14 Short Stories

By K. A. Williams

How far would an ex-bandmate go for revenge? Meet him, and the discouraged wannabe author, some teenagers, a stranded motorist, several married couples, a bootlegger, and other characters in this 14 short story collection of contemporary and historical fiction

• Language: English
• Publisher: K. A. Williams
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223828440

K. A. Williams

North Carolinian K. A. Williams has had over 300 stories and poems published in many different magazines including SavagePlanets, The Creativity Webzine, Yellow Mama, The Blotter, Corner Bar, 5-7-5 Haiku Journal, View From Atlantis, The Sirens Call, Tigershark, and The Yard: Crime Blog. ​​ Apart from writing, K. A. enjoys music (especially classic rock), CYOA, and science fiction movies. 

Book preview

Paw Prints

You missed the can last night, Amy said as she set the Saturday newspaper down on the table.

Huh? I was spreading jam on my toast. What are you talking about?

You took the trash out last night and didn’t get one of the bags in the can. Some animal tore open the plastic bag and there’s garbage all over the yard this morning. If the carport light was working, you could have seen that you dropped a bag. You need to replace those burnt out bulbs before dark. 

I can do that. I spread jam on a second piece of toast. After breakfast. You could pick up the trash while I replace the bulbs.

You forgot. I’m spending the day with my parents. You’re welcome to come with me and I’ll pick up the trash when we get back and you can fix the light tomorrow.

I almost choked on my toast. A day with the in-laws? No thanks.

We’ll take both cars, and you can come home after lunch. Mom’s making meatloaf.

Amy knew how much I loved her mom’s meatloaf. You can bring me some home.

I will. Amy kissed me goodbye.

I had a third piece of toast with some more orange juice after she left and then read a lot of the newspaper. It was mid-morning before I went outside.

What a mess! Some animal had enjoyed our leftovers more than I had. Chicken bones were so clean they looked washed.

I gathered up the garbage into a plastic bag and hoped animal control picked up the stray dog. I changed my mind when I dumped the bag in the garbage can. Not about the animal control but about the dog. My car was parked near the can, and I noticed that some neighbor’s cat had walked all over the hood.

So, I got a bucket, some rags and detergent, and washed the car. Then I waxed it. Afterwards I was tired and wanted a nap.

Our new hammock was tied to two trees at the edge of the woods. It was a nice spring day, and a cool breeze stirred the leaves as I settled carefully into the hammock. It had thrown me out several times before.

Suddenly I was awake. I moved and the hammock dumped me on the ground face first. Ouch. I saw a pair of shoes. Are you all right? Amy asked.

I sat up and felt my nose. It really hurt. Does it look broken?

Amy squatted down. It doesn’t look broken. It looks sunburnt. How long have you been out here?

I checked my watch. I’ve missed lunch.

She helped me up. Don’t worry. Mom sent enough meatloaf so you can have a piece now and we can still have it for supper. Let’s go into the house and put some aloe vera on that sunburnt face of yours.

Later that night, after supper, Amy said, Now that you’ve put new bulbs in the carport light you can see and won’t leave any bags lying around.

Uh.

You forgot, didn’t you?

I’ll do it tomorrow.

I could see by the streetlamps, but not very well. The city’s garbage cans have attached lids that swing