Saturday 24 November 2012

End Of An Affair



 
Copyright © 2012

Stock Image by Dreamstime
 
A 3,000 word story
(Contains Adult Content) 
_____________________________
 

Synopsis:

A man witnesses the approach of the end of everything...everything he knows, and thinks he knows; annihilation of his world. In the short time remaining, he regards his last great love, intagible and surreal though it may be, its significance is all the more poignant as a benchmark for everything that can never be.

 
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Saturday 17 November 2012

Gearing myself up...

In the spirit of gearing up for the long, frantic, frequently crazy festival that is Christmas, I must tick off my to-do list the following 3 chores:

  • Write very happy thoughts to lots of people I don't talk to or hear from 11 months a year within the cardboard sleeve of an overly-expensive glittery thing called a Greeting Card. They're all really nice people, actually - it's just a sad fact of life that we're all too busy through the year to keep in touch.
Order the medication I will need on prescription over the Christmas period before the pharmacy is shut: #1 item = tranquilisers...must.keep.calm! #2 item = inhaler...remember to just BREATHE! #3 item = Antacid pills...for the copious amounts of food I'm likely to consume. #4 item = painkillers...for the hangover following that 2-week alcohol bath that's going to soak into every pore.

And last and quite possibly least, republish this little ol' chestnut of a short story that I trot out every year and give away for five days -- A Christmas Karol. (A fun bit of nonsense that works if your sense of humour is even slightly as warped as mine own!)

Available on Amazon from December... but for the love of Santa, folks - wait 'til nearer Christmas day when I make it free. No point paying for it when you can get it for nothing. (You've got better things to spend your money on, dear people.)

In the meanwhile, to my US friends - Happy Thanksgiving... for the upcoming festivity.

...And I'll wish you all Happy Christmas when we get there.

Thursday 15 November 2012

Skin Deep



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Wednesday 14 November 2012

Things To Ignore... [Repost]

That unnatural swell of my belly which may be mistaken as middle-aged spread, but is actually too much beer.

Anything unkind or insulting someone may say about my mental capability, because it's most likely true and therefore that person is just stating the obvious and their comments are patently redundant.

The dark shadows under my eyes. I stay up late for Twitter and Facebook when it would make way more sense to get up early for Twitter and Facebook.

Any inappropriate comments I may write about my sister. I haven't got a sister.

That cheeky wink I might give you if we meet. It's just a nervous twitch.

Any unflattering pictures of me on social network sites. It's not me, it's bad lighting.

That excuse about bad lighting. It is me.

A kiss ( x ) at the end of a tweet to a male friend. It's only because there's no quick symbol for *manly handshake*.

A kiss ( x ) at the end of a tweet to a female friend. It's only because there's no quick symbol for *peck-on-the-cheek*.

Any claims by me to be 'athletic'. The only part of me that runs is my nose.

Page 894 of my novel. There is no page 894.

Long-winded posts on here or Facebook. I can't help it... I like the sound of my own keyboard.

Spelling mistakes, typos, and bad grammar. We're back to the beer thing again.

My imaginary friend. I don't share.

The letter K in my Twitter name. Who cares if I have a middle name? I don't even remember what it is.

Flatulence, belching, or hiccups. I eat so slow, my digestive system gets bored waiting.

Swear words where they may appear. It's not that I lack a mature vocabulary - it's just that sometimes I pretend I'm still 15.

This whole post. It's just another test for Networked Blogs as this new site is...........

New Start...

Quick note:

This new blog is a migration from http://garethstokes.blogspot.co.uk/

Please check in regularly for new short stories (of the unconventional style) and occasional rampant ramblings.

Thanks much / Gareth

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Victory

 
 
 
Copyright © 2012

Stock Image by Dreamstime
 
A 1,500 word story
 
_____________________________
 
 
 
Synopsis:

When we argue, quite often we don't even remember where it started. And, in hindsight, it seems so unimportant. But to a child, every argument is important, and it's more important to that child where the argument ends than where it starts.


*

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Against The Grain

 
 
Copyright © 2012
 
Stock Image by Dreamstime
 
A 3,800 word story
 
__________________________
 

Synopsis:

'Life's not fair' is a complaint made often, whether justifiable or not. 'Love's not fair' is a truth that so often applies to a relationship misunderstood by others. In this story, two lovers struggle to deal with the lack of tolerance which threatens to tarnish their relationship.





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Sunday 4 November 2012

An Explosive Valentine

 
 
(formerly published under the name A.R Carter)
 
Copyright © 2012
 
Stock Image by Dreamstime
 
A 1,100 word story
 
___________________________
 
 
 
Synopsis:
 
A young military man comes home on leave – desperate to make the most of Valentine’s Day – finally get the girl of his desire...


He’s not sure which he wants more: to be loved, or to be noticed. But he is sure he wants respect. And he thinks he knows just how to get it.
 
 
 

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The Look

 
 
(formerly published under the name A.R. Carter)
 
Copyright © 2012
 
Stock Image by Dreamstime
 
A 3,800 word story
 
__________________



Synopsis:

Two damaged people, each with envies and obsessive dreams...
...Each looking for love.
But will they find each other?


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Saturday 3 November 2012

Cold Turkey

 
 
(formerly published under the name A.R. Carter)
 
Copyright © 2012
 
Stock Image by Dreamstime
 
A 3,800 word story
 
(Contains some adult content)
 
______________________
 
 
 
Synopsis:
 
The world has become a highly moralistic society, controlled by monitors employed by The State to ensure strict moral discipline across every facet of civilisation. 'Sex, drugs, and rock n roll' are no longer tolerated. Free choice and democracy have long since been banned. The air is so thick it is tangible and the sun will kill you where you stand without the proper protection. Two friends sit on a park bench watching (reluctantly) a holo-flick sponsored by The State. Steffan urges his friend to pay heed to The State's movie - a public information flick warning about the dangers of drugs. But his friend - a determined addict - scorns the strict legislation of the government and the patronising advice from Steffan. To his cost.
 
 
 
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Friday 2 November 2012

Bloody Roses

 
 
(formerly published under the name A.R. Carter)
 
Copyright © 2012
 
Stock Image by Dreamstime
 
A 3,300 word story
 
(Contains some violence and strong language)
 
_________________________________________
 
 
 
Synopsis:

A post-apocalyptic story, where someone has to pay for the world's destruction. Will it be Religion or Politics that carries the burden of so much horror?
Some of the survivors have already decided who to blame. And the punishment is brutal.


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Thursday 1 November 2012

Mr 3½




 (formerly published under the name A.R. Carter)
 
Copyright © 2012
 
Stock Image by Dreamstime
 
A 9,000 word story
 
Free to read on this blog
 
(Contains some adult content) 
 
________________________
  
 
 
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