They are spending the day at Aunt Camille’s house and hanging out with David, Katie, Adam, and Ben. David is the oldest in the group followed by the young man, then Katie and Stephen. Dad is upstairs with Aunt Camille. Jonathan is at work. Jared has gone on a roadtrip with a friend to California.Continue reading “The Queens We Use Would Not Excite You”
Author Archives: Gordon Laws
I’m a Sailor Peg
They have just passed a parking lot on the Spotsylvania Battlefield history trail. There is a clear trail to the right just on the other side of the placards at this stop, so they follow it. It goes for a quarter mile and ends at a busy road. “This isn’t right,” says the man. “WeContinue reading “I’m a Sailor Peg”
Where the Dead Still Walk
The man completes his last interview just shy of 3 pm. He watches JC exit the building, then walks the hallways, shutting off lights, closing closets, and locking up. As he passes the Primary room, he notices the lights on. Katie is working on the seating arrangement and some room decorations. “Oh, hey, Katie. IContinue reading “Where the Dead Still Walk”
Write This on Your Heart
The young man has his mission call—he will enter the missionary training center on October 27. He cannot return to school, so he is working at Pizza Hut and hanging around the house. His brother is a senior and is playing defensive tackle for the same head coach he had graduated under, Coach JH. CoachContinue reading “Write This on Your Heart”
Burial Location of John K. Alexander, 36th MA
I have corresponded with the Fredericksburg Battlefield National Park personnel in reference to John K. Alexander of the 36th MA. Below is what they noted to me. This adds color to the story “The Tomb Is Empty.” Gordon,I appreciate your desire to locate the burial sites (both initial and final) of these soldiers. The deadContinue reading “Burial Location of John K. Alexander, 36th MA”
The Tomb Is Empty
*This is not a short-short. It’s pretty long. Just fair warning. Patience with this, as well. It may read, at points, like a sermon or a polemic. It’s not. Down the hill and up the trail from Otis and Mercy Warren’s plot is a row of headstones, one of which the man notices because ofContinue reading “The Tomb Is Empty”
The Lost Cause
Lucia is sitting at the kitchen table with books and a Chrome book open. Her hair is tied in a low bun, and when she sees him come in from his workout, she looks up. “Big news, Dad. We have to do a research paper for history class, and one of the options was toContinue reading “The Lost Cause”
Creep
That night, they are staying with Lauren’s parents in Belmont because the man’s father is on a business trip. They spent the day seeing sights on the Freedom Trail. Tomorrow, they will go to Plimoth Plantation, then stay at their tiny condo in Bridgewater. The home in Belmont is a half duplex–the two main bedroomsContinue reading “Creep”
In Ramah, Lamentation
The man is in a crowd of people, and he is given a locker room key. The number on the key is 1065. He enters a locker room—it is the old Carroll High School JV locker room. He walks through the locker room and cannot find his locker. He goes through the freshman locker room.Continue reading “In Ramah, Lamentation”
Upon This Rock
The day begins with Elder Stone’s mirror routine. After starching and ironing his shirt, he stands in front of the mirror in the front room, puts his belt on, then his shirt, and then spends a couple of minutes fluffing the shirt around the waist to get it just so. When he’s finished fluffing it,Continue reading “Upon This Rock”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 