Daniel Norton

“Mary Lou” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #105

Mary Lou Weston is an easy going, perky, lively, well liked, smart, athletic and funny middle schooler. She is of average size for her age, dirty blonde hair she likes to wear in a ponytail. She reads and is never seen without a book close by. Lovs telling jokes, hates wearing a dress for any reason, adores both her parents but has mixed feelings for her older brother. This could be because she is a better athelete than him and he always seems threatened. She swims like a dolphin, plays volleyball and soccar. But she really lov...

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“Is She Really Going Out With Him?” by Daniel Norton

There she was again. In his dreams he had asked her out many times. But in real life like now he was too chicken. She went into the library, a place he entered only when necessary for a school paper. But today he followed her in. To him she was like a swan oozing of beauty and grace. Why would she ever go out with a geek like him. Oh, well. He could still dream. She sat at a window table, took out her laptop and seemed to be working on something probably for school. He pulled a random book from the nearest shelf and...

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“Surprise Treasure” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #103

The piccture was one I did not remember seeing before. According to my older sister it was of my grandfather's sugar house. On the back someone had written something that looked like some sort of code. What did it mean? Was it about the actual picture itself or of the old sugar house. My sister had returned to the kitchen where she was going through things there. I went and showed her the picture again. "Yeah that's pretty neat. That's grandpa and grandma on the right. On the left is probably great grandpa and Great Uncle Jo...

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“More Than Just A Childhood Event” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #102

As much as I hated to part with it as it took me back to my childhood I knew it was time. Toby was turning eight tomorrow and his father and I were planning to grant him his birthday wish. He was our fourth generation of Cub fans. My dad was a die hard Cub fan who took me to my first game when I was six. We had seats directly behind the Cub dugout. I had found a ball before the game and after the game the entire team autographed it for me. I had decided it was time to pass it on to Toby. Game day and his birthday arrive...

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“Tag Sale Reflections” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #101

"TAG SALE" He had seen these signs before but never had paid them any attention. This day something in his head said this was a must see sale. Turning down the driveway, following the arrows, he soon found himself parking on the grass with over a dozen other observers. It was an old house. He learned that the origional owner had been a carpenter and had built the house over one hundred years ago. Family had upgraded it over the years but with the death of the last remaining occupant, the surviving family had opted to sell. ...

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“Let's Do It Again” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #100

The hostess led us to a window table. It was the same table we had shared fifty years ago. We both were actually surprised the place was still around. "I remember our last dinner here like it was only yesterday." "Me too. Those were some great times. Can't wait to hear what's been happening with you." "And you're gonna have to tell me about your last fifty years." "May I start you two off with some drinks? We have Pepsi products or something from the bar." "I'll have a Pepsi Mango if you have it." "Sure do....

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“A Friend In Need” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #99

Bobby Lockwood had been my best friend since first grade. We had played together, gone to school together, had sleepovers and did little league together. Our family life was a total opposite. Of course since I was an only child I was treatedlike royalty. Bobby on the other hand was blamed for everything that went wrong at his house. I cannot call it a home because for Bobby it was hell. At least once a week Bobby's stepfather would find a reason to beat him. I found out one weekend when we had a sleepover. When Bobby took h...

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“And That's Just Sad” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #98

It was tough for me growing up. Both of my parents were very strict. Yet they would send me out to play and tell me not to come home until it was time for dinner. It was hard trying to make friends. The few I had never wanted to come over and play at my house. And I was never invited to play at their homes. While my few friends were having sleepovers I was at home by myself playing with my train set and matchbox cars until I learned to read. Then I would read and listen to the local top 40 on AM radio. Thought this was fun un...

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“Midnight Sun” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #97

Insomnia had reared it's ugly head once again. Was it just her or did others have this same issue. Lately it seemed to be happening more often. It was getting old and very annoying. Was no fun losing sleep as her doctor kept telling her how important it was to get a good night's sleep for your health. If that was true he should have prescribed a sleeping aid for her. Instead here she was once again. The clock is ticking at midnight and she finds herself sitting at her window looking out into the dark of night at her sleeping n...

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“Stranger In Town” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #96

So who is this Stranger In Town? In the quaint small town of Lorry, when a stranger walks down Main Street, everyone notices. That's the way it was twenty or so years ago on a warm August afternoon as the folks of town were preparing for the weekend. Mister Weeks was preparing the little league field for the evening game with rivals from Wallace. He was the first to spot the stranger who passed the ball field in a flashy new sedan. Mister Weeks knew nobody in town with a vehicle like that and wondered why the stranger might ...

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“Should I Stay or Should I Go” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #95

Should I stay of should I go. That is the dilemma I have been pondering for the past several days. After growing up in a military family, yes I am or was a military brat, I determined that when I left home I would find a place to settle and would stay. I had hated that we had moved so much while I was growing up. It kept me afraid of making friends as I knew that as soon as I became tight with someone dad would be transferred and we would be moving again. That was not a big problem during grade school but when I reached junior h...

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“Easy Question?” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #94

So why does my story have to be between 1,000 and 3,000 words? Because you said so! Growing up is hard enough. Many times it seemed like my parents, mostly my dad, forgot that. Why his reluctance to answer such easy questions I will never understand at least that is what I thought. He was that way with me. He was that way with my siblings. And when we were very young we thought our parents knew everything. Most of the time mom would explain and we would understand right away. But dad seemed to avoid answering and wh...

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“Oh Brother, Who Art Thou” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #93

John Mark and David Wayne are identical twins. But that is as far as it goes. Where just about everything else is concerned they are complete opposites. John Mark is very outgoing, talkative, active and a flashy dresser. David Wayne is quiet, reserved, a reader who likes being by himself. So when they both are invited to a major party, their parents expected them to go leaving a parental evening of peace and quiet. But David Wayne made it very clear he did not want to go. "Why do I have to go?" "You both were invi...

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“Bad Shadow-Good Shadow” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #92

I was six years old when I first learned about the shadows. Holidays were always spent a Grandpa and Grandma Wilkinson's house in the country. A big old house that was built by grandpa's father and added on to by grandpa. At first there was no indoor plumbing but grandpa took care of that on orders from grandma. A laundry room and two bathrooms, one full size by grandma's bedroom and one smaller off the kitchen where the woodshed had been. Trees surrounded the house and barn. Elsewhere around the house were various bushes a...

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“Return To Sender Or Lender” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #91

My Grandpa Frank's funeral was the first time I had seen a dead body. Now my mother, Aunt Susan and Uncle Joe were getting ready to go and clean out his house. I wanted to go but mom did not want me to go along. "Why can't I go, Mom?" "I don't think you would have any fun." "Seriously, Mom. None of you are going to have any fun either. You're going to clean out Grandpa's house." "True but I still really don't think you should go." "Come on, Karen," (that's my mom) "give the kid a break. If he wants to go, l...

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