Short Stories
As Easy As Threading a Needle
Part 1 of the Misfortune Saga
Walter, a spry elderly man whose stubbornness and ambition are unequaled, frequently causes havoc while he endeavors to accomplish seemingly unachievable, though mundane, tasks. Whether it’s to prove himself to his beloved wife, or to best his—also elderly—competitive archnemesis across the street, Walter’s determination often leads to a string of humorous incidents. His comical mischief continues in Toddler’s & Toupées, part two of the Misfortune saga.
Featured in Foliate Oak Magazine, 2018
Walter sits in his sturdy chair, gently rocking himself back and forth with his gray slipper on the hardwood floor. Rain patters against the window on this dark afternoon, almost drowning out the ticking of the grandfather clock.
“Oh, sweetie, handling an iPhone for you would be about as easy as threading a needle.”
Her words are resonating in his head as he finishes his cross-word puzzle. His fingers drum on the arm of his chair...Continue Reading
Toddlers & Toupées
Part 2 of the Misfortune Saga
A short story continuing Walter's humorous shenanigans from "As Easy As Threading A Needle."
A sassy toddler gives Walter a run for his money during his "time out" following a spectacle at a park bbq.
The buzzing was magnified by his hearing aid until, SMACK. The sound wasn’t as loud as it might have been, had Walter’s skin not lost that youthful tautness, but that was nothing compared to what the wrinkles had done to his only tattoo. It was bad enough that the artist had botched a clichéd anchor, but aging had shriveled the image until it resembled a limp—albeit upright—phallus; it had been the first and last time he had gotten drunk with his comrades while on an R&R rotation. But with the buzzard vanquished, Walter could continue to pretend that he was enjoying the view from his bench in the park...Continue Reading
Elevate
Featured in The Deaf Poet's Society, 2017
Wendy and Gideon are strangers forced to reckon with their own personal demons as they await their freedom from a malfunctioning elevator. Gradually, they manage to connect, and soon discover an unexpected approach to enriching their mental health. Peppered with wit, it’s a heartwarming story of two people who help each other begin a journey to overcome deep-rooted hardships.
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Available in text and audio https://www.deafpoetssociety.com/samantha-knight-issue-5
“Did you honestly just fart?” He stared at the ground in embarrassment. He hadn’t meant to, it sort of fell out. And how could she blame him? They had been trapped in the elevator for over twenty minutes...Continue Reading
Elliptical
Featured in Cicatrix Publications, 2016
Available for purchase here
And there he was, pushing the limit upon his elliptical in the middle of a park, no word of a lie. Small goggle-like sunglasses, reminiscent of The Matrix, were strapped around his head as if he were swimming. His legs, sheathed snugly in the bright blue casing that was his tights, resembled two pixie sticks in a stationary parade. His overly-trimmed mustache compensated for his ineffective headband, while his neon yellow tank-top glowed in the sun, creating a spotlight that nobody could overlook....Continue Reading
What Everybody Wants
Featured in borrowed solace, 2018
A cold rain plummeted into the streets of Vancouver as the wind blew garbage from one block to the next. Scraps of newspapers came to a sudden halt on the windshields of stopped traffic. Passing bicyclists attempted to shield their face by looking down and keeping only one squinting eye open on the bumpy road ahead— until they noticed what the commotion was about. Around a sky-rise, vehicles have parked, and the drivers gathered in the courtyard in front of the building. The building was a bank, and the people stood in awe and shock as they stared at the roof where a man in tattered clothing stood...Continue Reading Sample
Available for purchase here
Our Blessings
A short story about hardship, reflection, and enlightenment.
“You honestly think someone up there is listenin’?” He scratches his sweaty head under the ragged ball cap, leaving a smear of white paint on his forehead.
But the aging man doesn’t offer any indication that the words registered, he doesn’t even move. The rocking chair he sits in matches the faded wood of the porch, as if the same can of wood stain had serviced them both. His loafers are planted firmly so that the chair doesn’t rock as he grips his rosary, moving seamlessly from one bead to the next. His eyes are closed, making the crow-feet lines that jut outward from the corners more prominent, while his lips murmur silent prayers...Continue Reading
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