5. Joyride, by Russell Conover
Randy adjusted his sunglasses and lowered the top on his red convertible. He pushed the Start button and the engine roared to life. It was a beautiful sunny day, and he headed out.
The winding mountain road bordered the beach, and he zigzagged around the slower motorists on the four-lane highway. He wasn't going anywhere specific; he simply wanted to feel the wind in his hair and escape for a while.
The speedometer crept up, and Randy had to restrain himself. Then he parked, overlooking the water. Breathtaking.
Sometimes you just have to get away. Randy was in his paradise.
4. Dinner at Grandma's, by Paul Grippi
On Sunday, the family gathers at Grandma's on the other side of town for dinner. Grandma labors in the kitchen, a culinary maestro of love. Grandpa silently changes rooms. Dad watches sports on TV with my brother and uncles. Dinner is good, my family, fine people, but Grandma is busy, I'm the only girl and I dislike sports so I seclude myself in another room doing homework - math, history, Spanish. Some day I won't have grandparents because old people die. Then this solitude will remain the nostalgic childhood memory I recall with fondness of dinner on Sundays at Grandma's.
3. Outbreak, by Michael D. Brooks
The government said they were dangerous fugitives. Their pictures were plastered all over social media. People were warned not to approach them, but to notify law enforcement.
Maurice and Mindy eluded capture praying for the miracle they believed would come.
They just needed to prove the agents of evil were the ones responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people. They believed in the righteousness of their cause and the power of their God. He would reveal the government conspiracy against them as a hoax.
Only then would they be free to live out their unvaccinated lives free of persecution.
2. Guilt, by Geraldine McCarthy
Des, a retail revolutionary, lived in a mansion built on rashers, played games of keepy uppy with the Joneses, and was partial to a slice of flourless chestnut, chocolate and rum cake.
"Tails are up and the cranes are up," he always used to say.
That was before he went to live off-grid, bringing back memories of tin baths for sharing, outdoor loos, no fridge.
The things that guilt will do to a man.
Sold the rasher empire, divided the proceeds amongst his charities, avoided the Joneses, but could never, ever give up that flourless chestnut, chocolate and rum cake.
1. If You Push A Man, by Alexina Dalgetty
Voices in the corner, talking him down. He'd fought for them and won for them, made the world a better place for them. The natter, natter, natter rose through his bones, phlegm in his throat like a knife through a heart, a gut, an enemy. He hungered for redemption but he'd only done his duty.
All day family shifted beers and bottles out of his reach, away from his eyes.
The voices battered louder and louder and he had to act.
If you push a man through a plate glass window, best not do it at your great niece's wedding.
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