Greg Gillis

“A Memory Best Forgotten” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #80

  Content warning: holocaust, abuse            Laying in his hospital bed awaiting the angel of death to visit, Stanislaw Kowalski held onto the hand of his grandson, Sherman, and shared a story about a time gone by but not forgotten.            Warsaw, Poland: 1942. Fourteen-year-old, Stanislaw was out in front of his family’s four-story apartment complex. He and his friends were playing a game of kick-the-can when a loud rumbl...

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“The Man I Never Knew” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #79

           “Sheldon, can you pick me up a loaf of bread and some milk on your way home?” his mother asked as Sheldon was walking out the door.            “Sure, mom. You know that I would do anything for you. I need to make a couple of stops after work, but I will swing past the grocery store too.”            “Thank you, sweetheart. Have a great day at work.”    &n...

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“My Pet Platypus” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #78

           Ten-year-old, Lawrence was playing with his radio-controlled car on a quiet residential road near the San Diego Zoo, when the car lost control and drove off the road into a wooded area. Lawrence followed the path of his toy through the long grass and discovered it half-submerged in a creek at the bottom of a hill.            After wading his way through the thick, muddy bank, Lawrence was able to reach the car and began to...

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“By the Stars” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #78

           Jessie Hanson and his wife, Jean have spent a good part of their lives together traveling the world on a J-Class sailing yacht that they named, “JASMINE” after their daughter who died as an infant of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).            Jessie, a self-made millionaire, wanted nothing more in life than to please his wife. His purchase of this 137-foot-long superyacht was his birthday present to her one year follo...

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“Fresh As Snow” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #77

           Irma and Justin McEntire, after fifty years of marriage, found themselves falling into a daily routine. Every morning at 6:00 AM, Irma would get up and go into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Justin while he shaved and showered.            They would sit together at 6:30 AM to eat a meal that usually consisted of boiled eggs, toast, and a bowl of oatmeal. Following breakfast, Justin would retrieve the newspaper from t...

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“Writer's Block” by Greg Gillis

           At thirty-four years of age, Eleanor had proven herself to be a well-respected and talented writer. With six of her ten published novels on the “Best Seller” list, Eleanor was now expected to write yet another money-maker. Her publishing company had given her eight months to come up with new material.            That was six months ago and so far, Eleanor had not written more than the first paragraph. She was suffering fro...

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“Resolution” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #76

           “What did you say?”, Joshua questioned as he pulled the earbud from his ear.            His mother replied, “I asked you why you had not taken out the garbage yet? I told you before I left for work this morning that I expected it to be done.”            “Sorry mom, I just got busy.”            “Busy? Busy doing wha...

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“Lost In The Fog” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #75

           He opened his eyes and was surrounded by medical staff inside the emergency room of a hospital. A doctor stood over him shining a small silver flashlight into the pupils of his eyes as a nurse prepared bandages to treat his wounds.            Although the whole scene seemed very traumatic, what bothered him most, was the fact that he could not remember what brought him to this moment in the first place. In fact, he did no...

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“Ten Days To Think” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #74

Michael started writing journals more than ten years ago after a devastating divorce caused him to have a nervous breakdown and his therapist thought that writing out his emotions daily would help him express how he truly felt without acting on his emotions. He was correct. Focusing his feelings out into the open, even if it was only for his record, was a great way to release a lot of his suppressed anger and bitterness toward his ex-wife or any other stresses that he may face. December 23:         &...

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“Flipping The Bird” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #73

           Fourteen-year-old, Chad was eager about the arrival of his grandparents Chuck and Louisa. Every year at Christmastime, they had been very generous with their gift-giving. On his fifth birthday, he received a television for his bedroom, (despite his parent’s disapproval), and on his twelfth birthday, they bought him a brand-new drum kit. This annoyed his parents even more than the television.            Chad continued to wa...

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“You Can't Take It With You” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #72

           Xavier and his new bride, Jessica traveled down a dark, inauspicious road toward a home that they had never been to before. It belonged to an uncle that Xavier never knew he had.            Xavier’s uncle, Bartholomew, had recently passed and this house was the location for the reading of his will. He was his father’s stepbrother, but Xavier could not recall any memories of the man.       &nbs...

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“The Great Cookie Caper” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #71

           It was a cool November morning on the east side of town. I was hired by Gladys Barker to investigate a break-in at her tiny store named, “BARKER’S BAKERY”. My name is Johnny Hardcase, Private Eye. The seventy-five-year-old widow spent all day in that little store. People came from all over just to get a batch of her famous cookies that she called, “Granny’s Best”.            It was said that everyone who had a taste could...

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“The Camping Trip” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #70

           It is incredible how one singular moment in time can affect the outcome of your entire life.            Charles Nordstrom now stood in a courtroom surrounded by lawyers, jurors, reporters, onlookers, and of course, the judge. He stands trial for a homicide case from months ago.            The year was 2017 and Charles was on a camping trip with his best friend, James...

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“A New Understanding” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #69

           From a young age, Bradley was a rebellious boy. He felt that the whole world was against him, especially his parents.            At age four, Bradley had already begun showing signs of aggression when things did not go his way. On one occasion, while in the care of his grandmother, Bradley had grabbed the corn broom and started chasing his grandmother around the house with it. This was all brought about when she told him t...

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“A Day To Remember. A Day To Forget” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #68

           This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives, but fate had other plans for the bride and groom.            The weeks that led up to their wedding day were spectacular. Beth had been fitted with a beautiful silk and lace wedding gown, strapless and elegant, while her five bridesmaids were dressed in chiffon gowns with V-shaped necklines and a slit up the left leg.         &...

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