Short stories to read on a bus, a car, train, or plane (or aВ comfy chair anywhere). Includes the novella В«Duck CreekВ»

Colin David Palmer

A little dark, a little romance, at times deep, a little devilish and thought provoking but always taking you somewhere… Be careful though because maybe that somewhere is a place where you won’t want to be alone!

Short stories to read on a bus, a car, train, or plane (or aВ comfy chair anywhere)

Includes the novella "Duck Creek"

Colin David Palmer

© Colin David Palmer, 2017

ISBNВ 978-83-8104-943-6

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

“THE ORPHAN GENIE”

Evan Floyd stepped out onto the dark street on the most momentous day of his life. Not that anything had occurred … yet! To Evan, it had just been another day like any other day, nothing remarkable to think about and no additional stress in his already over-stressed life which sort of made it good day. But he never got to think that way as events transpired to change his life in a most unusual manner and everything that happened before was relegated to another time, another life even.

I could see him coming down that dark street as I’d seen him on previous occasions, sometimes during the day and sometimes like now in the early evening, his thoughts utterly dependant on whatever drives him from his office at this exact time almost every single day. I know he is in Real Estate; I’ve seen his office and even took one of his business cards which is how I came to know his name – no slight of hand, no wizardry, no spells, no trickery – just for a change. His steps are closer and though I see him, he has never set eyes upon me before until he walks around that corner … now!

�What, what the hell! Hullo? Are you alright?’

IВ had awashed myself with bright light as he rounded the corner so that when IВ materialised, it was during aВ brief period ofВ blindness. For Evan, it would have appeared that IВ had always been there but the wash ofВ light, he would explain toВ himself, was caused byВ the lights ofВ aВ car inВ the adjacent car park. IВ felt positive about this otherwise IВ would not have risked such an overt exposure.

It was imperative that he think that way or it could mean my demise. My insight did not fail me and his words of concern soothe me. I reach up with one hand like a leper or some street beggar (which was indeed how I was portraying myself), and though my appearance would be shocking to some, Evan was homely enough not to ignore a fellow man in such poor circumstances as I appeared to be. I had always known I would have to do something to attract his attention, and his attention alone, but I also had to be certain that he was a suitable subject as my alms are not delegated lightly. My hand hung limply but he didn’t step forward to take it, his face struggling with revulsion of my slovenly appearance.

�Help me Mister’ I said as pathetically as I could, �help me?’

He paused for such aВ length ofВ time that IВ thought he might turn and run, his loathing at my sight like aВ neon sign on his cringing face. Then resolve and charity perhaps took ahold, and he stepped toward me and grasped my hand, and as they met then so did aВ certain immediate understanding, for IВ passed that on toВ him toВ assist inВ the commission ofВ my duty and his favour. Instead ofВ helping me rise he squatted down inВ front ofВ me, his hand still inВ mine and the care that shone from his face was like aВ trophy forВ me.

�Hey, it’s all right fella,’ his comment eliciting such sweet sorrow that tears spilled over my ancient cheeks. �Whoa, it’s okay, let me help you up?’

The exhilaration at hearing these words made me cry even more and with fabricated effort and his assistance, IВ gained my feet. He quickly released my hand and stepped back inВ surprise, for sitting against the wall IВ had appeared childlike, aВ waif, but on uncoiling my frame IВ towered like aВ collossus over his own six foot tall and overweight mass. Fear replaced his surpr