Edward J. McCoul

“The Silent Muse” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #274

“The Silent Muse” By Edward J. McCoul The gallery was buzzing with whispers and the soft clinking of champagne flutes. A crowd had gathered around a single painting—a portrait, stunning and mysterious. But the artist, Gabriel Wright, was distant, his gaze fixed on the doorway, as if waiting for something or someone. In his heart, he knew that tonight would bring answers. It had started years earlier, on a night when Gabriel had nearly given up painting for good. He’d been struggling with creative block for months. Every brushstroke felt forc...

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“The Time Traveler’s Gift” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #274

“The Time Traveler’s Gift” By Edward J. McCoul Dr. Ethan Carter was a scientist by day, a dreamer by night. Under fluorescent lab lights, surrounded by beakers and blueprints, he designed devices most would call impossible. He worked for a secret government agency, funded to uncover, harness, and, occasionally, hide what the world wasn’t ready to see. But his latest invention was not for the agency, nor for the world. It was, secretly, for himself. Ethan had built a time machine. It wasn’t some cobbled-together contraption with flashing ligh...

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“Thunder Riders of Yesterday” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #273

“Thunder Riders of Yesterday” By Edward J. McCoulRoy Rogers squinted as the wind whipped around him. He reached for his hat, pulling it down low against the gust that didn’t feel quite right. This wind smelled strange, tinged with a scent like burning wires and wet concrete. He wasn’t in the desert, that much was clear. No more open skies. No more dust kicking under the hooves of Trigger. When he finally opened his eyes, he wasn’t looking out over the wide plains of Texas. He was looking down.Way down.Roy’s heart skipped a beat. Below h...

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“Whisper of Wings” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #273

The Whisper of WingsThe night fell quietly over the small town of Crescent Hollow, where the stars shimmered like diamonds scattered across velvet. It was the kind of town where nothing extraordinary ever happened, where life moved at a slow, predictable pace—until the angel came.Nathaniel had been sent to Earth with a purpose, though he wasn’t told exactly what it was. Angels rarely were. Their missions were delivered through feeling and intuition, through a deeper understanding that lay far beneath the surface of human reasoning. All he kn...

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“In the Shadow of Secrets” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #273

“In the Shadow of Secrets” by Edward J. McCoulSamantha Burke had the eerie sensation that someone was following her again.It started three days ago, a prickling awareness at the back of her neck whenever she stepped outside. At first, she chalked it up to paranoia—just an overactive imagination, she told herself. But tonight, as the fog rolled in thick and heavy over the London streets, the feeling had intensified.She could hear it now. Footsteps. Always a few paces behind.Pulling her scarf tighter around her neck, Samantha kept walking, f...

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“P. T. Barnum, Anonymous and Magnanimous” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #195

“P. T. Barnum, Anonymous and Magnanimous!”Phineas Taylor Barnum, better known as P.T. Barnum, was a man of many talents. He was a showman, a businessman, and a philanthropist. He was the kind of man who always had a smile on his face, and he loved nothing more than making people happy.The American Museum, Barnum's grand entertainment attraction, drew millions of visitors to the intersection of Broadway and Ann streets in New York.The museum was a five-story marble structure filled with a wide variety of exhibits and attractions. In addition ...

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“Tonto, A Faithful Kimosabe” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #195

"Tonto, A Faithful Kimosabe"Tonto rode alongside the Lone Ranger on their trusty horses, Silver and Scout. The sun beat down on the dusty terrain. Tonto was lost in thought until the sound of gunfire shattered the silence.The Lone Ranger spurred Silver into a gallop saying, “Hi HO, Silver!”, and Tonto followed close behind. As they rode towards the gunfire, they heard the screams of a young girl. They found her father, the sheriff, frantically looking for her."Please, you have to help me," he begged. "My daughter, Kate, has been kidnapp...

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“The Rosetta Stone Hero” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #194

“The Rosetta Stone Hero”In the year 1799, the French army under Napoleon Bonaparte was making its way through Egypt. Among the soldiers was a man named Pierre-Francois Bouchard, an officer with a keen interest in history and archaeology.One day, as the troops were digging a foundation for a fort near the town of Rosetta, Bouchard noticed a large stone sticking out of the ground. Curious, he had the stone examined, and to his amazement, it turned out to be a monumental slab of black basalt, covered in inscriptions in three different scripts.B...

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“Arigata-Meiwaku, Bring It On!” by Edward J. McCoul

“Arigata-Meiwaku, Bring It On!”Hiro was a young man from California who had always been fascinated by Japanese culture. Growing up, he had been exposed to Japanese cuisine, anime, and video games, which had sparked his interest in the country.As he got older, Hiro began to delve deeper into Japanese culture, learning about its history, traditions, and language. He studied Japanese in college and even spent a semester abroad in Tokyo, where he fell in love with the country and its people.After graduating from college, Hiro knew that he wanted...

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“Grace Finds A Grandma Moses” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #192

“Grace Finds A Grandma Moses” Grace loved nothing more than browsing antique shows in her free time. She enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, the possibility of discovering hidden treasures, and the satisfaction of haggling for a good deal. One sunny afternoon, she came across an antique roadside show and decided to stop by. As she was walking around, something caught her eye – a beautiful painting of a rural scene. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was signed by none other than Grandma Moses. Grace was familiar with the artist’s name, and ...

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“A Lost Friend Found” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #192

“A Lost Friendship Found” I, James, never imagined that my life would change so drastically in just one day. I was a regular guy living a regular life, until I stumbled upon a mysterious device that would take me on a journey through time.It all started when I was walking through a flea market in search of some unique items to add to my collection. I came across a strange-looking object sitting on a table in a corner. The vendor told me it was a time machine, and I laughed it off, thinking it was a silly prank.But something in my gut told me...

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““Jack’s Journey and His Treasure”” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #192

“Jack’s Journey and His Treasure” Once upon a time, in a small town nestled deep in the mountains, there lived a man named Jack. Jack was a hardworking farmer who had never traveled beyond his village, and had never thought that his simple life could hold any surprises. However, one day as he was plowing his field, he stumbled upon a small, rusted metal box buried in the dirt. He was curious and decided to investigate.As he lifted the lid, he was shocked to see a glittering pile of gold coins and precious jewels inside. He couldn't believe h...

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““From Endless Cycle to Boundless Success”” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #192

“From Endless Cycle to Boundless Success” John had been stuck in an endless cycle for what felt like an eternity. Every day felt the same, and he couldn't escape the feeling of being trapped. He would wake up every morning, go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, and then go to bed, only to repeat the same routine the next day.John had always dreamed of breaking free from this monotonous routine, but he didn't know how to do it. He felt like he was stuck in a never-ending cycle, and he had lost all hope of ever breaking free.One day, Jo...

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