This week’s Fiction Friday prompt: Include a telepathic parrot in your story. I had loads of fun with this prompt. All of this story is true, drawing from a day spent on our vacation last week at the beach, except for the event at the very end. I enjoyed writing it; I hope you enjoy reading it. I was on vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida with my wife last week when something beyond the realm of reasonable explanations happened. She and I were touring the Pier Park area, just having seen The Karate Kid at the Grand Theater, perusing the myriad shops and boutiques that line the street. Although I had spent much time in the area as a child, this was a new shopping center – an outdoor mall, if you … Read entire article »

This week’s Fiction Friday prompt: A Coming of Age Tale Marty lounged in front of the crackling fire in his new folding fabric and aluminum chair; a plate in his lap; his legs crossed before him with his boots propped up on the rocks of the fire ring. Enjoying the warmth in his toes while the rest of his body bathed comfortably in the cool night air, he failed to notice the soles of his brand new boots beginning to melt. A heavy pair of boots ended their stride immediately to his left. He looked up to see his father smiling down at him holding a large chunk of meat on the end of a barbecue skewer in one hand and a beer in the other. He was wearing an apron that proclaimed … Read entire article »