Chet McHenry

“ME INDEED” by Chet McHenry

ME INDEED By Darr     He cursed the image he was looking at. There was nothing there. No emotion, no distinct feature affording a casual observer a glimpse into his true personality. He leaned back in his chair and stared at his painted image hoping a glint of himself would seep through the layers of oil paint and reveal itself, but after several minutes he came to the realization nothing would surface, nothing.     The sweat dripped from his forehead as he looked down at carnage spewed u...

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“SNAKE EYES” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #107

Clinton raised another forkful of his omelet to his mouth.  He stopped chewing for a moment to say, “I tell you, there’s no other place like Vegas in the world.” Sarah smiled. “So you’ve  said.  Have you been to other places?”Clinton washed down the last bit of his Western omelet with a  long sip of coffee.  He wiped his mouth with the cloth napkin and set it near his empty plate. “Japan, Monte Carlo, Monaco-now that place is where the real money is. It just seemed everyone there, all dr...

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“DeJa Vue You” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #103

    The building seemed familiar to her as she approached it.  Something about its art deco lines mixed with Victorian architecture struck her as strangely reminiscent as if she’d been here or dreamed of it before.  She strained her neck to look up at the towering structure losing it’s top to perspective and the high floating clouds.       Aida shifted her gaze as she stood on the sidewalk oblivious to the throngs of people walking about her.  For a time she...

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“A Change in Life” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #75

“Please step right in.”Mabel feigned a smile toward the young woman who was ushering the line of people through the doorway. Beyond the young woman’s shoulder Mabel could see a soft pink light illuminating a very large room.  Mabel stopped in front of the young woman and looked down to see her name tag “Henrietta.”  Mabel silently cursed  her failing eyesight causing her to lean quite close to Henrietta.   “Am I in the right place Henrietta? The advertisement stated 15 Elm Street, Room 15.” &...

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“When You Reach 1%” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #72

JoDa Ten Zero One screamed in pain after severing two fingers of his right hand.  His response for such an accident came in at 99.8%  which was well within expectant norms.  His injury was treated within five minutes of the occurrence which also was the expected response time considering the variables of the accident’s location, travel time from the dispensary of the company, the readiness of staff prepared to respond to accidents within that location and the severity of the accident which came in at a 95% level...

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“Gran Ma Ma's Sweet Potato Pie” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #71

Sharon was in a panic. In two days she was hosting her family’s annual Christmas reunion at her house.  A tradition see sawing back and forth between the Washington family members for as long as she can remember.  This year it was her turn to be hostess. The thought made her hair stand on end.  Not only did she have to cook the traditional turkey and stuffing dinner for twenty or more of her cousins, aunts, uncles, grand kids, nephews, nieces, sister and brother in laws, she had to bake eight or nine of gra...

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“What's Done is Done” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #70

It’s a terrible thing to kill someone.  No matter the reason behind the act there is no way to escape one simple fact:  knowingly with premeditation or by accident you ended someone’s life and that someone’s death at your hand is irreversible. Once done there is no atonement or undoing-period. Jennifer looked down at Tony’s lifeless body oozing blood from the knife wound in his chest. How did things go so wrong?  I, I didn’t mean to …All she had been doing was chopping up a potato for tonight’s mashed ...

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“The Flock” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #63

“Why is your uncle joining us?”Mildred turned her neck around so she could see her Uncle Milfred behind her.  “He’s family. He lost his son to a hunter last month.”“And?”“You can be so cruel Henry. Besides, he fills in the gap left when Margaret flew off with what’s his name.”“Tony, I think. No wait. His name was Tim. That’s it.”“He was handsome that I must say.” “Handsome and dumb. He talked Margaret into taking the dark route. No one takes the dark route. It may be quicker, but deadlier.”“Now how would you know. Have you tak...

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“I Wish Earth Well” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #62

When I was ten I created the Inverse Ionic Engine (IIE).  An engine the size of a lawnmower yet having the ability to reach speeds nearing the speed of light or, in layman’s terms, two hundred ninety nine miles per second.  It was an astonishing accomplishment for someone my age and yet I felt no elation.  The solution to manufacture this engine came to me as if it would a normal five year old adding one and one together to make two. I was an abnormality and at age twelve began my isolation from human interactio...

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“Is This Really you Joe?” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #61

Joe prescribed to his own theory that all class reunions were bullshit.  They stood as a testament to social discourse while advertising as a social event.  All lies.I mean, who in hell would want to meet up with people you barely knew during high school or college?  Who? I’ll tell you who. Those kids you knew who grew up to be successful and want to shove their success down your throat.  So no, Joe!  You are not going to your high school reunion.Joe went to tear up his invitation but stopped...

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“I Love You” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #60

Omar stretched out his arms and yawned.  Through the opening of the cave came the burnt orange light of the dying sun.  He stood and looked down at Carmia who was still asleep.   Should he wake her?  Should he lie back down beside her and hold her tight?  He knew she lay naked under the six or seven blankets they had stolen from the abandoned Bed, Bath and Beyond  store.  It was all that was left over in the looted remains of the place.  The lucky ones, the ones ...

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“Will Today be Different?” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #59

Jessica held tightly onto the overhead leather rung as the transit car jostled her about. She tried her best not to bump into the several people packed around her as the car jerked about the tracks. Despite her best efforts to keep her feet firmly planted against the sudden wrenches of the car she ended up bumping into some guy reading the morning newspaper. She didn’t apologize. This was commuter traffic. Everyone knew the rules and expected to be tossed about on their way to work, home or wherever they were going. Bumping into one ano...

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“Can't Stop What Is” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #58

Homer Eliza Washington sat in his rocking chair on his front porch rocking and smoking his pipe. If there were anywhere in the world Homer would like to be it was here,  looking out upon the large expanse of well cut grass that was his front lawn and taking scope of the surrounding landscape. Far down the slight slope of his front yard ran Hitch Road; a narrow piece of dirt that bent and curved every so often yet lay hidden from his view by the long row of Maple trees with their branches spreading out and intertwining wit...

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“And When I Die...” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #57

I should fuck them all, leave them nothing of my ten million dollar estate and donate every penny to.. Sal paused as his mind ran through the variety of charities that were more worthy than his family. Yes, to ASPC. Sal, c’mon. Are you really that heartless and cruel?  Yes and no, but hell not one of them, even the wife, deserves a dime. Sal took a deep breath as he stared down at the blank piece of paper that would soon become his last will and testament.He took his vintage fountain pen, the one he’s owned for ...

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“The Cadaver Club” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #55

After a round of golf Jeb asked me if I was doing anything. I replied “not really why?”“Just curious. Was wondering if you’d want to come with me to this meeting I can’t get out of.”“Not really.” But then I stopped myself and thought what meeting is he talking about? I threw my golf shoes into the trunk. “What meeting?”“Just a meeting.”I looked at him. “Okay. It’s fucking Saturday. Who the hell meets on a Saturday?”He tossed his golf shoes into my trunk then his golf bag. “Look Stan. It’s a meeting and I really shoul...

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