Author: Karl — Fiction Writer

Part One: The Dog In 1989 my son brought home a dog. A mutt — brown, one ear up, one ear down. He had found her behind the grocery store. …

The Collar Read More

Part One: The Discovery The attic smelled like old cedar and dust. I had gone up there looking for photo albums—something to bring to Mom on Sunday, something that might …

The Second Policy Read More

Part One: The Invitation “Excuse me, mister. Would you come to my birthday party?” Mason Reed looked up from the untouched coffee in his hand and found a little girl …

The Birthday Party Read More

Part One: The Refusal “Everything but that acre.” Calvin Reed tapped one weathered finger on the survey map spread across his kitchen table. The developer looked up from his paperwork. …

The Acre Read More

Part One: The Empty Chair “You don’t have to explain, Grandma. I know you’ve got work.” My grandson said it while folding his graduation gown across our kitchen table, careful …

The Chair Beside Him Read More

Part One: The Video “Give me the bag, Caleb.” Mrs. Sloan held out her hand beside his desk. The seventh grader stared down at the brown paper sack tucked between …

The Brown Paper Bag Read More

Part One: The Empty Chair “First chair’s already taken.” Franklin Hayes said it every Saturday morning, even when the chair beside the front window was obviously empty. The little barbershop …

The First Chair Read More

Part One: The Forgotten Name Frank Mallory stared at the man in his barber chair and felt his stomach drop. He knew the face. He knew the crooked left eyebrow, …

The Name on the Sign Read More