Tag: travel
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Three States, One Car, Zero Plan
By Joe Class III Picture this: It’s past midnight in Dublin, California. I’m eighteen years old, driving in circles like a lost tourist. Except I’m not—I’m basically homeless, living out of my four-door brown Datsun with a souped-up 280Z four-speed manual transmission. Terrible life choices, I know. Less than two weeks earlier, I’d blown up…
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The 911 Call from Sunnyvale Gardens
“Who dat?” Greg held the phone away from his face, staring at the timer showing the call connecting with the other end for more than fifteen minutes. The number on the screen? 911. “I saaid, who der?” Greg stammered, “Um, hi.” “Honey, I ain’t got all daaay, you know? Whachu needin’?” “Did I call 911?…
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Mrs. Henke’s English Class
A sunset sky. The reddish tint discolors a few bodies intertwined on the dance floor. One bright overhead light moves over each couple, some dancing while others lock lips. The soft music plays while everyone sways in time to Crazy for You, by Madonna. Late into the evening, these teens are getting tired from all…
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Kassie’s First Seattle Home
“Caleb?” She whispered his name again, thinking that he didn’t hear her. Granted, she was doing her best to stay as quiet as possible, the house dark and empty. Caleb and Kassie were moving out of the house, upsetting as it was to Kassie. The old house had character, panache. Style. That’s the reason the…
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Her First International Flight
“Caleb.” Her whisper carried through their empty house. “Caleb? Can you hear me?” The house was dark, with creepy shadows dancing on the walls from the yellowish streetlight outside. Caleb and Kassie gathered the last of their things, doing their best to finish moving before it got dark. Kassie hated this house, hated it when…
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Because of a Pepsi
Sitting at Barry’s Bar and Grill, Bonnie brought Bruce an ice-cold Coke in a 16oz glass bottle. Condensation formed on the outside, which is why Bonnie had a paper napkin wrapped around the base of the glass. That and Bonnie didn’t feel like getting reprimanded by Bruce. Before that, Bonnie and Bruce rode the bus…
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Conspiracy Theory #381: Cheetos Trucks
I’ve said it before, so let me repeat myself. I am NOT a conspiracy theorist. But if I were, how would I explain how I’ve seen more than eight Cheetos trucks driving north on I-55. My first thought was I’m imagining this. If that were true, how would you explain me driving south I-55 when…
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Heading to the Swimming Pool
“Wait for me!” James screamed, almost out of breath. I think it was a warm June day, somewhere around the second week. School let out a week earlier, and it couldn’t happen fast enough. I dreaded going to school. My teachers weren’t all that nice to me, and, before you ask, no. That’s not an…
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Tony – The Tow Truck Driver
“Tony, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, you can’t come in here dressed like that,” Margie said, a cigarette hanging from her lipstick-painted red lips. In her right hand, she held a carafe of burned black coffee. In the other, a breakfast plate: three pancakes, two pieces of thick linked…
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Overheard At Starbucks
“Where are you?” Are you like me? I try to keep to myself when I’m in public, especially when I’m at a coffee shop. I’m not a huge fan of Starbucks, but it was my birthday. An acquaintance I’m not all that close with handed me a $50 gift card and said, ‘Happy Birthday,’ in…
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Why Storytelling?
Sitting back in the corner of the café gives you an exciting vantage point to see most interactions between the staff standing on the other side of the register and the patron purchasing coffee, a muffin, or some other food or drink item. There is the yoga mom with a wealthy doctor for a husband…
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Detective Barry Lawson
“So. You two drove this guy here. All the way from Iowa?” Lawson shook his head, yawning. “Get any sleep?” “Get any sleep?” Detective Adam Murray’s tone dripped with sarcasm, his eyes narrowing. “You are a piece of . . .” Murray lunged at Lawson, ready to beat the snot out of him. “Knock it…
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Janice’s Diner
“Janice, I cannot believe you can cook all this good food and still have time to chew the fat. How is that, anyway?” Pastor Theodore finished the last of his food, his third plate. Every Saturday morning, he came into the diner and ate. Always the same food. Bacon. Pancakes. Sausage. Crispy brown toast. Hash…
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Mysterious Encounters
“No, Geri.” Brenda put her fork down, tines hanging off the edge of the plate. “Not again. Last time, you wanted me to believe in these little creatures that would multiply if you got them wet. Then there was that time when you thought the mafia bought the abandoned house across the street from you…
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Invest In People
Working in customer service, retail, and sales gives you a unique perspective, seeing how working-class people interact with the general public and the public interacts with the staff. The hard part is figuring out what will motivate your staff to stick it out and stay with you and not simply go to work, get their…
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Two Weeks’ Notice
“This is your what?” Shelly’s supervisor, Angela, held an unopened envelope in her hand. Angela sat behind her mahogany desk, polished to a shine, making those on the other side of the desk feel uncomfortable, as though they were in the presence of royalty. Unlike most interoffice hard copy full-size 8 1/2”X11” envelopes, it was…
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Choices
The author reflects on the choices and behaviors of drivers and the impact of selfishness and impatience on road safety.
