The boy and Stephen are in their first year of Little League Baseball. They each have been given two cardboard boxes of chocolates to sell as a fundraiser. They have also been coached on all the fine points of selling the bars–the Pizza Hut coupon printed on the wrapper around the bar, the options ofContinue reading “Secret Weapon”
Author Archives: Gordon Laws
The Beautiful Game
Soccer is simple for kids, right? Kick the ball into the other team’s goal and stop them from kicking it into yours. So they sign Grant up for soccer at age five. Grant has always been big, and he appears to be seven years old and playing with runts. Which would be to his advantageContinue reading “The Beautiful Game”
The Mud Pond
Grant is old enough now that when he and the man go fishing, the man will let him wander off by himself if he gets bored. Ever since birth, Grant’s attention has wandered, and today, it wanders after about twenty minutes of fishing. So he leaves his pole with the man and heads off downContinue reading “The Mud Pond”
I Want You to Be Honest about Something
The man has three distinct scenes in mind before this conversation with Lucia. At age eight, she hit her five-year mark with the local dance company, which meant that she was to receive a five-year award at the spring dance recital. They issued these awards partway through the recital. Each kid’s name was called, andContinue reading “I Want You to Be Honest about Something”
It’s Only Hubris if I Fall
They got Susie as a puppy for Peanut to have a friend. She was part beagle and part terrier, and Dad was sort of hoping she would be like Freckles. She isn’t–she grows to be taller and bigger, lacks his intelligence and mischievous nature, and has a different temperament–but she is good-natured, and she adoresContinue reading “It’s Only Hubris if I Fall”
The High C
Lani is a concert-level soprano 1 who passed on continuing her music career to start her family with Rob, a Coast Guard lifer. The young man’s mother has known Lani since childhood, and through quirks of circumstance–the Coast Guard for Lani and Dad’s law practice for Barbara–the two women are in the same congregation inContinue reading “The High C”
Wicked-Old Boomers
For years, Graham has watched Minecraft videos on YouTube, particularly by Stampie, who has etched out a following in the millions. Graham is eleven now and has begun experimenting with his own content on YouTube. Lauren and the man are working together on dinner in the kitchen. Graham comes in and announces, “There’s a guyContinue reading “Wicked-Old Boomers”
Hostage Rescue
The man’s oldest son has turned twelve, and today is his birthday party. Their new house has more than one hundred acres of woods behind them. They have allowed him to invite a bunch of friends for a party, and Lauren has turned over the activities to the man while she handles food. “Don’t worry,”Continue reading “Hostage Rescue”
The Russians Are Coming
They are on the swings together at the park up the street, Stephen in the left swing and the boy in the right swing. “MiGs at two o’clock!” the boy yells. “Break right?” They swing higher and harder. “You got one coming around on you, Ice,” says Stephen. “Can you get him, Mav?” says theContinue reading “The Russians Are Coming”
The Death Trap
It is late August in Texas, and they have been in two-a-days for a week. It’s Saturday night, so there will be no practice Sunday. Ted wants to hang out and later watch the preseason football game that is on that night. First, Ted agrees to join the young man at a church dance. They’reContinue reading “The Death Trap”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 