The man takes a deep breath and heads up stairs. The woman dries her tears. Tires to think of her sister and how exciting it will be to be an aunt. She feels a tap on her shoulder. She turns around the address her husband but is too surprised at what she ...

  I sat there staring at my glass of cheap whiskey. I watched as the ice slowly melted into the amber looking liquid. It was a shit day. And now I am sitting in this shit bar looking at this shitty glass of whiskey while people drink themselves stupid, getting angry at their sports teams and trying to forget how miserable they are. I kissed my kids and wife good-bye this morning as I headed out to work. I count my blessings this year, even in the middle of a global pandemic and recession that rivals that of the 1929 Great Depression. You see, last year I crashed my car into a tree going 80 mph. I walked away without a scratch, but when the police arrived, they could easily see I was drunk and my B.A.L was double the legal limit. I found myself in a jail cell with major legal problems. My wife had enough of me and the bullshit. She took the kids and left. She wouldn't even tell me where she was going. At that moment I knew if I didn't deal with these demons I would lose ev...

  The bell rang jolting Nikki out of her sleep. This was the best sound Nikki had heard all day. The bell that couldn't come soon enough. This was the best bell, this was the bell to her freedom! Nikki grabber her bag, flipped up her hoodie and headed to the door. She just wanted to slip into the hall and out the door. The ultimate escape from the hell that is high school.  She was just about out the door when she heard it. "Hey Nikki, can I talk to you for a moment."  She stopped in her tracks, rolled her eyes and headed back into the classroom.  "What's going on Mr. Larson?"  Nikki looked at the floor. She already know what was coming and the last thing she needed was another adult telling her how she felt and should feel.  "Nikki, please look at me, you're not in trouble. I'm just concerned about you. When the school year started you were so confident and loved to participate in class. But recently you are so withdrawn. I don't see you wi...