Writing is Cake

The shotgun was heavy in the boy’s hand. It was an old .410–a single-shot Winchester with a top lever action and an exterior hammer. His grandpa had been shooting it since childhood, and in the chamber was an old-fashioned paper cartridge filled with birdshot. The boy had three more shells tucked into his shirt pocket, [...]

In David Foster Wallace’s article entitled “Tense Present:  Democracy, English, and the Wars Over Usage,” the late novelist, essayist, and part-time college instructor asks:  “Did you know that probing the seamy underbelly of U.S. lexicography reveals ideological strife and controversy and intrigue and nastiness and fervor on a nearly hanging-chad scale?”  Foster was himself a [...]

Pheromones Eric M. Bahle August 23, 2008
The smell of cigarette smoke clung to the nurse’s clothes. It was under the smell of antiseptic soap, over the smell of Chantilly lace. Brandi probably would have missed it if the nurse hadn’t leaned so close to give her the baby. The baby fumbled at Brandi’s nipple and [...]

Hell, I would have noticed her even if she hadn’t been pumping out enough chemical signals to attract every male within a hundred yards. She was a perfect specimen of the sub-species, with those delicate wings, tight little waist and a deadly sting on display for all to admire. Sure, she was a wasp, but [...]

Artist Eric M. Bahle August 10, 2008
Takezo smiled up at the bird. The little thrush had not flown away as the warriors formed up at dawn. It watched from its branch, calm and unconcerned. When the grey dawn began to lighten, the thrush began to sing, unbothered by the armored men in the clearing. As [...]

(writing exercise for our writing group using the word “artist” as a seed)
The Detective slid the manila folder across the worn steel table to Cassidy.  Cassidy shifted in his chair and looked down at the folder.
“Don’t you want to see the results of your handiwork,” asked the Detective.
Cassidy looked up from the folder and met [...]

“Sire, we have intercepted a communiqué from the Figurativian Minister of Defense, apparently to a military outpost near our border. It was brought, without delay, so that you and your advisors could take action.”
“I thank you for your timely delivery. Please retire to the castle guards’ quarters so that you may partake of the evening [...]

Capstone Eric M. Bahle July 12, 2008
The High Priest Goram surveyed the crowd of onlookers beyond the outer circle. He searched the upturned faces for doubt and it wasn’t hard to find. Many of the people hadn’t even been born when He Who Fell From the Stars had come to them. They hadn’t seen the [...]

Herculean Fitness Eric M. Bahle June 28, 20008
“It is not about daily increase, but daily decrease. Hack away unessentials.”—Bruce Lee.
Health and fitness is not a hidden mystery. It has been corrupted and confused, corporate logoed and buzzworded, mystified and obfuscated. Gym is short for gymnasium. A Spartan hoplite trained daily in his gym. He trained [...]

I clamped down on the butt of the cigarette, chewing it back and forth, still not believing she was down there. No mistaking her of course, with that tight white skirt, that spectacular flourish of a hat, and the long, painful angle of her legs. Who else would be out in a downpour like [...]