William Hogg

“New Masta” by William Hogg

    Robert White stepped out of his pick-up and shook his head slowly as he looked at the hard, red, Georgia soil pushed to the side of the scalped opening. Even though it was mid-October, it was still warm and dry. The ground had been pretty at one time, full of volunteer pines and scrubby wild permission trees. Strange to Rob, but there was a stand of hyssop anise plants infusing the air with a wonderful aroma.     The large front-end loader bucket creaked and groaned as it passed through the hardpa...

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“Time to Move On” by William Hogg

Submitted to Contest #168

Time to Move On. Fourteen is an awkward age for a boy. You're surrounded by life lessons. Sometimes you learn them by making mistakes, sometimes by making the right decisions, and sometimes from good mentoring. One of my most important lessons learned came from none of these. It was pure serendipity. I found myself headed to the Assistant Principal's office. That's not good, but even worse, being escorted by my favorite teacher of all time, Miss Taylor. So vivid to me even today was the trip. As a kid, you're usually in the hall before,...

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“The Sadchan” by William Hogg

Submitted to Contest #121

It was a day at the end of summer, but for Wilmington, North Carolina, a gift.  Almost noon, the temperature not yet seventy. Alan was sitting on a concrete bench, breathing slow, relaxed, and at peace. He glanced over at his nine-year-old grandson, Tommy, who was sitting at the other end of the bench. Instead of enjoying the tranquility of the moment, Tommy was hunched over and with occasional gyrations and sudden movements, playing with some sort of electronic device. Alan wasn't sure if it was a phone or something else.  &...

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“Robert White” by William Hogg

Submitted to Contest #64

Rob White Bennet was pissed. Not at anyone, or anything in particular, just at life. He lost his job from a company he'd been with for thirty years. He’d made a mistake; hired a person who’d embarrassed the company. Someone had to be the ‘fall-guy’. It was him. His wife left him two days later. He couldn't help but recall a conversation overheard from her at a recent party, "Rob's job is to bring home the money and take out the trash. Lately, he's screwing both up."           ...

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“Sojourner” by William Hogg

Submitted to Contest #53

Three years ago, I was gifted land that's been in my family for close to one hundred years. Not a small patch or lot, rather eighty acres. It is located in a beautiful area of Georgia, near Pine Mountain. Of course, I was glad to get it. The question became what in the world to do with it. An obvious solution would be to sell it. To me, totally tacky. How can you sell something that has been in the family for so long and was given to you?            Another ...

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