Arnold Edwards

“Shoulda' Had the S'mores” by Arnold Edwards

SHOULDA HAD THE S’MORES "Summer gig of a lifetime, my ass," was the first thought that scooted through my mind. It was utter bullshit from the start. Chopping onions in a kitchen where the air conditioning went out daily was one of the many problems. My ex, Carter, got me this so-called summer job. He said it would pay well and give me the experience I was seeking as a new culinary school graduate. I was at the top of the class, but I had my sights set even higher than this. Yes, my ex got me here, but as it turned out, he wasn't ex enough. ...

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“Bass Reeves: Judgement Day” by Arnold Edwards

Submitted to Contest #204

BASS REEVES The setting sun dappled the land in a golden haze. Three horsemen plodded up a small incline into a stand of Cottonwoods and Scrub Oak. On the other side of this wooded island, a vast expanse of land stretched out before them, waist high buffalo grass swayed like ocean waves between them and to the next island of shrubbery and trees. The lead rider, Charles Running Dog, pulled his tall gelding to a halt, the others two riders did the same. As a full-blooded Cherokee, The United States Marshals hired Charles as a ...

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“Jumpin' For Joy” by Arnold Edwards

Submitted to Contest #188

JUMPIN' FOR JOY "So? What's the catch?" It was a simple enough question, or at least I foolishly thought so. But the question was directed at two classical morons, who perceived nothing past their won privileged needs and wants. My bad. So here I am, lounging on a vast field in Southern Illinois, waiting for the foolishness I signed up for. Again, my wrong. The sun desperately attempted to squeeze through a thick layer of threatening clouds and succeeded to the extent that the sky was kissing the horizon in the distance. Thirty of us wer...

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“Reunion” by Arnold Edwards

Submitted to Contest #54

REUNION I have been looking in the mirror for over a month now and nothing changed. Somewhere inside my body lurked the hundred eighteen-pound high school senior of fifteen years ago; volleyball, cheerleading, drama, softball, and best smile. I needed to find that girl before my class reunion this Saturday. But this mirror wasn’t very kind and concealed everything except the truth. “Damn, Taylor!” Where are you?” I asked myself every day. Salads, water, yogurt, veggies, and fruit, not to mention workouts at the health ...

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“Come Full Circle” by Arnold Edwards

Submitted to Contest #51

COME FULL CIRCLE Jackson Snell lived for his morning coffee, his routine, his ritual if you will. Growing up on a truck farm with his parents and younger brother and sisters in rural Alabama, is where he cultivated this penchant for morning coffee. It traveled with to Chicago, some forty years ago. At sixty-seven years of age it stayed with him. This daily routine fortified his resolve that his decision to accept a transfer forty years ago as the right one. Now he lived in East Lake View, not a swanky neighborhood, bu...

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