As the morning alarm sounds and the automatic blinds open, I rise from the couch and stretch. I started in the bed, curled up next to the woman who feeds and cares for me, but she moves around at night. So, at some point, like most nights, I moved to the comfort of my own space. She smiles at me as she rises, bids me good morning, and offers me breakfast. Of course, it’s the same meal as the day before and the day before...

It was a beautiful summer day on the farm. Sparky, the dog, was laying on the porch resting after a fun morning of playing with his friends. He was watching the people go by and would bark to say hello to them. Scamp, the monkey, was hanging from the porch railing waving at the people. People would call out hello.They were enjoying the sunshine. Jack, the donkey, and Blackie, the horse, and Lynnie, the lamb was in the yar...

21st of March – Season 2 Ruben Rothschild was a typical seventeen-year-old boy: fascinated by pretty girls, liked action movies and absolutely loved fast cars. That’s why he was so happy to have a Dad who was a reporter in the F-X Series. It’s too bad he was the worst of them. “Ruben,” said Wikus. “What’s on your mind, son?” They were currently making their way to the Festival of the Fall pay-per-view over at Engels Korta...

It was springtime on the farm.Miss Emily went all out for the decorations this year. She even found a six-foot-tall inflatable bunny.Sparky saw the giant bunny and went into guard dog mode and barked and yipped. All the animals came to check out the reason for the barking. Miss Emily explained to everyone that it is just a bunny and perfectly harmless. Sparky about died of embarrassment.Miss Emily said to Sparky, "You are...

It was a quiet day at the farm... Scamp, the monkey, heard about the local space shuttle building contest open to all ages and told Sparky, the pup. The contest was to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo 11.They thought it would be great fun to enter. Miss Emily had just had a new refrigerator delivered and the box was in great shape and all they would have to do is find things to use as the wings and the tail fo...

Life is a special game. Sometimes it's fun, like playing jacks or marbles. You had a talent for some competed on the sandy school playground. Some more than others. Such as tetherball and hopscotch. She walked towards you along a street during freshman orientation. On the sidewalk was a hopscotch court. You tossed the keychain from your pocket to a square, hopped on one foot, stooped, picked it up. Hopped on to the end an...

Spooky people come out to play.This is now your special day.Scare the other folks away.Spooky people play! Monster people come out to dance,Tonight will be your perfect chance.Caper, spin, stomp, and prance!Monster people dance! Witch-y people grab your broom,Soar up through the twilight gloom,Past the stars you're going to zoom,Witch-y people zoom! Halloween people this is your night,Grab some candy, cause some fright,Wi...

,            about 2300 words James Foleyfarandthen@gmail.comwww.beyondthewind.comwww.mywarlove.com Machiavelli and Brexitby James Foley In Melbourne, Florida, the east wall of the Eau Gallie Public Library is sheer glass—facing the Intracoastal Waterway and the causeway soaring across it. And I remember how, on a September morning in 2017, this breathtaking view kept distracting me from Martin Andros’s voice as he read p...

I wasn't raging my attire was making me cranky. The Glad lady shows poor manners and tries to undo my dress or so I thought.What is she doing? Through the haze that lingers in the air, I see my beloved fall to the floor. This can't be the end!"Sergeant do something! Zip up, do your job, call for help and arrest her."I continue to sob and not rage. But miracles do happen. I see my G-man rise from the floor. Sticky and smel...

Acting on impulse; farting to temporarily stun the Sargent, I pluck a cocktail umbrella from the raging woman’s dress. Impromptu dart blowing weapon fashioned with the pink straw. My jaw set as I look for my target.  I only came to pay homage to the fashionista of my dreams and Rumple is the only one who knows the truth. The bloody snake! He hit on me, showing off Coma and Tose- pulling my secrets out as easy as serving j...

Glad lady, inspector, a blond southern belle, no one can stop me from exacting my revenge.Over intense fiery thoughts I hear a yell."Gill it's him"It's Recycling Man our arch nemesis.G-man and I built a completely green fashion house. Dumpster diving, scavenging for materials had led us to design our "green" creations. Recycling man and Compost Man hated us. They sued claiming encroachment on their business. They won, our...

Looking closer, I realize who shambling man is.My ex, G, Garbageman. I should have known. He never could resist anything in polyethylene.I stand up, adjust my cocktail umbrella "dress", ready to confront that no good ex-garbageman. I'm about to grab his arm when I see the Glad lady has returned dressed in an orange bag. That was always our color.Ready to tell him what I think, I'm inturrupted. An inspector starts listing...

Head throbbing I open my eyes."Why am I still in the bar?"I remember ordering a few non-virgin Hannahs. The table in front of me is covered in cocktail umbrellas. I look down aware that I am wearing an "outfit" made entirely of cocktail umbrellas. It gets worse. I notice the "exercise" pole has several umbrellas stuck to it."Oh god, what happened?"I risk a furtive look around the bar. Among the usual patrons of Rumps' the...

Such joy our time at the shoreMany things we did each day Making sandcastles on the beachSwimming in the bay  We rode a pontoon boat Fantasy Island such a joy The Ferris wheel and lots of gamesThe little one loved winning a toy  The locals are all so pleasant A guided ghost tour one night We learned of Jaws and haunts Trembled from all those sights  A museum full of ocean treasure Disasters of the island on display Rumrun...

Her imagination is beautiful So precious in all she isPlease don't change a thing Always wanting a hug and a kissThe stories are endless Changing every timeDancing on a big stage Or singing a nursery rhymeLook momma I'm a princess Later I'll be a kitty or a duckTomorrow in a gondola Wading through the muckGive her half a minute She will make you smile With her tutu and bootsShe does so with such style She is not quite thr...