RndDolph's Stories

(My life in six words challenge) In general, the bottom line

2008-09-23T18:09:30Z

More than some, less than others.
_____

Illusional Rest

2008-07-24T15:20:56Z

The universe expands.
And Earth rotates and orbits;
while I drop anchor.

Six word memoir challenge : Out of step

2008-02-18T19:18:29Z

............The clock advances….........

............Sometimes, I follow….........

An Eye for an Eye

2007-12-16T23:34:19Z

BA-THOOM!!!
A bar of gold streaks the horizon in the blink of an eye, and with a thud and yellow spark, impacts a rolling Sherman. It continues a few yards then ceases. Instantly, a hatch flies open; grey smoke pouring out. Within the smoke, a dark figure appears, and like a fish on land, wriggles out. He hits the ground convulsing blood, with fleshy stumps.
BOOM !!
The tank blows its turret; shrapnel of, taking men who approach the stricken tanker.
“Bastards”, I think, tapping a fresh magazine against my helmet before inserting and cocking rifle. A vengeful syncopation of rifle pops and cracks respond, covering my advance through hedgerow.
I come upon a customer.
Kneeling before me is an enemy, tugging on his helmet in grief before a dead comrade. A twig snaps and he turns to look; we freeze, our eyes locked in stare.
My arms recoil, my rifle flinging hot brass case. Puffs of pink indicate hits as my victim turns with impact. He falls motionless, columns of dust rise around him and his comrade.

Road Trip

2007-12-16T22:21:02Z

My foot gently vibrates upon the pedal; soft rubber tires seeking out all pocks and pebbles on the freeway. The sky is azure and bright; cleaned by the previous night’s rain. Only the profuse, grey centered, white puffy clouds, evidence the deluge. The clouds merciful, shield the sun, giving them an eye searing yet angelic platinum lining. Only the sun’s most ambitious rays fall upon earth in golden beams. Mountains north stand bold and massive; wayward clouds creaming at their granite peaks.

A sight no words can capture.

Traffic to my left rush by to mundane tasks; and I glide towards the distant haze.
The sun falling west produces an orange-gold sky, which contrasts mountains now set in black.

And the light slowly leaves us. I take a lonely on-ramp.

Darkness is broken by flanking circles of industrial amber light, set at intervals. I curve boldly towards a lava river of weaving red brake lights; the white light opposite, giving a sense of flow.

I shift and assimilate the current.

"When The Levee Breaks"

2007-12-05T13:45:02Z

“So, you’re the nosy kid,” drawled the sitting gangster. His slim, cavernous face, angled at a table before him, placed his recessed features in shadow. Blinking neon light in the cave like bar, reflected off his dark, slicked back hair. This accentuated by a maroon collar, jutting from his trim fitting black leather jacket. It glistened like a slithering snake with his calm, methodical movement.
In the background, strippers rolled their hips to “When the levee breaks”, whose bluesy, seminole, trance inducing beat made the scene surreal and dream like. Only the sharp pain from my shattered ribs, along with a cold .45 muzzle at my temple, kept me conscious.
Kneeling before him with my eyes closed in pain, he continued, “so..Romeo, you wanna steal one of my girls.” I glanced a look; the gleam under his brow indicating he was looking at me.
“I think Romeo here, needs a hosing off.”
His henchmen flanking me, chuckled.
He then snorted a line of coke and began to twitch.
“I’m a dead man”, I thought.

Montana '76

2007-11-30T22:48:02Z

All quiet.

But for wind seducing grass and droplets of water from a near spring. I lay prone upon a hill, blanketed by warm summer air. Condensation beneath my wool betray not heat, but fear.
Beyond my flanks lie men possessed, or like me, dispossessed of Lucifer or Jehovah.
Americans new we are, but this all available for opportunity or familial supplement.
Within wind and water we listen, keeping heads low, when bees angry swarm about.

The crack of rifle soon betrays.
And we lay lower in our pits.

Our second reaction, to pull a cartridge from a leather case and unbreech our locks. Amid growing yelps and dusty hoof-beats below, I brood at the size of lead bullet, before inserting and cocking bolt and hammer.
This day, already scarred, shall to history fade.

Pines beyond misty fields

2007-11-30T22:36:18Z

Eyes closed in journey; following hearts’ cadence, which brings me to misty fields.
Greens alive with rolling hills obscure; fogged by animated cloud.
It is here I descend, like through clouds in heaven, before you.
I descend not a god, but as disciple; to learn and spread that which infects me.

All is veiled in a dozen shades of grey; all to recognize but piercing misty pines.

Rolling fog, like minds’ confusion, occasion blue-green sky; but ever present are the misty pines.
Whether to rejoice or oppress one cannot know, but to majesty possessed, I shall descend.

Night

2007-11-25T20:40:40Z

The sun receded behind the mountains, the sky going from orange, pink, purple then night. Stars slowly emerged, pulsing brighter and brighter with the oncoming dark.
It reminded the child of an earlier fountain, how fresh coins sparkled through the water. “Maybe that’s what stars are, wishes, and the sky a fountain.”
Sitting alone in the dark, the child began to feel cold and lonely.
Quietly staring at the sky, the child soon noticed the crickets chirping and the wind rustling the palm leaves. Their sounds hushed, and alien at first, soon grew comforting.
The sand, cool on the surface, was warmer beneath. The child burrowed in and pulled out a warm handful; the sand elegantly streaming between the child’s relaxed fingers.
Adjusted to dark by now, the child realized the moon provided ample light. Night gave up it’s secrets; the child could see far. The moon’s soft glow, like a night light’s, gave comfort in the suns absence. The child, emboldened, stayed. A star fell, and a wish was made.

"I've come to face myself, in a staring contest in the mirror"...

2007-11-20T20:03:25Z

...”Where there is more chance of victory, than in a argument with you.”

He stood there staring, reflections of the day laying siege to his mind. “How can I silence you.”
He had failed before; everyone has. He learned, yes, but slower it seemed than others; the accumulation was eating at him. His failures did make him a better man, beating humility into him. Successes, which he did have, grew quiet. Failure grew louder.
“I’ll beat you”, he stared. His conscious pounded in reply. Embattled, he went for the bourbon and dropped a few ice cubes in a glass. He poured 1/4 full and returned to the mirror. Staring, he sipped. It tingled in his mouth, melting its way to his cold belly. “I’ll beat you”. Staring, he sipped again; the warmth began to spread and loosen his rigid limbs.
Staring, he put the glass down, the ring of ice and glass distracted him. He noticed the liquor’s rich color and observed it as it gave in to the ice. He chuckled at the irony.

“Chinese Handcuffs” – The New Year

The Great I (a prelude)

2007-11-12T20:24:09Z

Dawn of life upon a planet;
creatures gather forming habit.
Hungry, cold, protection needed;
create their gods and pray to feed it.
Faith gives shelter, provides the meat;
cold submits, retreats fire’s heat.
“Heed our words, sacrifice provide,
you and want – we shall divide.”

With flawed reflections, tribes seek their dues;
need begets greed, and disfunction ensues.
They waged their wars upon each other, for wealth and resource, speared their brother.

Blood fueled knowledge, technology advanced, efficiency grew, 10 thousand years passed.

Land scarred and raped, it began to decay; “help it we must”, and decided they may.
They studied the planet, its systems and star.
With help of good knowledge, sent space probes out far.
For ages they listened, applying things learned, but soon they grew quiet; perhaps their ears spurned?

Orbiting and observing, I wonder and think;
do they exist, were they saved from the brink?

"Once more unto the breach"

2007-11-09T20:52:46Z

With the 12th decimated, 11th heavy support opened up in earnest. Their distracting fire signaled the charge.
“It’s simple”, thought Anders.
“Death would cease my problems.”
“Success would elevate me of this Penal battalion, restoring my rank and unit.”
“Pain, is a mere inconvenience.”
With nervous resolve, he pointed towards the action and yelled the unit’s motto, “Nil Homini Certum Est!” The suicidal charge began.
They closed the distance to Psyker 1.
Aided by sonic equipment, a trooper breached its inner defence and slapped a mine upon its side. With an E.M.P. mine armed and set, Anders reflexively set his weapon’s selector from lazer to cartridge.”BAM!” The Psyker left its hover for the ground, in a veil of smoke and spark. For a moment it lay vulnerable, converting to manual systems. That moment, considering the 11th’s incessant fire, must have seemed an hour. It proved too much; smoke began to curl from its vents.
Slowly, a hatch opened, glistening tentacles around its edge.

The Unforeseen Adventure

2007-11-08T19:11:46Z

Upon return from an early call, I was surprised by the smell of Sherinnford’s tobacco, just beyond the door to our lodgings. Awakened this early, contrary to his Bohemian habits, promised a day of interest. With care, I unlatched the door.
My view upon entering, was of him in his wicker chair, eyes closed in deep meditation with legs crossed and palms together in the vertical, his long fingers forming the apex. I stole quietly across, towards my room.”My dear Watts, has my company these past years dulled you of my presence?” “Pray take a seat” he motioned to a chair,”and join me, Mrs. Knudson will return shortly with breakfast, and I am sure you would not find a cup of hot coffee uninviting on such a cold morning.”
Removing my frock coat, I proceeded to sit when he removed from his coat pocket a note.” Tell me Watts, what do you make of that?” Studying the note I replied,”It appears to have been written in haste, the writing is nervous and the paper is torn round the edges, as if torn from a larger sheet.”

Lunch Line

2007-11-07T17:12:57Z

“Your Mama’s like a doorknob, everyone gets a turn,”snickered the 1st boy.
Laughter erupts.
“No, no,”said a 2nd, “his Mama’s like an arcade game-3 tries for a quarter!”
More laughter.
Visibly angry the boy retorted,”well-your Mama’s like gum, she sticks to anything!”
“Retarded,”exclaimed a 3rd boy.
“Mama joke school flunky,”jeered the 1st.
“No,”giggled the 2nd,”what you meant is your Mama’s like gum-briefly enjoyed then thrown away!”
“That’s a good one,”said the 1st laughing,”but I have better-his Mama’s like a car, she burns 4 rubbers a day!”
More laughter.
His blood roused, and constipated with thought, the boy replies,”well…FUCK YOU !”
“Young man,” snapped the Principal who happened by,”you come see me after class!”
“Ooouuuuhhhhh”sang the lunch line.
Later at home, the boy’s on the couch watching TV.”Hello sweetie,”said his mother, closing the door behind her,”how was your day?”
“Just fine thank you,”growled the boy and left for his room.”Hmph” she thought,”what they put on TV these days.”

Consequence

2007-11-06T20:50:39Z

Typically, I would be in the woods, secluded, breathing its crisp air, listening to the muted crunch of snow giving way beneath my feet. Or, I could also be climbing the hill nearby. My thighs burning and me puffing as I struggle for air, trying to best my previous ascent time. Yes, a numbing distraction, that would be my typical response. But one can only go so far in detaching from conscious. The memory haunted me.
“It’s okay, it didn’t hurt!”, he pleaded in his little voice. “I won’t cry and I won’t tell mom! Just let me stay!” I despised him, the older boys always picked on him and got me into fights; fights I rarely won. To add, it was he who told on me about the neighbor’s broken window. That had cost me the BB gun I had begged father so long for.
It’s never easy to refuse your kin in that state, especially when he resisted his usual tears.
I did it anyway, I poked him again. “I won’t tell mom you poked me but let me stay!” Little did I know, the syringe I found and poked him with was diseased.