Differences
___
September 2016
"Why are you staring at the water? We pass by this stream daily and I can't see anything new. Are you ok?" Alex seemed to be lost in thoughts and Neel was getting irritated. Alex had been behaving odd these days. Neel knew something was wrong and Alex was not ready to share it with him. Neel and Alex...they had nothing much in common except a strong bond of love for each other. Alex, a victim of child abuse, who was forced to live with his grandparents often found solace in their friendship. Alex was always welcome at Neel's house and Neel's mother made sure that Alex got a Christmas gift just like her son did every year. Such a great friendship they weaved and they were proud of it. Since the start of high school, Alex had been behaving differently. The usual talkative and cool guy seemed suddenly silent and introverted. It was like he was less confident about himself and often recoiled to loneliness. Neel was sure that something was troubling him. But, Alex stood staring at the water instead of answering his questions. "Alex, I am your buddy ... Tell me what is worrying you. We will sort it out?" They had been standing on the bridge for ten minutes and Neel kept asking Alex the same question throughout their meeting. Alex looked at him. The dark circles revealed troubled sleep and he had gone skinny too. "Neel, I think I am gay," Alex said in a soft voice. Neel was taken back for a moment and then he asked: "So what??? Why should that bother you?" This time, Alex was taken aback. "Neel, I am a gay. I feel attracted towards guys. That's not normal I think. My grandparents say that being gay is against God. It's a sin. The society will not accept me. I don't think I can hide it for long...It's getting complicated every day..." Neel stopped him. "Are you afraid that I'll desert you?" Neel asked Alex who had his head hung in shame. "Yes...People will mark you as gay too if you walk with me". He said in a low voice. "Really...Alex look at me," said Neel. Alex was still staring at his foot. It had been a few months since he discovered that he was different from the other boys in his class. He searched the web about guys feeling attracted to guys and came to a conclusion that he was gay. He didn't know how to deal with it. Was that a disease? Was that antisocial? Would people make fun of him? Would he be thrown out of his house? Lots of questions pondered his thoughts. He was puzzled and lost. He even took an appointment with the school counselor but didn't have the courage to disclose the exact problem to her. "Alex.Alex ...Can you please listen to me for a while." Neel raised his voice. Alex woke up from his thoughts and looked at Neel. Neel was his greatest fear. Neel was his best friend, a guide, a support, someone who had been with him in his tough times. He was not sure how Neel would respond to this confession. "Alex, you know what...It doesn't matter to me if you are gay. You are the best buddy I will ever have". Neel held his hands and continued, "And holding your hands doesn't make me gay. Being gay is not a big deal. It's not against God since he counts only our good deeds. I don't think God will have a problem with you being gay. Maybe your grandparents will not understand that but I definitely do. My parents can talk to them. I am sure they will understand." Alex felt a bit relaxed. He looked at Neel with a relaxed and confident smile. Neel continued, "If relationships are based on love and trust, then it doesn't matter whom your partner is. You and I ain't different. Maybe you will choose a guy as your partner and I will choose a girl. But we both value our relations which make us good people. So don't get bothered about it." Alex opened his mouth to say something but Neel silenced him and said, "It's not gonna be an easy journey but I will be with you, buddy". Alex felt like he had his life back. A ten-minute meeting and a few sentences had solved his crisis in a short time. Thanking Neel would be formal. But he had lots to say but Neel was already picking up his bag. "Come let's go home. Mom is making hamburgers." And that was the reassurance...Friends Forever.
Author
___
Janice Joseph
I love to capture stories from the people around me. I believe that every moment has a story to tell. You just have to sit back and watch it happening and sometimes play the roles life gives you. That's it...you will become a great story teller.
Stories
___
Ammi Was Right New
Sarba Roy
September 2018
I knew the basics of survival. My mother had already given up on trying to confine my unmanageable bouts of adventure and had resigned instead to teaching me a few life hacks in the hope of preventing my untimely death.
The Small Big Thing
Debaprasad Mukherjee
March 2018
Ahiliya, the beautiful princess of Magadha, was sitting on the balcony of her palace brooding over her loneliness. She had a score of girls to keep company though. Yet, everything looked so lacklustre.
Luck and Patience
Michael "Fynn" Lange
June 2017
"There are two lives that can be lived," said Mother Cat to her kittens, "the one you have with me safe at home, nestled in comfort... or ..."
INGENUITY
Debaprasad Mukherjee
June 2017
Sam does not smoke; at least no more at present. In his boyhood days, he used to inhale an occasional puff or two from a friend maybe, but not now.
Derailed
Aishwarya Chandrasekhar
June 2017
It was a regular Friday morning, the last working day of the week. As much as my little princess Ziva, I was also pretty excited about the weekend.
Child's Unfulfilled Wishes
Aanchal Bharara
June 2017
There was a 12-year-old boy who had a lot of money to spend and enjoy his life. He lived in a mansion like house and studied in one of the best schools in the country.
Chance Meeting
(Voinks) Val Portelli
April 2017
Let me see dear. Oh yes, I should do. I've lived there for nearly fifty years. Was there anyone in particular you were looking for? I might know them.
The Epitome of Love
Debaprasad Mukherjee
April 2017
'Handle with care' used to be written on the bottles into which my father poured his finest blends. My brewer father and simpleton mother handled me with utmost care.
The Clock
Amina Bezzazi
April 2017
First shot for the late Hero... Second shot for the noble mission he died for... Third shot for the honorable corpse he so bravely served... Fourth shot for the departed Martyr.
Wise Yenzi
Michael "Fynn" Lange
March 2017
Word had come through the mountains, along the long winding trails of our jungle and finally along the river, Yenzi was coming.
Wrong Turn
Hákon Gunnarsson
March 2017
It's evening, and we are walking on the beach. The sun is going down, and the sky is so beautiful. She is beautiful too, and laughs like a pixie.Of course, I've never seen or heard a pixie, but I love her.
Tom and Molly
Debaprasad Mukherjee
March 2017
Molly: Hey Tommy! You, goody-goody! Why on earth you're peeping through the window?
Eddie To The Rescue
Cheryl Russell
March 2017
Lou looked up from her school exercise book and looked across at her gorgeous teddy she called Eddie bear.
The Missing Person
Cheryl Russell
February 2017
She looked around uncertainly. The station was crowded, how was she supposed to find her daughter amongst the crowds.
Our Story
Debaprasad Mukherjee
February 2017
Look at this snap, I say. Isn't it so telltale? Doesn't it speak volumes on our closeness? Our relationship could be the subject of a great novel of romances.
The Wolves
Voinks (Val Portelli)
February 2017
Although it was dangerous, I had no choice. We needed to eat and there was nothing left in our old habitat.
Messenger of Chance
Joshua Hedges
January 2017
Life is complex, putting most answers on a spectrum, which I suppose places me between ordinary and special, smack dab in the middle of average.
Lucky Strike
Sheenah Middle
January 2017
God! He had been lucky, what if he had not walked back into that place today? Tomorrow would have been a disaster; his life would have changed completely.
The Docks
Cheryl Russell
January 2017
The two girls Grace and Charlotte stood watching, fascinated by what they were seeing. Grace put her hand over her mouth to stop herself crying out.
Magic
Debaprasad Mukherjee
January 2017
The plan chalked out in the morning had nothing to do with birthday plans. They wanted to visit the Forbidden Fortress. It is a place they are told to stay off.
Little Jackie Pete
Joshua Roberts
December 2016
Janette was a head and half taller than her sister Susan who stood just in front of her under an arching entrance to an alleyway off the side of a cobbled street.
The Dragons Of Drakonfell
C. M. Turner
December 2016
Scarlet and Ashley had been told not to leave the castle. They stood in the doorway watching something flying overhead. It wasn't all that large as dragons go.
Joy
Sheenah Middle
December 2016
"Fred! How are you?" Jim said to the man that had stopped in the street before him. He had been cycling down the road trying to keep warm...
Gratitude
Val Portelli (Voinks)
December 2016
I can imagine you in a pinny. I've just been up to the cemetery; it would have been Ethel's birthday today so I took her a few flowers.
The Release
Cheryl Russell
November 2016
The enormous looking egg sat there with a look of abject horror on its face. A human was trying to take the layer of shell off.
A New Dawning
Hákon Gunnarsson
November 2016
Charlie came running out of the woods in the morning mist. When he saw the lake pier, he slowed down to a walking pace.
My Fair-weather Friends
Aishwarya Chandrasekhar
November 2016
We trees are pretty awesome. Don't you think so? Just look at me! How blessed I am to have these orange beauties all over me.
Maisy
Michael "Fynn" Lange
November 2016
His niece turned to her teddy bear. A notebook opened upon her lap. She had been scribbling along pretending she knew how to write.
The Hitchhiker
Cheryl Russell
November 2016
He walked along the road, arm out hoping to catch the eye of a passing motorist. It was a lonely stretch of road with trees lining it.
The Final Stand
Drew Hill
November 2016
Two young girls, one looked to be ten while the other looked no older than six, were running around the tavern with trays over their heads.
Sitting By The Lake
Margaret Jennings
October 2016
Darkness in the trees that reflect his mood. A match that will not light. Thoughts that take him far from serenity.
Lost People
Kelley Mether
October 2016
He tried to judge her accent. Possibly Spanish. Definitely another backpacker, like himself. If she wondered about him, she didn't show it.
Mirage
Janice Joseph
October 2016
He pressed his face on the fence very hard. He looked far into the empty street to see if there were any signs of life.
Fly Away
Voinks (Val Portelli)
October 2016
I was beginning to go stir-crazy being cooped up indoors. All the things you take for granted suddenly became insurmountable mountains.
Jake's Story
Keith Dwyer
October 2016
It had started in college. In the summers Jake had worked for a catering company in the resort area south of his hometown.
Color Blind
Michael "Fynn" Lange
September 2016
I was a mathlete, my teachers always called me the Bell Curve Breaker.
The Dig
Cheryl Russell
September 2016
They were camping. It was supposed to be a relaxing break from the hectic pace of the last few weeks.
Hide And Seek
Joanna Hunter
September 2016
They say there is no such thing as the Bogeyman. But I know different. And right now we are playing hide and seek.
Differences
Janice Joseph
September 2016
"Why are you staring at the water? We pass by this stream daily and I can't see anything new. Are you ok?"
The Devil's in the Details
Lisa Wood
September 2016
He'd been waiting for hours for God only knows what. Frank wasn't an information guy. They told him to wait here, so here he waited.
A Wannabe Voyager
Ajay Gregory Antony
September 2016
"Why did I leave home? Why am I here? Does any of this make sense?" I kept questioning myself over and again.
The Trail of Two Brothers
Michael "Fynn" Lange
September 2016
"You came all this way just for college?" Cody said to his little brother. Cody looked around himself.
A Day By The Lake
Cheryl Russell
September 2016
Father and son were enjoying some quality time together. It was late September but still the weather was nice.
Life Goes On
Aishwarya Chandrasekhar
August 2016
"Sometimes it is not the person we miss; it is the feeling you had when you were with them."
The Message
Voinks (Val Portelli)
August 2016
My romantic nature pondered whether the 'special something' he wanted to buy me would be an engagement ring.
Swirls
Janice Joseph
August 2016
For me, the bridge was a gateway to a new life and for Ryan; the bridge was something he never wanted to cross.
The Distress of Our Planet
Debaprasad Mukherjee
August 2016
I kept flapping around my house with similar haplessness until the quake subsided. I empathise with the bird.
The Text
Tiffany C. Lockhart
August 2016
A blonde-haired woman wearing a bright green trench coat walked down the streets of a bustling city, her nose buried in her phone.
A True Friend Indeed
Aishwarya Chandrasekhar
August 2016
Rambo came into Maggie's life a couple of weeks ago. The moment she saw him, she fell in love with him.
Incurable
Janice Joseph
August 2016
I lay in the bathtub with my eyes closed. I pressed the straight razor against my wrist.
A Father's Treasure
Janice Joseph
July 2016
"No, not again", I sighed. It has been a routine now to search for my pen in the morning before leaving for work.
Crossing Over
Joshua Hedges
July 2016
Yumi couldn't feel her hands. She pushed her fingers through her hair. Nothing. Her heart didn't beat.
Picture Of A Man That Couldn't
Michael "Fynn" Lange
July 2016
My fingers caressing its strings like they once caressed the only woman's skin that I have ever loved.
The Fall
Janice Joseph
July 2016
No one would give a job to a homeless young man. Prejudices never gave an opportunity for survival for the homeless.
Gateway To Getaway
Debaprasad Mukherjee
July 2016
If I tell you, 'I've made this bridge', you will laugh at me; because you know me. I have never done anything constructive.
My Superhero!
Aishwarya Chandrasekhar
July 2016
I am here at the park; taking a stroll with the person I love the most, My Dad!
An Everlasting Love
Janine W. Cox
July 2016
This love started many years ago when they lived in the same neighborhood, a couple of houses away from each other.
And It Rained
Debaprasad Mukherjee
June 2016
Croaka was pensive as he sat down on the slimy stone near a puddle formed by a steady stream at a corner of Mughal Gardens.
Follow The Money
Steve Brown
June 2016
It was just past midnight when she arrived at the cordoned off station. There was a yellow Ka parked by the front.
Long Road Home
Gerry Hounchell
June 2016
Not sure who took that picture, but it's me hitching a ride, my backside anyway, age 17, running away from home.
The Unfinished Coffee
Janice Joseph
June 2016
I am Wahid. I came here nearly 40 years ago. I live in the next street. Are you here with your family?", the old man asked.
A Fine Evening
Sarah GC David
June 2016
It is a typical evening; a cool breeze surrounds the insides of the subway. Never do they notice the intentions of each other.
Strange Obsession
Joshua Roberts
June 2016
The cold winter air stung his nostrils as Stephan walked along the brick covered sidewalk next to the tracks.
The Café
Voinks (Val Portelli)
June 2016
It had started innocently enough; the place had been packed, he had asked if he could share my table. The hour flew by as we started talking.
My Thumb Leads The Way
Janine W. Cox
June 2016
Sam was on that lonely stretch of road and he had his thumb leading the way. He was out there all morning.
Sarah Disappears
Jacqueline Driggers
June 2016
What if all the books were worlds, and when she opened one, she opened a door to that world that she could go through? Wouldn't that be awesome?
Take My Hand
Joshua Hedges
June 2016
John's wheezed as he ran through the forest. He was a runner, why was he wheezing? Couldn't he outrun his six-year-old?
A Penny For Your Thoughts
Janine W. Cox
June 2016
Pete was at a cross roads and he had to make a decision fast or else he was going to lose everything.
Memories For A Lifetime
Ajay Gregory Antony
June 2016
The narrow road at the corner is the way to the blissful nature, where one will find true bliss.
Scars Of A Rose
Janice Joseph
June 2016
The fight is over forever. It is all numb now. There is no more pain. Life is setting me free. Let me fly...float in the clouds and forget my wounds.
What do I have Left?
Janine W. Cox
June 2016
Marty's number was called and he had to report to Parris Island, South Carolina for 12 weeks of basic training.
Bruno's Howl
Steve Brown
May 2016
Bruno knew something was wrong long before I did. He was a dog amongst dogs and saw things before anyone else.
Keeper Of The Logs
Janice Joseph
May 2016
The old man makes his first journey at seven in the morning and brings back a pile of logs on his return journey.
A Newer Dawn
Debaprasad Mukherjee
May 2016
Lake Kaka is one of the nicest as you can see here. It's not large, but beautiful; Miss Caroline calls it 'serene'.
