Billy Tang was a go-getter. After graduating in the top third of his class, he turned down a job with the company he’d interned with, to take less money at the hottest marketing startup in town. After a whirlwind first week when he became known throughout the firm as ‘the prodigy’ for memorizing the coffee orders of every employee, Billy Tang was brought in on his first client meeting. It was a Tuesday. He showed up early for work and…
The following story is from the mind of my 13-year-old daughter, Agatha Rose. She wrote it on her phone after dinner on Saturday night during commercials of the Panthers game. Granted, I edited it for her, but the concept was all hers. The force is strong with this one. *** “’Come back!’ the voice called out as I ran as fast as I could down the darkening path. It was just a normal day after school when I decided…
Last week a friend called and asked me to coffee. He insisted on meeting that afternoon. “I think I’m going to leave.” he said. “Just pack a small bag and move away.” “What do you mean, leave?” I asked, genuinely confused. Across from me sat a man in his forties with everything you could want in a life. A beautiful family. A good job. A house in a nice neighborhood. Insurance. “That’s what men at my age do when their dreams…
Had a dream last night that me and my wife were on a small island. It was nighttime and I was preparing a romantic dinner on a blanket spread out along the shore. The full moon illuminated everything. You could see far out into the water. There were a few other people on the small, treeless spit who were all very friendly and who looked like they were there for similar reasons. Suddenly someone noticed a ripple on the surface of…
Stick to the mainstream, Jim. You’ll be happier. But what of my dreams? Fuck your dreams. They’re unsustainable. There’s no money in them. Especially yours. Best to just get in line and receive your fair helping of happiness as it’s been defined for everyone else. You’re not special, you know. Trust me, I know. But what if there’s something else? A different path than everyone thinks is right? You know what? There actually is a different path. But the thing is–you’re not the…
23 years ago today I was so drunk that I don’t even remember it. I was at the end of my rope. As you probably know, Minor King is semi-autobiographical fiction. In telling the backstory of the main character, I recount some of those last days of my life with alcohol. Here’s an excerpt from the moments leading up to my (and Jim Christianson’s) epiphany: “Having never been to New York before, seeing the jagged Manhattan skyline grow on the…
