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New to Five Minute Observations? Welcome. I’m Joe Class III, and I write stories and essays about what I notice, the encounters that reveal something true, and the moments that stick with you after they’re gone. If you’re just getting started, these three pieces will give you a sense of what this space is about:…
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Addison was a solid employee who worked for two years at Halftime, a nonprofit organization serving special needs kids. Addison knew all about Halftime, having a younger brother on the spectrum. Addison’s family consisted of her, her brother Michael, and Addison’s mom, Francis. Everyone who knew her called her Fran or Franny. She worked hard,…
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“That is the last thing I’m going to do!” Every person sitting in the waiting room heard the slam of the receiver. “Janice, get in here. Now!” The voice inside the office shouted, startling two of the three people in the waiting room. A plumber wearing bib overalls scrubbed his five-o’clock stubble. If Don Johnson…
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In less than one hour, police and security cleared the block without one arrest or detainment. Not one person balked at the authorities, pushed back against security, or demanded their civil rights were violated. Newspaper reporters, journalists from various news agencies, several magazines, and three network television stations all followed instructions, with no one pushing…
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For months, Short Stories, Anecdotes, and Real Life’s focus is story and storytelling. The heart of the blog is that storytelling can and does change the world, and this creative writer hopes the reader will see creativeness and inventiveness in each narrative. Masterful storytellers like Asimov, Tolkien, and King build connections into their worlds, a…
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Glancing down at the gravel parking lot he noticed a shellcasing, kicking it away from him. One casing wasn’t all that strange. Then, one turned into two. Two turned into four. Suddenly Lance realized he was standing in a pile of shells, the brass scattered through the gravel. Smelling gunsmoke is what dropped him to…
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Broken glass. Various parts of the Element, the Ford truck, and the other two cars, both passenger vehicles, strewn through all the lanes, the bumper and headlamps from the Element lying in front of it. So, here’s my take on what happened, all formulated in less than a minute, right before I heard the sirens…
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The advent of cellular technology is responsible for most road rage on today’s highways. As someone who regularly travels the highways and streets of my local Missouri community, I am pleasantly surprised when I see folks obeying the most common, most basic traffic laws, including knowing whose turn it is at four-way stops and roundabouts,…
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There’s something magical about telling a story. The teller directs the narrative, moving the action one word at a time. Pacing is all about choosing the right words in the correct order. Almost like removing one block at a time from a Jenga tower – you have to be careful; otherwise, the whole thing, like…
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“She’s a sweet girl.” Crystal winked at Sharon. “Now, how late were you up that night, anyway?” Even with Sharon’s blackout curtains up, red and blue flashes lit up her darkened bedroom. No noise other than the hum of the engines of two police cars, one sitting near Sharon’s house, the other parked further down…
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“Red and blue lights, bright as daylight, shot through the curtains. It was bad enough that it was as late as it was. I never thought I’d get to sleep!” Sharon sipped her café latte with the tiniest pink stuff sprinkled on top. The café was nice enough. A little quiet for southern California, but…
Stories. Enjoy!
