J.R. Alton

“Gold Streak” by J.R. Alton

The crowd erupted. Then came silence. A hundred thousand eyes and half as many mouths sat agog in dumbfounded confusion at what had just happened. A streaker, so fast that even the editing booth couldn't blur out his junk, had sprung over the barriers and stolen the gold medal right off Antonio Reginald Smith's chiseled ebony chest. He had dominated the track and field Olympics on behalf of the United States, coming just ahead of his silver-medal-winning rival, Boris Uri Maxim III, the only Russian Olympian to refuse performance enhancing dr...

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“The King's Library” by J.R. Alton

Submitted to Contest #251

The desert noonday sun is a brutal master. It demands every ounce of energy and returns nothing–no trees, no shade, no life. Here in the Dunes of Duranan it is relentless. It is a far cry from the icy shores of Agária from whence I hail, but such a journey is necessary if the knowledge I seek can be found hither. For any who should read these words, allow me to expound upon my quest. My name is Émata, scribe of the Dianoa, and student of wisdom. I was raised in the finest learning institutes the northern kingdom of Aglia has to offer, a...

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“Litter for a Friend” by J.R. Alton

Derek stared out over the Atlantic Ocean, its white crests succumbing to the will of the biting wind which hit his face. The deep cobalt waters spoke to him in whispers and howls. He closed his eyes as he leaned his elbows against the rickety, wooden pier. The smell of saltwater, pungent during warmer months, was absent here in the New England winter. Of course, he would say that saltwater itself has no smell, but the creatures which live in them do, and olfactory receptors are more prone to receiving stimulus in moist air. The smell never c...

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“I Love Lamp” by J.R. Alton

Submitted to Contest #239

Thunderstorms. What an interesting phenomenon. Howling winds, incessant rains, and particles splitting the air with the force of three hundred million volts. Such ferocity, yet here in the safety of her home, Sarah found the raging squall cathartic. Plugging in her electric car, Sarah considered how minuscule its power was compared to the flash of lightning outside the garage door windows. The vehicle was a gift to herself; the final purchase from the paid-out life insurance policy on her late husband, Daniel. He would approve, of cours...

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“Requiem for a Runner” by J.R. Alton

Submitted to Contest #235

Rubber soles slapped the damp pavement as heated breath dissipated in the chilled morning air. The fallen leaves had turned hazel underfoot as the last of autumn gave way to winter. There was no need for music; every step was the beating of a drum, and the shrill bird calls like a melody in this symphony of sweat and toil.Four minutes.Aaron picked up the pace. His lungs and heart begged for mercy, his legs a slave to his mind. The world record for fastest one mile would be his and he would torment every fiber of his being to make it so.Three...

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