Douglas J. Veverka

“That House” by Douglas J. Veverka

“You remember the first time we met, don’t you? You were in the same position I was in. Basically securing shelter. The winter was brutal and neither of us wanted to be out in it. But there we were together in that empty room.”  The overweight cat sprawled across the island in the kitchen. His black and white face surrounding his green eyes glanced back. Then continued to stare. “You were thinner than. I was too. I’d come off the midnight turn, change out of uniform, and head this way. Walk through that dilapidated addition into this ...

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“The Medic” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #151

She dreamt of this day since she wore pigtails and jelly shoes on her way to elementary school.  The rolling fields of soybean, wheat, and corn passed by outside the yellow bus, as she tucked into the brown seat, leafing through a tattered book titled The Ocean.  Turning the pages slowly, her eyes glued to the photos and words inside, she arrived at her favorite page with quiet excitement.  Her delicate finger traced the shape of a large fin emerging from the water. She lifted her head from the image and stared out the window,...

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“The Awakening” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #140

The weary soldier sauntered toward his barracks, exhausted from the humid jungle air, barely able to breathe under the weight of his surroundings. His skin glistened in the dim light that scattered throughout the base camp. He passed a dark man leaning back in a chair, an M-16 draped across his lap. “Ronnie V., how was it out there today? Another beautiful day in Nam’. You stay hydrated and keep those feet dry?” the man asked from the shadows.“Roger that, Sgt. Thompson. Keep ’em clean and dry. We pulled no punches out there and got...

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“Subtle Blessings” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #132

I stood for several moments taking in the scene.  The lake stretched for miles, tree-covered islands reflected off the mirror-like surface. The scent of pine wafted in the air as the water lapped against the wooden dock. Nature nestled me to its bosom, whispering promises of delight in exchange for my time and admiration.  Dad walked up next to me.  “Well this is nice,” he said glancing out, “now let's get the car unpacked.” He turned and walked away.   My eyes remained on the splendor.  I shook my head and th...

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“Pilgrimage to Indian City” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #131

His head shot back and forth between an opened book on his lap and the woodlot next to the road. “This has to be it,” Jonathan said to his older brother, Mike, sitting behind the steering wheel. Their car idled as its dome light illuminated the text at the top of the page. In bold, calligraphic font, it read David’s Kingdom, and below it a detailed pen and ink drawing of a small square of land, a lake, a spider web of roads, and a clump of trees. The map was located in the opening pages of his favorite book, All Gave Some, by his literary ic...

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“Pymatuning” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #130

The shoreline of Pymatuning Lake is my place of peace, an escape from the overwhelming, the chaotic, and the messy. It is the constant in an unforgiving world. A place that held my hand through my parent’s divorce. My favorite spot was a narrow strip of land that jutted out into the water with just enough space for a worn picnic table. I’d sit there on its tabletop, feet planted firmly on the bench, elbows on my knees, hands folded, and eyes mesmerized on nature’s glory. The placid water’s invitation to stare at its glistening reflection of ...

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“Audience of One” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #129

A couple settled in across from each other at a table next to a window with the perfect view of the hillside, empty of anything but the blanket of mother nature's winter splendor. The full moon shed its light on the snowflake’s gracious dance through the night sky to the earth below collecting their contemporaries as it accumulated. Lodgers roamed about the room, heads tilted back, admiring its vaulted ceilings with massive trunks of wood crisscrossing the span. Others delighted at the staircase with its spindles of hand-carved angels, ...

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“The Walk” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #127

Carol shot up in bed. She was covered in sweat and gasping for air as stiffened arms held her up.  It felt like a python constricted around her chest while her stomach spewed lava into her throat. She looked straight ahead into the blurry darkness, listening, hoping for silence, but it came again. The sound penetrated her ears and she knew there was no avoiding it. She knew it was the darkness bringing her greatest fear.  Her lips quivered as she blurted out the words,  “Jeff! Jeff! Get up! Now! Get up!” Blonde hair rustled o...

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“The Dark Cloud” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #126

 It was quiet as the sun rose behind him, the warm rays hitting his back, and a light breeze bringing the earthy smell of spring. Jonathan gazed out at the field beyond the swell that rolled and sprawled all the way to the wood line, and the edge of his property. He shook his head, staring out at what he thought was a beautiful landscape. His eyes shifted to the farmhouse, their farmhouse, covered in a green metal roof and brown vinyl siding. A few pieces of siding hung loosely from a windstorm over the winter, but that was all. Jonatho...

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“Milkshakes” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #125

“You two are late.” Stan barked as two bright-eyed boys walked into the modest kitchen at the back of the house. “Better late than never grandpa,” Dominic said with a grin. He and his younger brother David, both winded, shoved each other before grabbing chairs surrounding a square table tucked in the corner of the tiny room. They spun them around and hopped up onto the shiny cushions. “What the hell are you jumping around for? Goddamn it! Just sit,” their grandfather demanded.Stan took a deep breath. He moved his attention to ...

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