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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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Good idea. Bad idea. I think the first time I heard that was in the early 90s with the creation of Tiny Toons, Steven Spielberg’s animated cartoon. It was an animated bit that didn’t include any iconic Warner Brothers characters, like Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck. That’s what made it unique. It featured a skull…
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All I wanted to do was get a cup of coffee. In line and talking to the woman standing in front of me was the least of my concerns. As an on-air talent for a radio station, it’s not abnormal for fans to catch me somewhere and want to chat. And most of the time,…
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“The shockwave itself would be greater than the sum of all the worst volcanoes we’ve ever seen in the last hundred years, Todd. Worse than the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii. It’s impossible from today’s physics.” “But there’s quantum theory. What about the possibility of everything, everywhere, existing in one plane…
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“Just picture it,” his hands gesticulated wildly, “best resort on the whole freaking island! We’d be millionaires in no time!” Jonathan wasn’t surprised that Gary talked about sandy beaches, sunshine, and surfing. It was his longstanding passion. Living in Chicago wasn’t conducive to the tanning bed California look, nor his love for surf, beautiful women,…
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“Jared, I’m serious. He’s got it in for me.” “You are out of your mind, Angela. Judges don’t retaliate. Especially against attorneys, unless you’ve committed some egregious act against the court. Which,” he took a bit of his sandwich, “you haven’t.” He took another bite, staring at Angela. “Right?” The question was muffled,…
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Three Starbucks cups, two stained with her red lip stain. Two cheeseburger wrappers, one from In-and-Out and the other from Burger King, sat discarded on opposite sides of the desk. On the other hand, each file folder was stacked neatly per each client. Angela couldn’t stand chaos on her desk. Wrappers, crumbled-up notes, pens, and…
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Nightmares come alive at midnight. In the blackness of night, hope dies. But this time? “You’re breaking up with me? At midnight? On New Year’s Eve?” “I figured a clean break, new start. All that jazz. Start off the new year right.” She hugged me, but it was reflexive, not reminiscent of our romance. “Besides…
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Bullets. Brass casings ejected from the barrel of a gun. Any gun. He couldn’t care less what kind. The copper metallic smell. Their hefty weight, feeling the grains packed tight inside each brass case. One touch and your fingers smelled like metal. Each time he fired a gun, put one round at a time into…
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Two hours later, I came back to the same spot, the same people. A few more gathered near Maggie. She had procured another bottle, a little bigger than the last one I saw her drinking. “Suit Boy!” she shouted. “You came back. Cheers!” Maggie held the bottle out toward me, toasting me with it before…
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The streets were the same. The roads were just as pockmarked and potholed as the days previous. But something caught my eye. In a split second, it grabbed my attention, changing my viewpoint forever. It was him. Standing there. Standing on your standard street corner. The same place. Same time. Each and every day. Had…
Stories. Enjoy!
