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Short Stories




Eskimo Kisses by Katie Barnhill A heart-wrenching story of a young woman reflecting the memories of her deceased father after her... [1,596 words]
About Man Against The Idea by Horacio Aguilar Naively told and settled story which refers to the dangers of collective Idea overco... [340 words]
Like A Parallel Cross by Neil Southern A dark tale [3,026 words]
The Challenge by Armand Waksberg Who said nothing can go faster than light [1,257 words]
Zone One by Atef Ayadi The awakening conceives knowledge, knowledge structures enlightenment, and enlightenment leads to diso... [2,169 words]
Wild Women by Kate Kerrison A true story of four girls and a man who thought he was George Clooney [601 words]
What The Night Brings by Richard W McLin A young woman is subjected to the night and her own paranoia. What could possibly happen ... [898 words]
What Can't We Say Thank You Jesus by Jeaette Harris I think we should thank you Jesus. [255 words]
There Is No Hell by Yashi Duckie Just a short little "monologue" thing... [209 words]
The Survivors by Jessi People, they start off the same. But they slowly become different to each other. One group is The... [529 words]
The Smell by Vincent Lini A possible explanation to that often asked question: What's that smell? [173 words]
The Second Greatest Show On Earth by Alexei Chamakov The stories of Wolfboy, a Chinese acrobat, the bearded lady, and the circus k... [2,495 words]
The Revenge Of Baba Yaga by Nik Siromah Its January 10, 2007 and I ran out of wrapping paper. This good website was so kind to... [1,399 words]
The P0wer 0f Change by Jessi A story about friendship, magic and some of lifes pains. [507 words]
The Boat Of Iago by Tim A Campbell A body found on a boating trip changes the lives of the main character. [3,094 words]
Stranger by Belinda Love Erotic piece of fiction spurred by a bet with a mate, he said I would never write and publish one [603 words]
Soccer by Bernadette (Some Call Me Soccer is a great game. So read about it and see. [728 words]
Shopping by T J Rintoull She went shopping - he was left home alone... [501 words]
Scars Of Yester Years by Rajeevs Rajeev A short story about nostalgia on teenage crush. [2,423 words]
Quite Harmless You See by Randall Barfield Then Peter had the oddest feeling. He�d never been afraid of the dark before. To him, ... [723 words]
Pure Is Love by Jessi A story about two people, love, and lifes complications. [405 words]
Product Of A Deranged Imagination by Acquiesce Smith, from Belfast, has Asperger's Syndrome. Read, as he describes his imagi... [385 words]
Ned's Dream by David L Hardin - [1,265 words]
My Most Embarrassing Moment by Trevor Turner My Most Embarrassing Moment� By: Trevor Turner My family was planning a trip to ... [184 words]
My Long Long Journey by Rzemieniecki - [905 words]
My First Visit To Stonehenge by Acquiesce Join me, as I recount my first visit to Stonehenge, with railguns and C-4 thrown i... [470 words]
My Cousin Lois by Kate Kerrison A story about my favourite cousin [606 words]
Morty The Homicidal Bear And The Shadow Of Rainbow Land by Richard W McLin An adult themed kids story about a world of stuffed ani... [1,901 words]
Midgets by Tamsin Butler Silly thing written about somthing my sister said [114 words]
Life-It Will Go With Or Without You by Jessi - [89 words]
Life At Peach Hills-Introduction by Rhi A tale about two girls and two horses. (im still working on it) [358 words]
Left Behind by Jessi About how people want to be the same and not seen as different. [76 words]
James Benedetti's Daughter by Randall Barfield A surprise visit. [861 words]
In The Outside Cold by Randall Barfield - [440 words]
I'm Sorry, Mom by Larissa Marie Smith - [669 words]
Harold by Acquiesce Follow the funny life of Harold as he gets fired, gets dead and gets to live in India. [1,836 words]
For Gods Sake by Buxton - [3,948 words]
Flipped by Jessi Sometimes life is just so confusing [121 words]
Far-Off Distance by Mandi Butkovich -Ed struggles with feelings and realizes his feelings may be shared. [5,138 words]
Exclusion by Valerie Gawron Young woman learns not to trust what she is told. [5,402 words]
Don't Feed The Ants by Brian Stamile A struggling author finds help in an unlikely place, and it comes back to haunt him. [2,045 words]
Donkeys And Ice Cream by Kate Kerrison Holidays as a child in woolacombe in devon [548 words]
Disappearing Dossett by Dy Myers The story of my cousins disappeance and the mayhem of our family during the time. And for ... [1,718 words]
Daddy, Can You Hear Me? by Randall Barfield What would you do in this situation? [511 words]
Are Diamonds A Girls Best Friend by Kate Kerrison A few thoughts on friendship [490 words]
Anger Of The Heart by Valerie Gawron A brother's deceit causes a couple great pain. [2,686 words]
Angel Eyes by Emma Akuffo Margot was devatated when she lost her husband in a tragic road accident on the same day her daughte... [5,741 words]
A Matter Of Timing, Frankly
3 Days In Gravewood by Richard W McLin A man comes to the sandy town of Gravewood to find the one reponsible for the death of his ... [7,415 words]
The Meeting by Rahul Prabhakar A story about love and the pain that comes with it, of being together and sharing happiness with th... [690 words]
Rainy Christmas Eve by Randall Barfield "How bad is it?" he managed to ask with great physical and psychological effort... [755 words]
Ghosts Of The Highway by Kitty Kat - [294 words]
Nanobots by Jeffrey L Henager An army of microscopic assassins gets turned on their creator [3,702 words]
Venista by Jessica O'reilly The great battle of Venista, a war that left the Venistan people lost, broken and torn between good and... [5,284 words]
Ufo? - Are They Our Enemies Or Are They Our Friends? by Amarjit Bhambra The best time to experience these unusal flying saucers ar... [747 words]
To Soon The End by Jordan Holetzky About a man who was too late accepting God, and though we don't know what is going to happen at... [326 words]
The Street Kids by Stephanie Lynch Just a story about how life seems to have a will of its own. [929 words]
The Street Kids-Tyler by Stephanie Lynch Just a story about how life seems to have a will of its own [929 words]
The Marriage Of A Noble Woman by Mandi Butkovich Sequel to The Heart of a Noble Woman [450 words]
The Lunch Table by Mandi Butkovich One day at the lunch table.... [484 words]
The Love Letter by Jordan Holetzky For the one I lost...... [182 words]
The Lady In The Forest by Sasu She awakens in the forest at 4am. Why? [1,658 words]
The Kitchen by Whynot Ican The price of serving. [838 words]
The Christmas Present by Riot - [926 words]
The Boy With A Silly Hat by Rosa Lee Gallimore - [793 words]
That Night by Mandi Butkovich A man has a dream about a rather disturbing night. [735 words]
Some Mirrors Never Lie by Darcy K Metz - [2,406 words]
Shattered Glass by Kyle J Douglas Fantasy-adventure story about a Guardsman sworn to protect his king at all costs. [1,590 words]
Saved by Jordan Holetzky Basically about a little girl taking Jesus as her Savior. [332 words]
Ruin by Johan Keylay A teacher accused. [7,000 words]
Rock, Paper, Scissors by Paul B Kramer What's better than work? [970 words]
Open Door by Johan Keylay Home Invasion [5,950 words]
Noir - Sadistic (1) by Nathan Weaver Noir styled first-person narrative. A man beaten, recalls how he came to where he is and d... [690 words]
Nasty Note by Ashwini Ahuja When you grow ambitious without resources and ignore cultural values. Then it happens what had happe... [15,190 words]
Melting by Johan Keylay As the title suggests. [239 words]
Killing Time by Kyle J Douglas Adventure-comedy story about two guys who accidentally kill Time himself, and must restore order t... [3,472 words]
Killing Time Chapter 2 by Kyle J Douglas Adventure-comedy story about two guys who accidentally kill Time himself and must restor... [719 words]
I've Seen Too Many Movies by Kevin R Hamilton A story about an encounter I had at work. [403 words]
Fire From The Sky by Travis Kelland This is of a dream I had. [1,620 words]
Edge Of Sanity by Brueske Short psychological thriller about an insane man. [1,490 words]
Day 23 by Christine Varela An excerpt from a journal of a mentally disturbed young woman committed to a mental institution with bip... [1,699 words]
Christmas Joy. by Jeaette H I think Christmas means different thinks to different people [987 words]
Casualty Of Infidelity by Johan Keylay Jeff suspects his wife is cheating on him. [3,612 words]
Buon Natale by Leonardo V A man brightens the lives of orphans while harboring dark memories from the madness of Nazi occupie... [4,419 words]
Awakening Admist The Civil War by Dr Dan L Edmunds Edd The story of an abused child and his journey to renewal through building a relat... [728 words]
An Absurdity by Johan Keylay It IS absurd, the woman is crazy. [2,434 words]
Amnesia by Ellys Parker A man wakes in a quite house with no memory of why he's there or how he got there to begin with. All he... [3,862 words]
All It Takes Is Four-Part 1 by Lily This is just the begining of my story.. its about four kids who have a power unimag... [638 words]
Ali�ve by Kimball Just a little story I wrote when I was bored one night [606 words]
After The Trailers by Me - [376 words]
A Hangover In My Office Chair by Darcy K Metz Not sure if this is a purely interior monologue. Or it could be the narrator writ... [1,322 words]

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TITLE (EDIT)
A Matter Of Timing, Frankly
DESCRIPTION
-
[736 words]
TITLE KEYWORD
Literary Fiction
AUTHOR
Randall Barfield
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
-US citizen living and working in the capital of Colombia, South America. Teaches EFL and IELTS, and TOEFL (any test prep). Proofreads English essays, theses, and books, etc. Private classes accepted. Also writes at abctales.com; microhorror.com; postcardshorts.com; authorsden.com. Contact: www.officeteachr.com
[May 2010]
AUTHOR'S E-MAIL ADDRESS
[email protected]
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (281)
2nd Interview With The President (Plays) It's Barb again and President Branch. I'll try. Hope somebody likes it. [1,300 words] [Humor]
A Colombia Hatred-Free (Poetry) Of course, it isn't just Colombia, is it? [52 words] [Writing Resource]
A Dream Comes True (Non-Fiction) This is nostalgia and reflection. It's a short piece of writing dedicated to young Rodger Wesley Beaver of Georgia who was killed by a "sheriff's deputy"(God protect us from those like him.) on Valen... [951 words] [Biography]
A Flower Today In Words (Poetry) - [40 words]
A Georgia Crossroads (Non-Fiction) Where does it lie? [325 words] [Writing Resource]
A Little Poem My Child (Children) - [79 words] [Humor]
A Million Times Plus One (Poetry) I have never stopped loving the tune "A Whiter Shade of Pale." I heard it the first time at age 16 or 17. Here is a little piece I completed recently while listening to the song over and over. So, ... [234 words] [Relationships]
A Monster Of Monsters (Non-Fiction) Why did we ever let him get this far? [208 words] [Horror]
A Parent's Lament (Genres) Some say it's never too late. [260 words] [Teenage]
A Perfected Perpetuation Plan For Today's Young Yahoos (Poetry) No one has the right to rob a bank, but each has the right to draw up her/his floor plans for life. [219 words] [Writing Resource]
A Purple Jacket (Short Stories) - [494 words] [Motivational]
A Quiet House (Short Stories) - [257 words] [Teenage]
A Red May Rose For Thee (Poetry) - [45 words] [Motivational]
A Royal Ring Up (Plays) Is this anger on my part? What should I care? But anyway, here it is... [808 words] [Drama]
A Soldier's Letter (Poetry) Far from the familiar our words are often sweeter, are they not? [109 words] [Romance]
A Songbird's Intellect (Poetry) - [4 words] [Spiritual]
A Troubled Nation In Need Of Prayer And Soul-Searching: How To Repair It (Non-Fiction) Send you suggestions/contributions in 40 words or less to [email protected] Thank you. [89 words] [History]
A Visit (Short Stories) - [245 words] [Teenage]
About Daddy (1) (Non-Fiction) Daddy had his own emotional problems... [359 words] [Biography]
About Daddy Series (Non-Fiction) - [4,424 words] [Biography]
About Respect And Prestige (Non-Fiction) - [352 words] [Psychology]
Abrakadeebra: A Celebration Of Children's Verse No. 1 (Children) More fun little poems/verses for those special readers of mine. I hope you enjoy them. Let me know which ones need a bit of modification. Cheers. [2,799 words] [Humor]
Abrakadomebra: A 2nd Celebration Of Children's Verse (Children) More exciting(some are, anyway) little poems/verses about Frosty, Benny the Blackbird, Jack and Jill, etc. for children's laughter. Cheers. [2,349 words] [Humor]
Abrakadoobra: 100 Short Poems For Children (Children) Sometimes I enjoy writing or trying to write poems for children moreso than for adults. Would that be bad or good? Maybe neither. Please let me know which ones you or your kid likes or dislikes. I'... [3,527 words] [Fantasy]
Abrakadyebra: A Third Collection Of Children's Poems (Children) See, read and hear new poems about Frosty and Jack and Jill and others now! Cheers! [1,464 words] [Humor]
Abstinence (Poetry) - [18 words] [Psychology]
Adestes: Little Christmas Poems For Children (Children) Father Christmas/please be so kind/bring me a toy/one doesn't wind. [392 words] [Humor]
Advertising The Devil (Non-Fiction) "Serve the Lord with gladness..." not sadness, you dummy! [491 words] [Spiritual]
Aletha (Short Stories) . [330 words] [Teenage]
Ann Dunham: Busy Serving Others And Educating Her Kids (Children) If only she could see him now. [506 words] [Biography]
Ann Rule: The Lady Who Writes About Killers (Children) Talk about a busy life! Here's an example. [360 words] [Biography]
Another Prince Charles (Children) - [391 words] [Biography]
At Clarence's (Short Stories) - [290 words] [Teenage]
Back Through The Trees (Poetry) This evil took place both day and night. [50 words] [Motivational]
Bad Se�orita (Songs) Am I a "real" songwriter? (Looking at this one, I hope not!) [103 words] [Humor]
Because His Skin Is Dark (Poetry) - [19 words] [Mind]
Bill Gaither: True Follower (Non-Fiction) - [641 words] [Biography]
Billy Graham: Man After God's Heart (Children) Who can count all his awards? [375 words] [Biography]
Billy Graham's Death (Non-Fiction) . [633 words] [Spiritual]
Blood (Poetry) - [30 words] [Horror]
Blubber, Blubber, Armchair Lubber (Essays) A short essay about the REAL truth behind dieting, etc. [870 words] [Self-Help]
Boy Child (Songs) These lyrics are new and go to the tune of 'Oh Danny Boy' or 'Londonderry Aire'. Something like that. I may do one more stanza. [99 words] [Spiritual]
Buenos Dias, Colombia (Not S Carolina!) (Non-Fiction) First-hand comments/observations of the country today and other days (with sugar, cream, and warts). This was a blog before anyone had ever heard of the term. [18,298 words] [Writing Resource]
Cam (Poetry) ...wound up twisted... [20 words] [Humor]
Carlos The Young Coffee Picker (Children) Carlos the young coffee picker Played a serenade Maria had just given birth Nine pounds the wee thing weighed! [564 words] [Humor]
Catch A Rising Star (Short Stories) "It's Luis, Jaime..." the old man stammered. [496 words] [Literary Fiction]
Cemetery Road (Short Stories) "What was that? There's someone out there," she exclaimed. [444 words] [Teenage]
Cindy's Fall (Short Stories) - [526 words] [Horror]
Colombia's On The Map (Poetry) How long is forty years, ma? [77 words] [Writing Resource]
Colombia's President Al Uribe (Children) - [493 words] [Biography]
Create, Create (Poetry) - [16 words] [Art]
Daddy And Me: Making The Rounds (Essays) A little wallow? [428 words] [Writing Resource]
Daddy, Can You Hear Me? (Short Stories) What would you do in this situation? [511 words] [Horror]
Daemons (Non-Fiction) Isn't British spelling more elegant sometimes? This piece of writing is about demons. We all have one or some of them inside us. They are the negative elements we cannot control very easily. The f... [2,678 words] [Psychology]
Daniel Coronell: Freedom Fighter (Children) He returned to his country determined more than ever. [420 words] [Biography]
Daring To Touch Saeed (Poetry) This piece is supposed to be about Flight 93. It's very hard to write about. If you've seen the movie, you've cried. Murderers, in my opinion, are spiritually or otherwise diseased, so, I think we ... [166 words] [History]
David's Letter--Bogota, Colombia (Non-Fiction) This is a true incident. It is not fiction. [551 words] [Self-Help]
Dear Detective Lovett (Short Stories) - [646 words] [Crime]
Decider (Poetry) This poem was composed after a slow reading of Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule, the world's foremost crime writer. [169 words] [Crime]
Deleted (Poetry) - [18 words] [Literary Fiction]
Desire Of Flesh (Poetry) ...you're ferried by death. [41 words] [Mind]
Developed And Scary (Non-Fiction) . [400 words] [History]
Doctor's Orders (Poetry) A short poem about family camping. [198 words] [Writing Resource]
Don't Call Her First Lady (Songs) This is sort of a song-poem. It's not about the First Couple in Washington, in case you wonder. The rhythm is along the lines of Ray Charles' "Fool For Love". Have you heard it? [60 words] [Humor]
Don't Tell Anyone (Short Stories) - [258 words] [Horror]
Each A Star (Poetry) Dear Readers: This poem-story, sadly, is based on a true and recent incident near where we live. [40 words] [Spiritual]
Ephraim (Short Stories) - [443 words] [Literary Fiction]
Every Day We Pierce Him (Songs) The tune for this song is a Spanish church song titled "Llaga", which means open sore or wound. In the Spanish hymn book I have, the author is listed as anonymous. Anyway, here are some English lyric... [74 words] [Spiritual]
Everybody Loved Polly (Short Stories) I detest violence and violent people! [1,809 words] [Popular Fiction]
Find Myself (Songs) Tune: Largo from Dvorak's "New World Symphony". [57 words] [Romance]
Finding A Poem-Short Story Topic (Non-Fiction) What to write about? Where do I look? Who/What can help me? [552 words] [Writing Resource]
Fishing Obligations (Essays) A short essay about parental responsibilities and kids' obligations. [558 words] [Relationships]
Five Prose Poems (Poetry) Here are five prose poems for the romantic-minded, I hope. The titles are Looking Back, That Celestial Calm--the Moon; City Shadows; Seeking; and We Turned Off. [331 words] [Romance]
Fly Me To The Moon, Baby (Poetry) - [82 words] [Romance]
Four Of Them (Essays) ...nobody has eight kids anymore either. Right? [259 words] [Writing Resource]
Four Poems (Poetry) Titles are: Groundwork in Colombia, Poetry, I Saw My Granny, Carpenter [398 words]
Four Short-Shorts (Poetry) "Lite" fare again. Titles are: Trying to Create Beauty; You First Then I; Appetite; and Opening Night. [113 words] [Mind]
Frances Jane: God's Happy Servant (Children) They had a baby daughter but it died... [368 words] [Biography]
Funny Like (Short Stories) - [610 words] [Teenage]
Generosity (Poetry) - [15 words] [Spiritual]
Gone Is Our Lisa (Poetry) (Feeling Poe-ish today maybe?) [87 words] [Humor]
Goodbye Christmas, Goodbye Santa (Poetry) - [52 words] [Motivational]
Grandstand (Poetry) - [19 words] [Relationships]
Growing Up Among Racists (Non-Fiction) A look at some of us in retrospect. [635 words] [Relationships]
Haikus Erotiques (Poetry) -These represent an exercise that's fun. Steve Mount has some others at saltyrain.com but the best are by the Japanese old masters. Look in Google for them. [113 words] [Erotic]
Haley She Was Called (Children) - [397 words] [Biography]
Hanks (Poetry) The superstar. [67 words] [Movies]
He Keeps Me Humble (Poetry) It's just that sometimes we don't want to be watched! [22 words] [Spiritual]
Heteros, Homos, Celibacy And The Church (Non-Fiction) Are we going back to the time of the Crusades? [590 words] [Writing Resource]
Hi Mr Willis, Can You Explain What Wrong I Did? (Non-Fiction) Teaching school is always give and take. Will it ever be different? [462 words] [Literary Fiction]
His Heart (Non-Fiction) - [556 words] [Motivational]
Homeward (Poetry) Sans arrogance, this poem was written for Senator Byrd of W. Va. [20 words] [Romance]
Hospital Room (Short Stories) Sadly, it's another case of "who needs fiction?" [1,115 words] [Crime]
How In Colombia I Grew In Mind And Soul (And Nowadays Grow In Girth) (Non-Fiction) Where I grew up in Georgia we had practically no access to modern British prose or poetry... [654 words] [Biography]
How To Have Money In Your Life (Non-Fiction) - [423 words] [Self-Help]
I Fell In Love With You (Poetry) - [97 words] [Romance]
I Find My Sanity (Poetry) - [38 words] [Psychology]
If I Could Chat With You Again (Poetry) - [66 words] [Literary Fiction]
If The World Were More Like You (Songs) Isn't this self-reflection? [155 words] [Psychology]
I'm Dreaming Of... (Poetry) It's about a smile. [80 words] [Writing Resource]
I'm From Mars (Short Stories) Historical fiction. [513 words] [Teenage]
In My Mind I Cheat On You (Poetry) Throw the first stone. [74 words] [Relationships]
In Our Minds (Poetry) - [11 words] [Mind]
In The Outside Cold (Short Stories) - [440 words] [Literary Fiction]
Interview Of A South American Gay (Non-Fiction) Meet Miguel Rodriguez: Miguel Rodriguez, a colleague of mine, is one of Colombia�s elite citizens in terms of philosophy, education, cultural level, and societal contributions. In other words, he�s ... [2,066 words] [Relationships]
Interview With The President (Plays) Baraba Falters(Barb)finally interviews President Branch. The President is, like a typical politician, quite difficult to pin down. [1,319 words] [Writing Resource]
Is It Where We Write Or What We Write? (Non-Fiction) Just think--how many of us had heard of Annie Proulx before 2005 or 2006? [681 words] [Publishing]
It Was Raining (Short Stories) "Let's not talk about it right now, Mama..." [368 words] [Literary Fiction]
Its Christmas Joy (Poetry) What is priority this year? [71 words] [Motivational]
James Benedetti's Daughter (Short Stories) A surprise visit. [861 words] [Literary Fiction]
James Herriot: Dearest Vet That Ever Lived (Children) Could you bring a cow into the world? A horse? [430 words] [Biography]
Jesus, You Look So Kansas-Like (Poetry) - [328 words] [Teenage]
Jewish Mother (Short Stories) Trying to make Him and those near Him more alive, more real, and hopefully, with more exposure. [396 words] [Literary Fiction]
John And Juan: Colombia's Facebook Killers (Non-Fiction) - [594 words] [Crime]
Just (Poetry) Heightened sensitivity doesn't mean anything goes. It does, however, mean caring for others. [70 words] [Psychology]
Just Cry, Mama (Poetry) - [267 words] [Teenage]
Just Imagine (Poetry) Dedicated to the One with the scarred hands. [59 words] [Spiritual]
Keepsakes (Poetry) A poem about a special afternoon. [129 words]
Lassie: About A Pal (No Joke) (Children) ...thanks to British-born writer Eric Knight, who wrote the short story... [276 words] [Biography]
Leaving Colombia(On A Jet, Of Course) (Non-Fiction) - [974 words] [Crime]
Letter To Elvis (Non-Fiction) You were human, of course. Perhaps in the end you just couldn't take any more... [642 words] [Biography]
Lid (Short Stories) Beware of half baths. [376 words] [Horror]
Life On The Shelf (Poetry) - [27 words] [Erotic]
Like A Story (Poetry) - [130 words] [Teenage]
Like A Wave (Poetry) - [30 words] [Romance]
Liliana's Decision (Non-Fiction) - [488 words] [Crime]
Lions Young (Poetry) - [16 words] [Erotic]
Little Is Much (Children) - [85 words] [Animal]
Lonely Hunter (Poetry) - [17 words] [Literary Fiction]
Long Live Our Elephants (Children) Would you kill an elephant? A deer? A fly? [284 words] [Animal]
Lord Find A Place (Poetry) (For Luciano Pavarotti: R.I.P.) [70 words] [Spiritual]
Making Moves: Another Look At Victims And Choices In Ann Rule's True Crime Stories (Non-Fiction) Ann Rule gives the murderers a hell of a punch in each story. That's the way it must be. It is the angle from which she writes and no one, no one is going to condone the acts of a murderer, least of... [9,916 words] [Crime]
Marsten (Short Stories) - [408 words] [Horror]
Matchless Love (Songs) - [91 words] [Motivational]
May Mothers And Fathers (Essays) A short essay about those parents who want to push academic responsibility off onto others. [479 words]
Maybe To Pittsburgh This Time (Children) This is about a boy's best friend. Also, I've always loved Girzone's "Joshua". Here is my little attempt to imitate that, somehow. [479 words] [Literary Fiction]
Meet Mary (Poetry) - [39 words]
Michael (Poetry) About someone who left us some years back but who left an indelible impression on those of his generation. [82 words] [Biography]
Mine Eyes Have Seen (Poetry) No glory and no hallelujah. [55 words] [Horror]
Miniviews From Colombia (Non-Fiction) No special description. Basically, getting an idea of what different people think at present. [3,555 words]
Miss Sindee And The Candidate (Plays) - [361 words] [Humor]
Moors And Moors: Randall Interviews Portuguese Writer--Poet--Artist Alexandra Onelight (Non-Fiction) - [3,430 words] [Biography]
Morgan: An Actor's Actor (Children) Even though he's still living, here's a little bio. [362 words] [Biography]
Moron (Short Stories) - [374 words] [Teenage]
Mr. Nico's Monday A.M. Surprise (Plays) Thus it was decreed: Woe unto all those ethically challenged! [633 words] [Humor]
Mr Randy Sez (Non-Fiction) Expressed thoughts, musings, comments, etc. on whatever I please. [5,598 words] [Publishing]
My Big Toe Nicely (Poetry) - [23 words] [Erotic]
My Fan (Poetry) - [23 words] [Spiritual]
My Kind Of Christian: Barbara Curtis (Non-Fiction) "She lived to shock people, 'to be different and avant-garde'." [514 words] [Motivational]
My Men Are Full Of Vigor (Poetry) This is about crosses, isn�t it? [48 words] [Erotic]
Needed: Diversity In Education (Essays) Including More Studies In Distinct Cultures Needed Urgently: Give-A-Shit Parents Who Actually Monitor Their Kids If we won't listen to Jesus, then... [867 words] [Writing Resource]
No Better Galahad (Songs) About the best Friend in the world. [115 words] [Spiritual]
Normally A Gentle Man (Short Stories) This story was inspired by a story in the "Chicken Soup" series that I never can forget. [334 words] [Teenage]
Not Enough! (Essays) A short talk about trying to prevent more wife/child abuse. [791 words] [Crime]
Number 6 (Short Stories) The "real" meaning of non-stop? [489 words] [Horror]
O Father Hold Us Tightly (Songs) Tune: "O Little Town of Bethlehem", believe it or not. It's such a beautiful melody that it's a pity that we are concerned with it only in December. Non-Christmas lyrics probably have been penned be... [101 words] [Spiritual]
Oh Milly Said Molly (Poetry) This one came up while writing the kids' stuff 'cept it isn't, is it? [26 words] [Humor]
Old Quake (Poetry) One Halloween he grabbed a knife Then hid behind the door... [119 words] [Humor]
On A Dad's Turning 80 (Non-Fiction) Some want to get there, others couldn't care less. How much is choice? [390 words] [Writing Resource]
On A Limb In The Garden Oak (Poetry) - [17 words] [Motivational]
Once I Thought Hypocrisy (Poetry) I,too, have felt the knife. [50 words] [Mind]
Pablo: A Life Of Crime And Making Money (Children) What is smart in life? What is dumb? [629 words] [Biography]
Pissed--Or, We Did It To Ourselves(Yes, Read Fucked) (Non-Fiction) Periodical rant. [492 words] [Writing Resource]
Plantain (Short Stories) - [627 words] [Horror]
Please Send Me Blessings (Poetry) - [48 words] [Teenage]
Poet--Photographer--Writer Interview (Non-Fiction) Read about Joseph Randell Sherman, Iowa-born poet and photographer par excellence. For additional info, access to writings, etc., 'google' this writer. [1,999 words] [Biography]
Policing-Immigration Lines (Essays) This is a bit about patriotism but not fanaticism. [1,193 words] [Motivational]
Poor Daddy (Short Stories) Carl saw the freshly-dug hole and broke into tears... [438 words] [Literary Fiction]
Precious Lord, Take My Hand (Songs) This is another one of my favorite gospel songs. So, I am arrogant here in trying to pen a second or extra verse(I know of only one.). M. Jackson sings only one on a DVD I have of her. Anyway, if a... [50 words] [Spiritual]
President Branch 1954 (Plays) Pure innocence, of course, prevailed at that time, did it not? [313 words] [Comedy]
Quite Harmless You See (Short Stories) Then Peter had the oddest feeling. He�d never been afraid of the dark before. To him, danger was posed by humans, not by animals; least of all simple and innocent forest animals. [723 words] [Literary Fiction]
Rainy Christmas Eve (Short Stories) "How bad is it?" he managed to ask with great physical and psychological effort... [755 words] [Crime]
Ralph Carmichael: A Great American Musician (Non-Fiction) - [463 words] [Biography]
Randall Barfield Interviews Sage Sweetwater--Colorado Poet-Novelist Of The Sapphic Literary Genre (Non-Fiction) . [4,890 words] [Relationships]
Randall's Humble Analysis Of The Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard (Non-Fiction) (Using the NIV version of the Bible) [635 words] [Spiritual]
Randy's Advice To Young Writers (Essays) - [807 words] [Motivational]
Realities (Poetry) - [7 words] [Writing Resource]
Reflective Essay On Classroom Discipline (Essays) This essay was written as part of the requirements for a course in elementary education. The teacher's comments are placed in parentheses and denoted as TC. Some of the problems have worked themselv... [2,676 words] [Writing Resource]
Religious Poems For Children (Children) - [691 words] [Spiritual]
Remembering Doug (Non-Fiction) I remember thinking at the time that they were such crybabies! [472 words] [Biography]
Sa'ad (Short Stories) Trying to look at history from another perspective. [295 words] [History]
Schoolgirl (Short Stories) - [937 words] [Crime]
Second Nature (Poetry) It's about a concrete finisher. [128 words] [Biography]
See A Rose (Poetry) - [35 words] [Motivational]
She Walked In Beauty (Poetry) - [32 words] [Movies]
Shit (Poetry) This poem is built around a word that is offensive to some, harmless to others. [187 words] [Writing Resource]
Should You Go To College? (Non-Fiction) Decisions confront us at every step in life. [503 words] [Teenage]
Some Caring Country Road (Poetry) Superstars leave indelible impressions on all of us, however, different strokes for different folks, of course. Anyway, I'll always be starstruck and enjoy trying to create tributes for those I love(... [193 words] [Nature]
Something Irresistible (Short Stories) Ten fingers? Who me? [231 words] [Humor]
Somewhere Near The Maricopas: Elizabeth Lucas-Taylor Interview (Non-Fiction) Elizabeth Lucas-Taylor, Arizona writer, poet, seeker, and dreamer, interview by Randall Barfield [4,700 words] [Mind]
Spare The Rod (Poetry) There's nothing funny about killing one's parents, I know, but it's only fiction. Right? Did Agatha Christie ever kill anyone despite a life dedicated to murder fiction? [109 words] [Humor]
Stand By Me (Songs) There are 2 songs titled Stand By Me that I know of. The more famous one was recorded by Ben King and John Lennon. The other, less famous but no less beautiful, was recorded by Elvis Presley (and wh... [74 words] [Spiritual]
Take Her Pompoms (Poetry) What's a mom worth in May? [25 words] [Relationships]
Ten Baby Jesus Poems (Children) The noise of the cock's crow woke them up A brand new day came bursting forth... [272 words] [Spiritual]
Ten More Baby Jesus Poems (And The Last Of Them) (Children) (Wind and rain roared outside The walls of the stable shook...) [237 words] [Biography]
Ten--Hour Weddings (Essays) About South American weddings. [510 words] [Humor]
Terence And Abelardo--Set Four (Plays) - [1,652 words] [Relationships]
Terence And Abelardo--Set One (Plays) This is planned as a series of vignettes, each with its own title. Terence is from an English-speaking country but lives and works in a Spanish-speaking one. Abelardo is Spanish-speaking orginally a... [971 words] [Relationships]
Terence And Abelardo--Set Three (Plays) - [1,549 words]
Terence And Abelardo--Set Two (Plays) Each set contains 4 shorts. [1,274 words] [Relationships]
That Little Spark (Poetry) - [22 words] [Motivational]
The 2nd Church Sign (Non-Fiction) Thou shalt go and spread... [677 words] [Spiritual]
The Best Christmas (Poetry) The best Christmas means different things to each one of us. [99 words] [Spiritual]
The Big It (Poetry) - [24 words] [Relationships]
The Breakfast Nook (Short Stories) . [246 words] [Spiritual]
The Candy In The Woods (Children) - [467 words] [Adventure]
The Chocolate Bunny Of Stone Mountain (Children) "Somebody has been bad," Susan says, "and..." [522 words] [Popular Fiction]
The Cold March Air (Poetry) - [15 words] [Erotic]
The Color Of My Actions (Poetry) Sometimes we think too much about color and not enough at important things. [73 words] [Motivational]
The Comfort (Poetry) No one can bring him back. No one can forget him either. [250 words] [Biography]
The Cry Baby (Short Stories) - [615 words] [Teenage]
The Death Of My Mom (Essays) A short reflection on a lack of tears for my mom. [565 words]
The Donkey Farm (Children) None of the donkeys wore a watch, of course, so they couldn't be dead sure... [365 words] [Fable]
The Double Cure: A Closer Look (Non-Fiction) - [1,118 words] [Spiritual]
The Evil Of The Visa System (Essays) Looking, looking for that Utopia. As always. [479 words] [History]
The France You Never Got To See (Poetry) How many people wanted to see France and never got a chance to? [67 words] [Motivational]
The Godless Home(Life) (Non-Fiction) Basically, this is written from experience. [661 words] [Self-Help]
The Goodbye (Short Stories) My 2nd attempt at a 'western'. It won a cherry at abctales.com (shoebox) [752 words] [Romance]
The Gravity (Poetry) Former Beatles member George Harrison died in November, 2001. This poem was conceived and written near the musician's death. [81 words] [Psychology]
The Hands (Poetry) - [12 words] [Horror]
The Head Of State's Eyes (Poetry) - [42 words] [History]
The Hour (Poetry) - [10 words] [Spiritual]
The House On No Street (Poetry) Move over, Stephen King! [53 words] [Horror]
The Human Condition(By The Pessimist) (Poetry) - [19 words] [History]
The Jubilee Surprise (Plays) Perhaps daydreaming. (This was written first in 2002, of course.) Today, July 2005, I look back at the word daydreaming and think: Wasn't I ever! Of course, we now know the monarch is trying to break... [514 words] [History]
The Little House In The Woods (Children) Children can enjoy these new little poems. We were in a "wooded" area on vacation recently and the idea came to me to jot these down. [313 words] [Literary Fiction]
The Lyrics For That Macho-Man, He-Man, Tough-Guy Shit (Poetry) . [278 words] [Literary Fiction]
The Moon In That Movie With Cher (Short Stories) - [901 words]
The New House (Short Stories) - [404 words] [Horror]
The New House Near Campus (Short Stories) - [422 words] [Horror]
The People I Prefer (Poetry) - [47 words]
The Power (Short Stories) "I have to get home. I have to get home..." [1,137 words] [Drama]
The Road (Non-Fiction) But he felt happiness. At last. After such... [576 words] [Motivational]
The Rose Tree (Poetry) A poem about the passing of life and nostalgia. [291 words]
The Scent Of Provincial Orchids (Short Stories) - [940 words] [Literary Fiction]
The Turn Of Your Old Key (Poetry) - [55 words] [Romance]
The Very Best Poems (Poetry) - [36 words] [Motivational]
There Is A Love That Is Matchless (Songs) These lyrics have music (by Guess Who) if anyone is interested. [91 words] [Motivational]
There Will Be No Losers (Poetry) - [146 words] [Motivational]
They Started A War (Poetry) -"One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one." Agatha Christie (1977) [70 words] [Spiritual]
Thin Air (Short Stories) ...you'd think it impossible that one man could terrorize an entire nation but,of course,... [874 words] [Crime]
Third Interview With President Branch (Plays) Here go the Pres. and Barabas(Barb) again. Give me a rating 1 to 10 on it. I say 8.0 (If you don't love yourself, who else is gonna?) I also wanna say that I am not a hater of the president. After... [536 words] [Comedy]
This Thirst (Poetry) - [29 words] [Psychology]
Thomas Andrew (Children) He and Mr. Tindley didn't go away. Their music and words didn't either... [388 words] [Biography]
Thorn And Rose (Poetry) - [66 words] [Teenage]
Those Images (Poetry) - [30 words] [Relationships]
Three Poem Collection (Poetry) No particular description. The reader will judge. Titles are: Poem for Cathy; Ingots; and The Saltless Sea. [252 words] [Relationships]
Three Poem Collection No. 2 (Poetry) These poems are supposed to be "lite". Titles are: bug off; Fat Farm Arrival; and Bleak Anniversary. [66 words] [Humor]
Three-Song Collection (Songs) Two are supposed to be spiritual and one a ballad. The author's music is available for evaluation. Sometimes the strong part of a song is its music, at others the lyrics. [410 words] [Spiritual]
Tight Jeans 1 (Short Stories) - [264 words] [Romance]
Tight Jeans 2 (Short Stories) - [246 words] [Romance]
Tight Jeans 3 (Short Stories) ... but she was no rose... That's a joke... [228 words] [Romance]
Tight Jeans (4) (Novels) - [187 words] [Romance]
Tiny Poem (Poetry) - [10 words] [Romance]
To An Old Widower (Poetry) - [109 words] [Literary Fiction]
Treeeees (Children) - [69 words] [Nature]
Tropical Baby (Songs) Nothing like sand and palm trees occasionally. [125 words] [Romance]
Trying To Cross (Poetry) . [42 words] [Humor]
Turning To Him (Essays) No description. [354 words] [Motivational]
Two Great North Americans (Non-Fiction) -This is a short piece about a work of love and persistence. When these two elements are present, results are inevitable and these results have been outstanding. LEGACY ... [653 words] [Motivational]
Uncle Reggie's Study Room (Short Stories) - [268 words] [Literary Fiction]
Under The Sun (Essays) What happens in real life is that we humans are vicious one to the other... [839 words] [Relationships]
Unemployment: Cum Laude And The Greatest Terrorist (Essays) 2-cents' worth about employment? [563 words] [Writing Resource]
Unlucky Strike (Poetry) - [41 words] [Humor]
Urban Frat. (Short Stories) - [216 words] [Teenage]
Walter Disney: Changing The World And Making People Laugh (Children) Hard work? Genius? Combo? Combo! [579 words] [Biography]
Warm Night (Short Stories) - [303 words] [Horror]
Wee Thanks Giving 2005 (Poetry) Once a year isn't too often, is it? [169 words] [Motivational]
Wesley Beaver Commemorative Poems (Children) - [772 words] [Fable]
What Did Jose Say? (Poetry) - [149 words] [Comedy]
What Would He Think? (Essays) An attempt to look at ourselves constructively. [559 words]
Where's Our Tommy Lee? (Poetry) - [52 words] [Comedy]
Why Is He Calling? Or (Pass Me Not) (Non-Fiction) She's dead (Frances Jane or Fanny) but she isn't. Right? [706 words] [Spiritual]
Wide Flowers (Poetry) - [189 words] [Teenage]
Wine Of A Different House And Colour (Poetry) - [74 words] [Literary Fiction]
Workers In The Vineyard (Non-Fiction) . [635 words] [Spiritual]
World Cubanization--Afghanization (Essays) A brief essay about some things we cannot change in this world and the dreariness of a totally-poor world structure. [775 words]
X Great Reasons For Not Being Rich Or Famous (Non-Fiction) Any suggestions for No. 15? [284 words] [Self-Help]
You Can Keep Your Fking Jesus-God (Non-Fiction) . [480 words] [Spiritual]
Your Red, Red Heart (Poetry) ...You might with flair and a bit of art... [73 words] [Motivational]
Zinnias And Tea (Poetry) A poem for Miss Helen Keller, 1880-1968. NOTE: Fifty-percent of the income from the sale of this poem will be turned over to the Carter Center. [95 words]
A Matter Of Timing, Frankly
Randall Barfield



Katie Stafford kept hearing these little clicking sounds upstairs. She was sure, even though Bob, her husband of a whole life practically, made her feel stupid or feel that she�d lost it every time she called his attention to it. Both were sitting in the den or TV room. The TV was on but neither one was watching it. She was working her one of her crosswords as usual while he had his ho-hum face buried in the screen of his PC as usual. It was 9:45 p.m. and both were getting a little too sleepy to stay up much longer.

�I tell you I hear some sound upstairs. When are you going to go up and check it out?� she asked.

�How many times are you going to repeat that?� Bob grumbled. �You have my permission to go up and check it out yourself cause you know as well as I do there�s nothing to it!�

�There is something to it. Do you think I talk just to be airing my tongue? Furthermore, Mr. Stafford, I don�t need your permission should I get adventurous and decide to go for myself!�

�Well, I can tell you one thing.� Bob continued. �That tactic of yours to pester me to death about it won�t get you anywhere. I�ll never go check on it at that rate. I�ll sleep down here tonight!�

�Some nerve you have!� said Katie. �Tell me, do you plan to eat tomorrow? Cause if you do, you�d better plan to cook as well.�

�Oh really,� Bob stammered. �And just what might be your plans for tomorrow or am I not to ask?�

�You may ask anything your bloody old heart desires, Bob Stafford. However, that doesn�t guarantee an answer. Least of all from me!�

The clicking noise repeated itself. This time both of them heard it clearly. No mistake about it.

Bob rose from his chair. �Okay, I�ll just go up and take a quick tour. If I�m not back in ten minutes, you know who to dial.�

Katie stood also. �That won�t be necessary, Mr. Stafford,� she said, stopping him. �It just so happens that I realize I now have the courage to go by myself. Why I persisted in bothering you about it only the stars know.� With that, she left the room.

What bothered Bob was that Katie had not returned and more than ten minutes had passed. Neither had he heard her call his name, scream, bump around or anything of the sort. Now he really was frightened. He rose from his chair again.

�Katie!� he called nervously. �Are you there? Are you all right? I�m coming up.�

Bob ascended the stairs slowly. He was seventy-two years old and he and Katie had been married forty or forty-one years now. He remembered that lately he�d been bothered by thoughts of one of them losing the other. It was a terrible thing to have happen to a couple after so many years of togetherness. Then again, and just as bad, was the realization that it was inevitable. A matter of timing, frankly.

No sound anymore. Neither the clicking nor Katie�s voice. How strange, thought Bob. A few more steps.

�I�m coming, honey. Don�t worry. Sorry if I said anything to upset you.�

The first bedroom at the top of the stairs that Bob looked into presented him with the saddest and most horrifying spectacle he�d ever seen in all his life: Katie lay face-up on the red bedspread with a nylon stocking tightly knotted round her thin, always beautiful neck. Before Bob could release the great, anguished cry that had quickly welled up inside him, everything went away�all sensation of any kind�sight, sound, touch, etc.

�It�s obvious,� the detective with the sunglasses and mustache told his rooky partner as they surveyed the small bedroom and the lifeless old cadavers. �The old couple hears a noise. The old lady comes up to check on it and gets strangled noiselessly and effortlessly since she�s petite. After a while the old man comes up too. He�s bewildered. Thief�s waiting behind the door and whack! Thief climbs back down exiting via the same bedroom window he climbed in. Takes all the jewelry as well as all the cash he found in the master bedroom. Ain�t the first case I�ve seen and won�t be the last.�

The rooky partner�s face was pale.
 
�Just hang with me,� the detective said. �You�ll learn more than you ever dreamed you would.�



END OF �A MATTER OF TIMING, FRANKLY�

 

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2007 Randall Barfield
STORYMANIA PUBLICATION DATE
January 2007
NUMBER OF TIMES TITLE VIEWED
2413
 

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