Tag: Christmas

Grandma got run over by a Zombie: A Zombie Christmas Part 6

Posted on by A Renfro

Thanks for listening. Have a great Christmas. And if you want to support me you can find this short story everywhere from Amazon, to Nook, to Apple, wherever you get your ebooks it should be there.

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Here comes zombies right down Santa Claus lane: A Zombie Christmas Part 5

Posted on by A Renfro

Thanks for listening. Have a great Christmas. And if you want to support me you can find this short story everywhere from Amazon, to Nook, to Apple, wherever you get your ebooks it should be there.

You’re a Mean One, Mr. Zombie: A Zombie Christmas Part 4

Posted on by A Renfro

Thanks for listening. Have a great Christmas. And if you want to support me you can find this short story everywhere from Amazon, to Nook, to Apple, wherever you get your ebooks it should be there.

It’s beginning to look like zombies: A Zombie Christmas Part 1

Posted on by A Renfro

Are we really back to this short story today? Yep. I am once again dusting this one off for the blog and each day this week will bring a new installment of this story. But this year it won’t be something you read. It will be something you listen to. I recently recorded this short story for the Nightlight Tales Podcast. It was six episodes worth of material – so for the next six days you can get a chance to hear my voice reading you this tale. Episode 1 drops today. Thanks for listening. Have a great Christmas. And if you want to support me you can find this short story everywhere from Amazon, to Nook, to Apple, wherever you get your ebooks it should be there.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 30

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

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He looked up in time to see a hole blasted through the caramel colored front door. The cop who had been standing in front of this door, ready to kick it in, took a shot gun blast directly to the chest. His bullet riddled, torn open body flew backwards through the air and landed somewhere in the nest of trees, who wanted to devour the sweet human flesh, wanted to taste the warm blood still in his veins, but they couldn’t, they couldn’t do nothing but be trees, so that’s what they were, even though every needle on them was screaming to feed.

The other cops retreated back as Gavin stepped up to the jagged hole in the door that looked like the shape of a misshapen mouth. “I told you I can’t leave the trees! You don’t know what they’re capable of if they’re not fed!”

The cops took aim on the door, itchy trigger fingers more than ready to pull now that one of their own lay silent and dead in the snow, blood pouring out of his body like a river.

“I only killed those that weren’t local! I didn’t kill any of us! I was only trying to help!” Gavin screamed.

“One more time Gavin! Put down your weapon or we will open fire!” Ernie yelled from behind his car, red and blue lights splashing all over his face.

“I had to do it! I had no choice! You have to –”

Ernie heard someone yell. “Cop Killer!” And then a gun blast tore open the night.

This was the catalyst for the onslaught of gunfire that spread Gavin all over the interior of the small space, blasting away a majority of the gingerbread house in the process.

“Stop! Stop! Stop!” Ernie screamed, as he rushed up the brick path that ran between the trees, stopping when he reached what was left of the house. He peered inside and saw Gavin lying on the floor with his body shredded from the bullets that had entered him. What walls were left were splattered red with blood, it was running down them like something out of a horror movie. Ernie looked back at the cops, and most of them looked away. They were ashamed of what they had done, but it was a gut reaction in a gut reaction kind of time. One of their own had fallen and his death had to be vindicated.

“All right, let’s clean this up,” Ernie replied, as he looked up at the sky and let the snow fall onto his bearded face for a moment, enjoying the cool moisture. He then looked out at the trees and something caught his eye. He thought he saw a root pushed up from the Earth sucking up the blood pooled around the dead cop’s body. He glanced around and he saw other roots from some of the other trees sticking out of their Earthly home nibbling on the human carcass like parasites, not enough to be noticed, but enough to have a small taste. He blinked and everything was back to where it belonged. It was almost like the trees had seen him watching and didn’t want to be caught as they fed. He pushed the thoughts away, thinking it had to be a fatigued mind playing tricks on him, and went to help with the clean-up.

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Ernie sat in his patrol car and eye balled the Christmas tree lot basking in its thick cover of white. It was just past eight in the evening, as he sat there thinking of what had transpired out here, still trying to find the right answer for why Gavin had done what he had done. This was his second visit to The Lot since the shooting happened and still there were no answers. He reached for the car door handle and stopped. Something was floating down from the clear sky above. It was a bright light, ball like in its consistency. He opened the car door (never taking his eyes from the descending object) and stepped out into the night. Suddenly, something burst forth from the ball of light. A beam of some sorts, milky white. It rushed down and covered the trees in a yellowish glow. Then there was a sound of air rushing upwards and trees being ripped free from their Earthly roots. Ernie shielded his eyes, held his ground from the rush of wind, as the beam sucked The Lot back into the cylindrical ball and then the ball flashed upward at a blinding speed, disappearing into the stars.

Ernie stood there a moment looking at the area where The Lot used to sit. It was now nothing but a brown jagged square of Earth surrounded by a white snowy ground. He walked over and investigated the scene for a moment, thought about Gavin, and the lives lost. He was tired and ready to go. He got into his car, took one more last look, and then headed home. He wasn’t sure what he had seen in the sky, but he was sure he would never forget what happened at The Lot.

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A year passed.

Another Christmas season arrived.

Another town and another person was chosen like so many times before.

The End

If you made it this far, thanks. I hope you enjoyed reading this story post by post. Now back to Haiku and Poetry.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 29

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

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The Lot stood cold and silent, covered in snow, lights burning bright cutting away the night, generator humming loud. Gavin was hunkered down inside the gingerbread house. He was once a healthy man, but now he looked like he had spent the last two months inside a sweat box. He was emaciated and weak, ribs showing through his skin. His face hung droopy and long, teeth rotting away, some had fallen out. His once thick hair now thin, patchy, and lifeless across his skull. His clothes were dirty and disheveled, unclean like the rest of his body.

“Come out Gavin! Nobody has to get hurt if you just come out!” Ernie yelled through the thin walls of the tiny home, police lights splashing and flashing all over the place.

There was silence from inside as Gavin held the shotgun tight in his hands and let the sweat drip from his head. His eyes were darting back and forth like a cocaine addict who had been up for way too long. He was frantic at the thought of what the trees would do if he wasn’t there to feed them. He had protected this town, and he wasn’t about to stop now, not even if it meant dying on one of his favorite holidays.

“We have a few minutes of patience left! Then we are coming in Gavin, whether you like it or not! Tonight is Christmas Eve! No one has to die!” Ernie yelled, hoping his voice alone would calm the situation.

Gavin sucked in air and found his breath. “I can’t leave the trees. You don’t know what they’re capable of.”

The cops looked at Ernie, who drew in a breath, exhaled it in a plum of white, and nodded. The army of cops moved forward, pushing open the red and green gate, inching slowly up the snow covered brick path painted like a candy cane, which ran between the green and well fed pine trees. The trees remained silent, unmoving, and unable to help Gavin in this situation for fear of detection. They just stood there letting it all unfold, knowing their feeding for this year was over.

Ernie closed his eyes, fingers pinching them shut, trying to close out what was happening. He just couldn’t believe it had come to this.

Gun fire pulled him out of his thoughts.

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I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 28

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

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“Something wrong?” The cop asked, dressed in his uniform, young and virginal when it came to police work, new to the police force in this town.

“Ugh,” Ernie grumbled.

“You just seemed like you were ready to go and then you weren’t.”

“I still can’t believe it’s Gavin. He’s never been the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was always a good kid. He was a star athlete in high school, volunteered often, and he made one of the meanest and angriest batches of meatloaf you will ever eat.”

“He sounds like a decent guy.”

“He was and I refuse to believe he’s behind this and if he’s convicted I still won’t believe it.”

“Sometimes good people turn bad. Who really knows why? Happens all the time.”

Ernie looked at the pictures on the wall. A few of them had Gavin in them, smiling right along with some of the local cops. He then looked at the young cop waiting on his next set of words. “Okay, let’s get out there. The Feds want us to arrest him since it’s our jurisdiction. We’ll hand him over after the holidays.”

The cop made his exit, and Ernie stood there a moment longer staring at the pictures. He drew in a breath and followed after the young cop, hoping things wouldn’t go bad, hoping Gavin would turn himself in, hoping that maybe this Christmas Eve there would be a small miracle even though he was sure it was all going to end in bloodshed. If Gavin was who they claimed he was then he wasn’t going to go quietly, he was going to go kicking and screaming.

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I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 27

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

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While Mason recovered from his injuries and Liam, for the first time in years, spent Christmas Eve with his family, Ernie sat in his office looking at the arrest warrant, refusing to believe that Gavin was being charged for not only murder, but multiple murders. They had found the missing cars of the people who had disappeared in the area over the last couple of months in the pond behind The Lot. From there they had simply connected the dots until Gavin was the prime and only suspect. Was it great proof that Gavin was behind it? Who knew? But it was proof, and being Gavin was the only one out there it meant he probably was going to go to jail for a very long time or take the lethal ride to the other side.

“We got him trapped,” One of the cops replied, pausing at the edge of the door. “He’s refusing to go quietly.”

Ernie looked up at the cop with haggard eyes, eyes that had thought they had seen it all until Gavin’s case came along. He pulled himself out of the chair, adjusted his slacks and sport coat, and moved around his soft brown hair. He pulled his gun out of his desk, strapped it on, and then stood there a moment staring at the wall.

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I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 26

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

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The driver’s side window exploded inward, sending shards of glass into Mason’s delicate facial skin, missing his left eye by mere inches. He fell onto his side and landed with a soft thud.

Liam dropped the wet suit and dove onto the floor board. He pulled his gun from its holster as another shotgun blast rattled the frame on the back of the car. Whoever was shooting at them was far enough away that their aim wasn’t great, but they were close enough to inflict damage to the car and the occupants inside.

“Mason. Are you okay?” Liam asked, afraid to sit up and check on his friend.

Mason moaned out something garbled and inaudible, but it was enough of a sound to tell Liam that Mason was still alive.

“Hang in there buddy,” Liam replied, as he cautiously popped his head up and looked out the window. It was dark in the field and if there was anyone out there he couldn’t see them from where he was crouching. Another shotgun blast and the back window exploded. This time the shot was louder and closer. Liam knew he and Mason were sitting ducks if he didn’t get the car moving. He waited for the next blast and after it happened, destroying one of the taillights, he scrambled into the front seat and cautiously moved Mason out of the way. Mason moaned, but gladly gave up the driver’s seat. Liam slammed the car into drive (thankful it was still running), spinning the tires for a moment, before turning the car in the direction of the nearest hospital. The seat was covered in glass, but Liam never felt a thing as he hurried the car and the occupants inside out of shotgun range.

Gavin watched the car drive away from the middle of the field, bare feet freezing and cold, not worrying at all about frostbite. “You’re done now. That’s it. Those guys are going to end you,” he replied and made his way back to his home. He knew this nightmare was about to come to an end and no matter what happened to him, he was thankful it was all about to be over. He fell asleep and for once his dreams weren’t tortured. They were filled with peace and calm.

+

I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 25

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

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Liam and Mason ate a quick dinner, burgers, fries, cold sodas, and a cookie – a maximum meal at a minimal price. While they ate in their car, they ran the plates on the car they’d found. Gavin’s records came back clean and spotless. He was, as far as they could tell, a model citizen, and once again they had found a dead end. It was another dead end in a long line of dead ends.

“You should at least take a dive and check to see if that is a car,” Mason replied, still hopeful that his instincts hadn’t been wrong, but fearing, as each moment passed, that they had finally let him down.

“Someone probably pushed it in there in order to collect the insurance money or they were just sick of it,” Liam replied, looking out the window, night was approaching, and the snow had stopped, leaving in its wake a blanket of sparkling white. “But I guess we won’t know for sure until I do, and as much as I hate to admit it, we should at least check it out.”

Mason didn’t respond as he backed the car out of its spot and made his way towards the exit of the parking lot. He merged into traffic and angled the car in the direction of Route 6.

“Do you think anything is going on at that lot?” Mason asked.

Liam thought about his answer for a moment, and as Mason turned onto the two lane black top known as Route 6, car slipping a bit on the snow covered road, Liam came to a conclusion, one he was absolutely sure of. “I think if anything happened out there then it has already happened and whatever we find isn’t going to be good news.”

“I think you’re right,” Mason replied and fell silent once again.

They watched the road, the landscape, listening to Christmas music, trying to get focused on the task ahead, both lost in their own thoughts. And when the lights of the car splashed across Gavin’s homemade sign, Mason brought the car to a stop at the edge of the road, concealing it behind a set of bushes covered in frosty white. Liam begrudgingly opened the car door. The cold air rushed in as he stepped out and closed the door as quick as he could. He walked to the trunk and opened it. He then looked down at the assortment of things he had collected in his years as an F.B.I. agent, things he might need in any given situation, and one of those was a wet suit fully equipped to handle the coldest of temperatures. Mason had laughed at him when he bought it, but Liam liked to be prepared for whatever the job required. He took out the wet suit (along with a pink and blue beach towel) and closed the trunk. He then slipped into the back seat, enjoying the warmth of the heat inside the car.

“No peeking,” Liam replied with a smile. “I don’t need you fogging up the windows.”

“Please. I couldn’t see it if it was in a spotlight,” Mason replied and laughed and as the laugh started to fade, a shotgun blast tore open the night.

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I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 24

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

+

“None of them have been sold,” Mason replied, staring at the nest of trees. He was tingling all over, feeling like he had just seen a ghost. The place was full of unnatural energy, the kind of energy that gives you goose bumps and makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

“I’ll give you that. Now, that is something odd,” Liam replied, looking at the place all decked out in Christmas cheer. “But that still doesn’t mean something’s wrong.”

“You can’t admit I’m right. Can you?”

“Let’s at least check it out,” Liam replied, ignoring him, opening the car door, taking out his gun and making sure it was ready to protect.

Mason did the same thing and once they both were outside, they took a moment to survey the scene.

“Feels even stranger now that we aren’t in the car,” Liam replied, feeling a bit spooked.

“Let’s try the house?”

“Okay,” Liam replied, making his way towards it. He held his gun tight, as he approached the tiny home decked out in a gingerbread motif. He walked up to the door and as he did this Mason took a protective stance behind him. Liam turned around to make sure Mason was where he was supposed to be. Mason nodded and Liam turned back to the door. He knocked. Knocked again and then knocked for a third time. No answer. He reached down and tried the handle. It was locked.

“Nobody home?” Mason replied. “If you aren’t here then why in the hell would you leave the lights on? This just keeps getting stranger.”

“Come on. Let’s check out the grounds.” Liam left the small porch and made his way towards the back of the house. Mason following close behind.

A few moments later, Mason was the first to see it. “Liam, what’s that?”

Liam stopped and looked in the direction Mason was pointing. Both of them could now see what looked like the back of a car, the light from The Lot reflecting off the silver bumper. They walked over to the machine, and inspected it.

“Looks like it’s been sitting for a while,” Mason replied, wiping off snow, cupping his hands and looking into the driver’s side window. He couldn’t see much, but he could tell the car was neat and well kept. There wasn’t a sign of trash or debris inside the vehicle. He tried the handle and found it locked. He walked to the back of the car and took out a small notebook. He jotted down the numbers on the plate.

“Stranger and stranger,” Liam replied, looking away from the car towards something he had seen when they first arrived. “I think I saw some water, a pond or small lake, when we drove in. Let’s check it out and head back. My nuts are frozen.”

“Sure,” Mason replied, looking at the car one more time before following after his partner.

They reached the water’s edge a few moments later. They separated and moved forward in opposite directions, looking for clues, anything out of the ordinary.

“Liam, over here. I think I found something.”

Liam hurried over to where Mason was standing. “What did you find?” He asked.

“The water. Is there something in there?”

Liam did as requested, squinting his eyes, trying to look into the black water now covered with a thin layer of ice. “Is that a car?”

“Looks like it, I think. Hard to tell, but it has the shape of one,” Mason replied, turning around, fearing they were being watched. “Do you still have that wet suit in the trunk?”

“I think so.”

“Up for a dive?” Mason asked. “Because if that is a car and I think it is, I bet the tags on that car will lead back to one of those missing persons.”

Liam drew in a cold breath, exhaled it in a cloud of white. He shook his head. “Sometimes I hate I took those dive lessons.”

“Better thee than me brother. Let’s head back and let it get a little bit darker. And while we wait, I can run the plates on the car we found in the woods, we can have some food, and see what turns up.”

“Sounds like a plan. Let’s go,” Liam replied and led them back to the car.

They climbed inside the vehicle, turned the heat on high, and slowly made their way back to the main road. The snow was falling heavier now and the man made road wasn’t as easily visible as it was when they drove in, but they made it safely back to the main road.

Gavin watched them leave from inside the house, thinking once again he had avoided trouble, once again he had gotten away with everything he had done, but what he didn’t know (as he sat shivering in his urine smelling home) was that his days of killing were almost finished.

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I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 23

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

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Liam and Mason started their morning with coffee at the local coffee shop (always buy local was Liam’s mantra) before climbing into their car and starting their investigation. The first stop was the college, then the Bingo Hall, and finally the conference center, but they had no luck. Feeling a bit defeated, still hoping for answers, they decided to drive up Route 6 and see if there were any leads on that black two lane stretch of highway. The day had started out cold and grey, filled with a thick blanket of dark clouds, a hint of snow in the air, and as their investigation moved into the afternoon, the first flakes of snow started to fall.

“There has to be something out here,” Mason replied, scanning the road, the surrounding landscape, feeling that his hunch was right, needing something to validate that hunch. But he saw nothing out of the ordinary. All he saw were patches of bare trees, stripped naked by winter, and a cold dead Earth filled with brown lifeless grass. It was a place full of emptiness, a place that someone who wanted not to be found would not be found.

“I think we’re not going to find anything,” Liam replied, turning on the wipers, pushing flakes of snow off the windshield. His thoughts were of home, warmth, and an evening with kids around the Christmas tree. He wanted to be there, instead of driving on a stretch of empty road. The snow also didn’t help. It created more thoughts, more memories of his kids, and how much they loved it.

“There,” Mason replied, pointing to the sign advertising live trees.

Liam slowed the car to a stop in front of the sign, tires sliding a bit on the icy road. Both men sat and stared at it, the car’s headlights spotlighting Gavin’s now fading words. Snow danced in the light, clinging to the sign as the white flakes silently fell from the sky above.

“Why would anyone have a Christmas tree lot way out here?” Liam asked, looking around, looking for The Lot, and not seeing it.

“Odd, right?”

“I wouldn’t say odd. Maybe a bit of a strange location, but I wouldn’t say odd would be the right word to use.”

Mason looked from the sign to the empty field covered in darkness. “You know, it’s like it’s meant to be hidden.”

“Aren’t you grasping at straws? Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean something is wrong. Maybe there’s a better place to grow them than out here in the open,” Liam replied. “I know jack shit about growing Christmas trees and neither do you.”

“What’s that?” Mason asked.

“What’s what?”

“That light beyond that clump of trees. You can barely see it. We should check it out.”

Liam sighed and then turned to face Mason. “Fine, but let’s make it quick. I want to get home and I’m tired of chasing dead ends.” Liam put the car in gear, pulled out onto the main road, and then turned onto Gavin’s man made road a second later, traveling slowly across the snow covered ground.

Liam slid the car to a stop when they reached the parking lot, and both men sat in silence for a moment, in awe of the trees now dusted with a thin layer of snow.

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I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 22

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

+

Twenty minutes later, Ernie pulled his car into the driveway in front of his house. A lovely house, filled with nothing but love. It was a one story Ranch built in the 1970’s, four bedrooms, two full baths, living room, dining room, kitchen, and a man cave. A perfect place for him to come home and kick back after a long hard day of work. His wife Suzy had been a stay-at-home mom since the kids were born, but she wasn’t a traditional version of that role. She was as handy around the house as he was, but she was also the nurturer of the two. It only made sense for her to be home, because it would have driven Ernie crazy to do it. He loved his kids, but he also liked his routine. He needed his days to have a start and a finish. He was that kind of guy.

Ernie turned off the car, climbed out, and then made his way inside. He placed his keys, wallet and gun on the table beside the door (the gun used to go on top of the closest when the kids were younger), and made his way into the kitchen. The interior of the house was decorated with a woman’s touch, filled with peaceful and soothing colors, family pictures on the walls, and minimal clutter.

“How’s supper?” Ernie asked, smiling, as he walked up and hugged his wife from behind – something he did every time he came home. Suzy was somewhat fit, a few years younger than Ernie, but her looks had never faded.

She smiled and turned around, hugging him tightly. “About done,” she replied and it didn’t take long for her to notice the worry and stress etched across his face. She had seen this face a lot of times over the years and she hated it, she hated when the job did this to him. It was too much stress for too little pay. “What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Tough day. Young kid about Henry’s age went missing and I fear the worst,” he replied, thinking of his son for a moment, off at College for the first time. Henry was doing great on his own and had adapted better at College than his sister who had gone two years before him. His sister was still struggling, but she was doing much better now.

“So close to the holidays. That’s tough, I mean it’s tough not matter what time of year, but the holidays are special.”

“Yeah. I know what you mean,” he replied and took a seat at the table after washing his hands. He poured out a glass of water and munched on fresh bread. “That’s not the only thing though.”

“Something else?” Suzy asked, taking out the dishes, preparing the meal.

“Gavin. He’s missing. No sign of him at all.”

“Really,” Suzy replied and walked over to the table. She put the plates in place and walked back to the silverware drawer. “Did you check his house?” She asked, walking back and sitting down in front of him. She handed out the silverware and waited for Ernie to pray.

“I did,” he replied and bowed his head. Suzy followed his lead and when he was finished praying they started to eat.

“It’s not like him to up and disappear. He’s almost as much of a fixture in this town as that old statue in the city center. ”

“I know, and he’s also put up this Christmas tree lot out on his family’s land. I went out there as well. No sign of him.”

“Christmas tree lot. When did he start that?”

“Apparently recently, but the trees are strange. Kind of like they’re more alive than they should be. It’s spooky to be around them.”

Suzy looked at him. “I’m sure they’re only Christmas trees. You’re probably tired. Maybe Gavin knows how to grow them. Some people are naturals at certain things.”

“Maybe so. But it was weird out there. Something felt off and I can’t figure out what it was.”

“Eat and forget about it. It probably won’t seem so strange after a good night’s sleep,” she replied and turned her attention to her food.

Ernie followed her lead and they both ate in silence, thinking of different things. When the meal was finished, they cleaned up, and watched a bit of Netflix together (easier now to do in an empty home). They made love a little later, and filled with content fell fast asleep. And as they slept, Suzy had peaceful dreams, but Ernie was wrapped up in a nightmare filled with pine trees that seemed more alive than they should have been.

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I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 21

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

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“What is that all about?” Ernie asked himself when he saw the sign on the post advertising Christmas trees. Gavin’s family had never been Christmas tree farmers so this was another odd thing in a series of odd things he had seen that day. The car passed the sign slowly and then it turned onto the man made road Gavin had made some time ago. It was now well traveled, rutted with two clear lanes, easy to drive on.

Ernie brought his vehicle to a stop a few moments later when he reached the gravel parking lot. He couldn’t believe his eyes, as he sat there and looked at The Lot. The trees were perfect, pristine, and green – so green that they didn’t seem real. He opened his door and pulled himself out of the car. He then closed the door and stood there a moment surveying the scene. It would have been a beautiful place to be, full of Christmas cheer, if it all didn’t seem so foul. His instincts were rarely off and he was sure there was something wrong with everything he was seeing. He made his feet start moving and made his way over to the nest of trees.

Gavin heard the car door slam and immediately stopped what he was doing, stripping an animal of its fur, preparing it for a meal, his meal. He had decided (after several meals and lots of bad stomach issues) that raw wasn’t to his liking. He preferred what he ate to be clean and cooked. He hung the stripped possum over a nearby hook, its lifeless eyes staring at him as he wiped his hands on a dirty towel. He then made his way up to the door and peered through the peep hole.

“Fucking no,” he replied to himself when he saw who had come by for a visit. He turned around and looked at the room, bathed in a small amount of light from a handful of half burned candles. He looked at the axe and then the shotgun. The gun would be quicker and if he had to take out Ernie, which he didn’t want to do, he would rather it be a quick death instead of a slow one. He owed Ernie at least that much. He turned back to the door and looked out the peep hole, hoping he wouldn’t have to make the toughest decision he had ever made in his life.

Ernie caressed several of the trees as he walked past them. Their needles were soft and silky smooth. They seemed to enjoy his touch. He breathed in the air and their pine scent was so strong that it was almost overwhelming. He looked from the trees to the house Gavin had been living in and decided to see if anyone was home. He walked over to the door and knocked.

“Hello?” He asked, looking at the door and the peephole. “Gavin, are you home?”

Gavin stepped away from the door, stood in the center of the room, sweating. He was trying not to make a sound, hoping if Ernie heard nothing he would just leave.

Ernie knocked again and waited.

Gavin stood on the other side, biting his lip, filled with tension.

“If you’re in there I just want to make sure you’re okay. Haven’t seen you around. Kind of worried about you. I went by your house and no one was home.” Ernie waited a moment longer and decided no one was inside the building. He turned to leave and then thought of the door handle. He reached down and turned it.

Gavin saw the handle start to move and quickly stepped up to it and turned the lock. He stepped back and watched it jiggle, hoping this would be the final deterrent. A second later the door handle stopped moving and fell back into a resting position. Gavin stepped up to the door when he heard the car engine come to life. He let out a breath as Ernie backed the car up, turned it around, and made his exit.

“Thank god,” Gavin replied, even though thanking god meant nothing to him now. He was in hell and he was sure he was going there once all this was over. He looked out at the trees for a moment and wondered why they hadn’t attacked. Maybe they sensed something about Ernie, that he was in a position of authority, or maybe they knew that he was a friend of Gavin’s. Whatever the reason he was thankful for it. He returned to the possum and began the final prep on his dinner.

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I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 20

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

+

Ernie spent most of the morning walking around town and most of the early afternoon canvassing the neighborhoods. No one had seen or heard of a man named Fred Greenberg. It confirmed his suspicions as he climbed into his car, sun dipping low in the sky, that Fred Greenberg was where he had thought Fred was all along – dead. As he sat in his car, he thought about driving up Route 6 and checking out the college Fred attended. He could stroll around campus, maybe talk to some people who knew Fred personally. It might help. It might not. But he was at a dead end, so he thought it might be worth the extra effort. He turned on the engine, and as the automobile came to life, a name popped into his head for no reason at all – Gavin. And he wondered why he hadn’t checked in on Gavin since the last time he saw him putting up that sign? He didn’t know why, but as he sat there thinking, he realized he hadn’t seen Gavin around town recently. He didn’t register it as odd, but it was unusual for him not to see Gavin at least once a week, maybe more. Ernie left the thoughts of Fred behind for a moment. He decided to go check in on Gavin and see how he was doing. He backed the car out of its parking slot and eased out onto the road. Traffic was light (as it usually was in this town) and the drive didn’t take that long.

A few minutes later, Ernie pulled his car into Gavin’s driveway and brought the vehicle to a stop. In the light of the headlights he could see Gavin’s home and the place looked abandoned and deserted. He got out of his car, adjusted his coat in order to stop the chill, and made his way across the unkempt lawn. He walked up onto the front porch and tried the front door, which was usually unlocked, but this time it wasn’t. He walked around and checked the back door (locked just like the front) and then looked into the windows. The house was dark and silent. There was nobody home and no signs anyone had been home recently.

Ernie walked back to his car and stopped in front of it, headlights casting his shadow across the ground. He studied the house for a moment. Something didn’t feel right, something was obviously wrong. He climbed back into his car and turned on the heat, killing the chill of the evening. While he warmed his body he listened to sports talk radio and tried to focus on it. A minute later, he backed his car out of Gavin’s driveway and made his way out onto the main road. He thought it might be time to head out to Route 6 and check on Gavin, if he was still there. He hoped he was because it might provide some answers to the questions now whirling around in his head.

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I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 16

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

+

He answered her question a second later when he emerged from the darkness of the tiny house. He had tossed the gun away and was now coming at her with an axe. He held it above his head, eyes bulging like a madman, marching towards her on shaky fatigued legs.

“Please. Please. Don’t do this.” She begged, still fighting the tree. But Gavin didn’t stop. He walked right up to her and paused, axe held high in the killing positon. Something in her eyes stopped his hand. It was a glimmer of hope, of life, of a future, all of the things he once had and would never have again.

The collective thoughts of the trees crawled into his brain – “kill her now, we are hungry” – they said.

“I have to. I’m sorry,” Gavin replied. When he opened his mouth a foul stench filled the air and Rusty could see that some of his teeth were missing, others were as black as night, about ready to fall out.

“Why? Why must you do this?” She asked, hoping to stall long enough to figure out an escape plan.

“I have to feed the trees,” he replied and looked out on The Lot.

She turned towards the trees and noticed that all of them seemed to be waiting for something. She turned back to Gavin. “You don’t have to do this.”

He readied the axe, gripped the handle tight. “I do and believe me I am very sorry. I truly am.”

Rusty closed her eyes, she was out of options and out of ideas. She had a mad man holding an axe in front of her and a tree branch holding her in place, all she could do was wait and hope that death would come quick.

+

I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.

Humpday Promotions: The Lot on Route 6: Page 15

Posted on by A Renfro

Kill for me. A terrifying request, but Gavin will take this request and do his best to complete it. He will suffer. He will reach the edge of his sanity. He will live in pain. But he will do all he can do to protect the people and the town he loves.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086814J42

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086814J42

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B086814J42

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B086814J42

This story is now available at these locations: books2read.com.

Some of the new locations are Apple, Nook, and Kobo.

+

*About to get gruesome and there is going to be some language.

I don’t write love stories. Just a warning.*

“That might be nice this year. A genuine real Christmas tree,” she replied, thinking of her youth and all the good times she had around them as a child. She slowed her truck to a crawl and turned off the road and onto the one Gavin had made, which was partially covered in white but still visible.

She came to a stop when she reached the small gravel parking lot. She looked over at the trees, highlighted by the lights, looking magical covered in a thin layer of snow. She turned off the truck and climbed out of the cab. She held her coat tight as she made her way over to the fence, eyes scanning the trees and the surrounding area.

“Hello?” She asked. The place was spooky quiet, almost too quiet as the saying goes. “I’d like to buy a tree.” She reached out and caressed one of the branches, feeling its silky pine needles and the coldness of the snow.

Gavin woke up inside the house when he heard Rusty’s voice. He was now smelling of urine and feces and of many days unbathed. He had a scraggly beard, unwashed hair that was starting to fall out, and sores covering various parts of his body. He hadn’t eaten in a day, hunger no longer an issue. He pulled himself up off the floor and made his way over to the peep hole and looked out at the young woman standing near the trees. Another out of towner, which was once again good. He picked up his shotgun and loaded it, not caring anymore if anyone heard the shots or not. In fact, he kind of hoped someone would. That would at least end this nightmare. But he was still a part of it and knew deep down that he would have to see it all the way to the end. So, he gripped the handle and without a pause, yanked the door open. He didn’t have a lot of strength left for running so he hoped the surprise approach would allow him enough time to blast her head off before she bolted for the truck.

Rusty looked up at the door when it opened and was shocked to see a man standing there, because he didn’t look like a man at all. He was a human zombie from head to toe. But just as her mind tried to process this gruesome sight, she saw the gun pointed right at her head. Instincts saved her life as it kicked in and caused her to duck when the shotgun blasted. The bullet blew out the window on the driver’s side of her truck, shattering glass in all directions. She wasted no time and started to make a run for it, but something grabbed her, grabbed her hard. She looked down at her arm and saw that one of the trees had wrapped a branch around her wrist and it wasn’t letting her go. While she struggled with the branch, she moved her eyes up to the house and the man in the doorway, but he wasn’t there.

Where was he?

+

I recently published this novella or short story, depending on how you look at it, and I wanted to promote it. So, my brain got to thinking, and my brain came up with three ways you can enjoy this story (if you want to read it).

  1. Tune in every Wednesday and read it page by page until it is completed.
  2. Send me an email: atothewr@gmail.com. In the header put: I would love to review The Lot on Route 6. Then let me know what you use to read ebooks: Kindle or Something Else. I will send it to you and all I ask is for you to give me a fair and honest review.
  3. If you are able to buy it and do want to support me the links to purchase the story are posted above.

Thanks again for all the support. I promise Poetry and Haiku as much as I can, but I hope you stick with me each Wednesday as I branch off into something a bit different. And if you missed a page look for the story underneath the Hump Day Promotions category. You are now free to move around the blog.