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Chris (Zan) Hough

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2025

Stories (12)

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14 Followers

29 Following

12 Stories

122 karma pts

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Happy Birthday, Rye! Here's What You've Won.

Chris (Zan) Hough

(knock knock) “Yes?”“Coach Moore?” Kevin asked.“Kevin Woodward. What can I do-you-for?” Coach Woodward said awkwardly.“If you have a minute, Curt’s birthday is a week from Sunday. I’m planning to take him to a Michigan State game.”“That sounds fun.”“Yeah, and I wondered if you had any connections. I was kind of hoping I could get him onto the court.” Kevin added a question mark to his statement.“Honestly, that would be amazing exposure for him. Give me a few days.”"Yes, sir. I appreciate you.” Kevin found Curt in the gymnasium practicing fr...

2 likes

I'm more of a large bird.

Chris (Zan) Hough

Submitted to Contest #305

With Lucille Ball's beauty and Katharine Hepburn's tenacity in their youth, Joyce Evelyn Battin had a command about her, especially with men. It didn’t hurt that her allure was also funny, almost a Julia Sugarbaker of her region. For her friend group, she could be counted on always to cut a bitch, but with words, of course. It was baffling how many men would test this about her. They all lived to regret it. She had blond hair, always well-styled and battle-tested. Her eyes were a piercing blue. She got away with calling her parents by their ...

5 likes

I'm Not Going To Be Like These People, Rye.

Chris (Zan) Hough

Submitted to Contest #305

It was harvest again, the first anniversary of Kevin and Curt sharing their first affection for each other. To mark its importance, Curt showed up at Kevin’s house, this time at 9 pm, for Kevin’s first field grain run of the night. “Surprise!” Said Curt.“How did you… Never mind. I’m so happy you’re here at 9 pm instead of 3 am.”“Yeah, and I can go on all three runs, and we can spend the time in between, if you want.”“Okay! I will cuddle you so hard. Beware!” said Kevin. “Okay, you have a coat this time. That’s good. Charles Woodward was deep...

2 likes

Pop!

Chris (Zan) Hough

Submitted to Contest #304

POP! That was the sound Kevin's car made as he hit the pothole in front of Curt's house. It was also the sound of his cassette deck in the car, to queue up his favorite Vitamin Z song: Circus Ring. Curt jumped in, and they stopped by the local grocery store in Saranac called Adgates to pick up a few things for the party. Shopping with Curt was curiously appealing to Kevin. He watched as Curt decided on a bag of chips, pulling one from the back of the shelf that wasn’t facing out, which required him to remove several bags to get to it.“What?”...

9 likes

Talking to Grass and Granite

Chris (Zan) Hough

Submitted to Contest #304

Shook. Kevin was "shook," once again, just being here. 55-year-old Kevin Woodward sat in the grass before a well-established grave and lowered one red rose to the headstone in the Saranac Cemetery on David Highway in Saranac, Michigan. Over the many years, he went to many burials here; his family was buried across the street, but he would never get over this one. Although he would go on to have a productive life, he would never forget this loss. “You know, it has been three and a half decades, and I still miss you,” Kevin said.“I’m going t...

4 likes

Homecoming Dance, with a twist-er

Chris (Zan) Hough

September 20, 1986, was Saranac High School's Homecoming football game, and there was a dance the following evening on Saturday. Curt was considered part of the school's athletics division and was expected to participate in the homecoming court. Curt took Rachel, which was the expected thing to do, and Rachel wanted to help get Kevin onto the court, but Kevin was reluctant to bring any more attention to the festivities than was already present. After asking all his friends, he realized that he would either take Rachel up on her offer or go s...

2 likes

Happy New Year 1986

Chris (Zan) Hough

As Curt and the rest walked in to grab a table, Sarah greeted them as she entered the dining room from the kitchen. “I was about to end my shift,” she said. “Oh, good, so you can sit down and enjoy the pizza you’re probably sick of by now with us,” Curt said slyly.Sarah looked around for her boss and said, “Never… I’m never sick of this stuff,” as she took off her name tag and apron. “Hopefully, I don’t smell,” Sarah said. Kevin arrived with the two missing members of the group and sat down next to Curt. “Hi,” he said. Curt smiled and said,...

3 likes

Glass Houses on a Rocky Beach

Chris (Zan) Hough

Late in the morning, almost everyone found themselves at Grand Haven State Park, which included the city’s beach. Once their spot was set up, Kevin and Curt decided to walk down the cement pier towards the red lighthouse. On the north side of the dock was the channel inlet for boats entering the Grand River, bordered to the north by the fisherman’s pier. “WOODS!” could suddenly be heard in the distance.“I think that lady on the boat is yelling at you. Does someone call you ‘Woods ’?” Curt asked. “Oh my gosh, that’s my Aunt Gee.” Kevin said,...

4 likes

Some Real "Who Shot JR?" Stuff, Brother.

Chris (Zan) Hough

Submitted to Contest #303

After talking to Sarah on the phone, Curt returned to sit with Kevin in the living room, bringing him tea. There was a lot to process. During the homecoming dance, a tornado had grazed their high school the previous night. They were trapped in a closet during the storm. Kevin’s injuries could have just as easily been a serious head injury, but he escaped with just a rash from flying debris, which may not have happened if he had not moved quickly to protect his boyfriend. Then, they stayed up all night to make sure Kevin didn’t have a concuss...

10 likes

To Want A Guy Like Me

Chris (Zan) Hough

Submitted to Contest #302

To Want A Guy Like Meby Zan HoughThe calendar flipped to July, and in no time at all, the Ionia Free Fair was here. This was a big deal across Michigan and beyond because people came from all over for the Free Fair, including politicians, national talent such as country music stars, and celebrities of all walks. This was a place to be seen, promoted, discovered, or elected. It was Kevin’s first time, and he didn’t expect such a big deal. Vince Gill was on stage when they arrived, so there were wall-to-wall people.“This is your first. Your fi...

13 likes

Broken Mirrors

Chris (Zan) Hough

Submitted to Contest #301

Sarah Kent had everything under control. Everything except her ketchup addiction, but other than that... everything. She was at the top of her class as a senior and on her way to being the valedictorian for Saranac's Class of 1988, which she clearly won in May of that same year.Later that autumn, she started classes at Michigan State University and lived at East Akers Hall, a coed dorm. As fate would have it, she met Nelson Larowski, who grew up just down the river from Sarah in Portland. Sarah was from Saranac. They had similar childhoods, ...

8 likes

Grand River

Chris (Zan) Hough

Submitted to Contest #301

Grand River1985 Kevin Woodward thought his life was over at sixteen, uprooting himself from the only life he knew in Atlanta. His brother had outed him to his mother, and she freaked out, then sent him to live with his dad. Kevin didn’t know his father well and hadn’t seen him since he was twelve. He was now 800 miles away from anyone he knew, on a farm in rural western Michigan that mainly grew corn. There was no time for his inexperienced father, Charles, to register him for school. Kevin wasn’t even sure his father knew how to parent at...

9 likes