Four Little Stories

by Townsend Walker

 

A Day in the Life

It was not a day like any other day, not for Annie Richie, not for Ralph Simmons. She landed the lead in Wicked, a fresh face up from the chorus. He was let go by the Knicks, too short to play inside, couldn’t nail a three. They wandered the streets, she in radiant glee, he in lonely gloom and, as fate would ordain, found their ways to Rose’s Bar where Annie drowned his sorrow in song. Ralph never felt so tall.

*

Looking out the Window

I died today. Didn’t want to. Wasn’t supposed to. Girl I’ve been spending time with, saw her down on the sidewalk. Even from here, on the 10th floor, can’t mistake that hair, those curves, that swivel. Leaned out, “Hey Melissa, lookin’ fine.” Must not of heard, she kept on walking, about to turn the corner. Really wanted to catch her eye, leaned out further “Hey, Melissa.” Too far. Hope she didn’t see me. She thought I was cool.

*

Her Smile

Sometimes I will be in a place I was before and doing things I did before, but that was yesterday. Today I am in the hospital looking at the nurse I looked at yesterday when I was carted in on a gurney. She has the same smile today as she probably will have tomorrow. A smile that is kind and says: I-will-help-you-but-don’t-get-any-ideas-or-you-will-find-I’m-not-the-person-you-think-I-am. Too out of it to be tempted yesterday; tomorrow may be too late.

*

Hospital Time

5:21 p.m. The nurse left the room.
5:30 p.m. The nurse and doctor entered the room.
6:00 p.m. The doctor called the patient’s wife. She did not answer. The doctor did not leave a message.
6:15 p.m. The doctor called the patient’s wife. She did not answer. The doctor did not leave a message.
6:30 p.m. The patient’s wife called the hospital. She asked to be connected to her husband’s room. He did not answer.

Townsend Walker draws inspiration from cemeteries, foreign places, violence and strong women. A collection of short stories, 3 Women, 4 Towns, 5 Bodies & other stories was published by Deeds Publishing in 2018. Winner of a Book Excellence Award, an Eyelands Award, a Silver Feathered Quill Award and a Pinnacle Award. A novella, La Ronde was published by Truth Serum Press in 2015. Some ninety short stories have been published in literary journals and included in twelve anthologies. Short Story Awards: two nominations for the PEN/O.Henry Award, first place in the SLO NightWriters contest. Four stories were performed at the New Short Fiction Series in Hollywood. During a career in banking, he lived in New York, Paris, London, Rome, and San Francisco and wrote three books on finance: A Guide for Using the Foreign Exchange Market, Managing Risk with Derivatives, and Managing Lease Portfolios. His website is www.townsendwalker.com.

 

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