Jason Burchfield

“A New Year's Eve Tradition Continues” by Jason Burchfield

I knelt down in a panel van checking the straps one last time for reliability. Everything seemed tight and secure. The floor was completely clear of debris. The chairs were bolted tight to the floor. It was that season once more, hunting time. I know a white panel van sitting around the backside of a large bar seems creepy, and most of the time it is. But it was New Year’s Eve. And if you had a few bucks lying around and enough forethought to order in advance, well then a few party themed vinyl stickers could ...

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“A Tale of Two Knights” by Jason Burchfield

It was a cool spring morning. The birds were chirping somewhere in the far off distance. A light cool breeze made napping in the shade of the mountain side perfect. I was nearly in the blissfulness of dreaming when I heard faint clanking. Clank. Pause. Clank. Pause. I sighed. My nap was about to be disturbed. Such a perfect day was about to be ruined by what was bound to be another idiot. I decided to go ahead and wake completely up. The clanging was getting louder so I got my yawning...

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“Destiny's Fraud ” by Jason Burchfield

“Okay,” Missy said. “His name is Jim. He works construction. His wife is Leslie. Based on the conversation I overheard he wants to know if it’s a good idea to try and start up his own business.” I nodded as I watched the couple on the camera monitor. I was trying to get a feel for their body language. It was never good to do a cold read on somebody who was overly tense. I needed them as calm as possible. Low heart rates make people less objectionable. But if you keep them waiting too long the ir...

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“Blood Moon” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #83

I floated just below the surface as the last of the sunlight faded away. The once in a lifetime blood moon was due tonight. It’s said the goddess Selene grants one wish to a worthy soul on the blood moon. I’d been praying to her my entire life waiting for this moment. I fluttered my fin enough to break through the surface of the water. The cool night air was relaxing. I leaned back and floated on the surface staring up at the moon waiting for the change to happen. I didn’t really know what it would look like,...

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“3 AM” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #65

“Are you coming with me or not?” Lizzie asked me while she batted her eyes trying to look cuter than normal. I didn’t want to, but it was so hard to tell her no. We’d been dating since spring, but it felt like years. She’s the one, and by one I mean the one I shouldn’t be able to be with. She’s gorgeous, like off the scale beautiful. Super smart too, top of the class and head cheerleader.  I shook my head, “You really want to spend the night in a cemetery? It’s cold and wet.” She grabbed my hands, and...

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“Corrective Punishment” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #58

My lip was pulsing, I had a tooth loose, and I had a faint metal taste floating around in my mouth. Tears were running down my face not because I was crying, but from the impact. My left eye was still blurry when my mother walked into my bedroom with an ice pack.            “Here put this on your eye so it doesn’t swell too badly,” she said not even looking upset.            I shook my head, “Why do you care if it swells? &...

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“Healing Cuts” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #48

I read her chart several times. Nine years old is too young to have cancerous tumors growing in your brain. I guess there’s no age that it’s good, but bad things shouldn’t happen to children. I waited until three in the morning, the perfect time. Her parents were passed out uncomfortably in their chairs. My one coworker was probably dozing in and out at the desk waiting for the shift to end. Then there was me trying to mentally prepare myself for the pain to come. I had no problem making the trade, but I didn’t ...

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“Pain Free” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #29

I kept a firm grip on the box cutter as I ran it down the top of my thigh. The razor blade walked through my skin with ease causing goose bumps to roll across the top of my head. I leaned back against the wall enjoying the euphoric release as blood started to work its way from the incision. It’s a short lived high but the resulting pain helps block out others.I’ve been to every kind of doctor, every kind of medication they could think to prescribe, but nothing seems to help. The pain in my head seems to be growing. I...

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“Scales of Life” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #27

We sat in a circle of chairs so everyone was exposed to one another. I could feel their eyes staring a hole into the top of my head as I focused on the floor tiles. There’s always imperfections in their alignment, focusing on the flaws allows my mind to lose track of time. These meetings seem to get longer each time; I’m not sure why I still show up.“John would you like to share today,” she asked from across the group.The circle is supposed to signify there wasn’t a leader, but the world is filled with lies. Janet was in ...

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“Life Choices” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #27

I had never dreamed I could be so happy being a dad. Before I was a father it was all about me and my wife, doing whatever made us happy at that moment. Now I spend all of my free time doing anything that puts a smile on my little princess’ face. At six years she’s my entire world. When Laura was pregnant I wanted a boy, most men do. But when they handed me my little Emma the world stopped spinning. She looked up at me, and that was it.I sat there at the kitchen table watching my beautiful six year old eating he...

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“Bookshelf solutions ” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #25

Maybe it’s not them, maybe it’s me. I kept tapping my foot on the ground. Maybe it was just another bad day at work. I’m sure they were having a bad day too.  They didn’t mean to outright put me down like that. But here I am again staring at books that say they can help me through this situation.Self-help books are a joke though. They’re written by so called doctors or experts that think they really understand what you’re going through. If I’m not completely sure what I’m going through how can someone else....

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“The Price of a Bullet” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #24

“High noon tomorrow boy,” he grunted deeper than necessary in front of everyone.I tried not to make eye contact with everyone staring at us, “I don’t think that has to happen. We had a discussion and I declined your offer, we can both move on now.”He spun on his heels and looked down at me, “I made your family a generous offer, and you insulted me. Come noon tomorrow I plan to draw on you. Unless you’re a coward, you’re gone draw on me. We’ll let the Lord settle who’s right and wrong.”As he walked away, I could see everyone whisper...

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“For the Love of Snow” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #23

The giant flakes continued to fall without any sign of letting up. Why people always go on and on about loving snow I’ll never understand. I bet those people have never been snowed in for a week straight hoping their food held out. If it were up to me I would’ve moved us south years ago, but Lily loved the snow.She was lying on the couch wrapped up in layers of blankets staring out of the bay windows at the blizzard. One hand was poking out of the blankets holding a scrap piece of paper, that I could see her eyes steal gl...

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“A New Year's Eve Tradition” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #22

Everyone has their reasons for being at a New Year’s Eve party, and I am no exception. For most it’s just another socially excepted time to get plastered drunk with no guilt or shame. There’s always a few in the group that use the excuse to loosen their morals to engage in acts they normally wouldn’t because tomorrow will magically clear the slate for a new beginning.  Every year it’s the same thing loud music, spilled alcohol, and people trying their hardest to not be alone. The only thing that ever changes is the number...

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“Fate's Keeper” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #18

I hate feeling obligated into anything, especially attending events. I know you’re supposed to be there for family, but mine wasn’t as tight knit as movies make you believe they should be. We were at some fancy restaurant in town for a rehearsal dinner for my brother’s wedding. But what’s a rehearsal dinner anyway, just another chance for the two families to argue, fight, or compete. I guess that’s a bit harsh; our two families get along in general. My brother and fiancé have known one another for as far back as I can rem...

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