Out of the Box Short Stories
Out of the Box Short Stories
Submitted by: Nadia F. Rose was a young woman living in Chicago and a mother to two young daughters. A few years previously, in 1959, she and her husband, Elias, had immigrated to the United States from Amman, Jordan. Years earlier, before they were married, Elias’s parents and siblings…
By: Nadia F. Chicago, also known as the windy city, was home for me for many years. Located on Lake Michigan in Illinois, it is a large metropolis famous for its bold architecture, the skyline punctuated by skyscrapers. The city boasts world-renowned museums, beautiful beaches, famed restaurants, a groundbreaking…
Submitted by: Nadia F. Elias Riz, my father, was born in 1927 in British mandated Palestine, the area that is now Israel. He and his family lived in a small town, which likely wasn’t very modern or advanced. But his father, Yousef Riz, worked with the British as an…
Submitted by: Dorothy Gable A few months before my mother’s death, she began to receive visits from my deceased father. Six years earlier, my father had passed away. When he died, my sisters and I gathered to help our mother and we realized that she could not live on…
Submitted by: Nadia F. When I was about twenty-five years old, living in Chicago, I asked my husband to drive me to the Maryhill Catholic Cemetery. My grandfather had died three or four years earlier and was buried there, but I had never gone to visit him. My sisters…
Submitted by: Lorrie Morales “I’ll meet you down the hill,” I said. Smiling at Jim, my co-worker, I scooted myself off the chairlift bench and pointed my skis to the right. Jim veered off the left. I was one of the teacher chaperones for the annual, high school…
Over the years, starting from the time we married, my husband and I moved numerous times. When we first met, my husband was a carpenter by trade, worked with concrete and was, by every definition, a very conscientious and hard worker. We started doing northern work in Canada, living in…
Submitted By: Linda Rayner Spring, with its warm breezes, new emerald growth and budding flowers, was transitioning into the hot days of summer as June was gradually drawing to a close. Although it should have been a time of anticipating the lazy, laidback days of summer holidays, the season proved…
Submitted By: Nadia F. I grew up in Chicago, Illinois, with my parents, sisters and brother. We attended a Catholic church and I went to Catholic schools. I loved the Catholic Church and believed in God, but I always felt that something was missing. In my early twenties I prayed…
By: Lorraine Kane The year was 1994 and Christmas was speedily approaching. We were expecting relatives from Hungary, my husband’s aunt and uncle, to join us that holiday season and I knew it would be a busy time. There was much to do to prepare. My husband and I…
Christmas 2004 and we were on our way to Manitoba, from our home in Alberta, to celebrate the season with my parents and family. Our four children, aged four to thirteen years old, were all buckled in and ready for the long sixteen hour or so drive to our destination…
By: Billy Butler I lived at the bottom of an old coal mining town called Helensburgh, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Helensburgh is a beautiful town with lots of Australian Eucalyptus called Gum Trees. The trunks of these evergreen trees are usually smooth, white to cream-colored…
In April 1994, while I was still living in my home country of Kenya, I gave birth to my third son, Moses. Kenya is one of the best countries in Africa, with very little crime and known as a safe place to live. Our home was located in Thika, an…
Australia is a beautiful country and the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. This is where I was born and raised. My home country is one of the largest countries in the world, with one third dessert and most of the farms and cities located in…
We, as a family, were living in Wake Forest, North Carolina at the time. This state was a beautiful place to live, which contained both beaches and mountains, lush forests and an abundance of flowering shrubs and trees in the springtime. The weather was exceptionally warm year round and rarely…
By: Anonymous Contributor My story took place approximately twenty years ago. My husband and I lived in a lovely home, due to his skill to renovate and turn any house into a showpiece. I’ve always been grateful for God’s blessings, a good husband and our two wonderful children…
When I was almost two years old, one month shy of it, my parents drove into the big city, Winnipeg, to do some shopping. My mother has told me that they were in a bad part of the city and yet, they still chose to do what they did. In…
This event took place many years ago and I would guess I was likely in my late teens, while I was still living at home on the family farm. My parents bought a yellow Toyota hatchback for us kids to drive. My older sister used it while she was still…
I am starting a new project in order to bring encouragement and hope. I am looking for people who would be willing to share personal testimonies of supernatural happenings or real angel encounters. Through my life, there have been some out of the ordinary things that have happened to me…
A gate opened at the far end of the field and six Royal Guards entered the amphitheater. Behind them, Daegel and Jinx followed and both were dressed in finery. Their wrists held metal cuffs and a chain trailed between them, the two shackled together. Daegel’s servants trailed after them…
I bid Razmig and Vanora goodbye, summoned my carriage and left for home. On the journey, my thoughts were full of the revolution, the advances made by others and my own agenda. That bubble of protection I felt every time I headed out on a night mission surrounded me in…
Welcome treasure hunters! Hunting for treasure is always an adventure. I am participating as a blog host to help out a fellow author – Nicola MacCameron. This beautiful fantasy script for her novel, Leoshine, Princess Oracle, was created by Travis Williams. Here are the instructions for the hunt: If you’d…
I stood before the revolutionary leaders once more and waited for them to give me my marching orders. I felt dread over what I was sure they would say. Razmig was the first to speak. “We’ve discussed what you’ve told us and we’ve come to a decision…
We stood in a circle in the small room. Being alone with some of the top leaders of the revolution and suspecting they would berate me caused me to feel targeted and threatened. Ordway glared at me and was the first to speak, “So you are the lone wolf, placing…
The next day Magdalon left early in the morning and headed back to the Royal Palace Grounds. I was sitting at my desk when, mid-morning, a visitor arrived at Krishay Manor and he was seen into my private study. As soon as I saw him I recognized him as…
As I left Onika’s fine mansion, my spirit felt bolstered. Agreeing to the High Society women’s plan gave me tremendous pleasure and a focus I desperately needed. Before I left the ladies tea time, Letha and Narcissa both agreed to spread rumors through the taverns via some of…
A few hours later, Magdalon’s love tryst exited his bed chamber from the outer door and entered the garden. A dark cloak hugged her slender frame to help hide her presence as she tried to slip away undetected. She stood still outside his door for a moment with a…
I awoke late morning, missing breakfast and barely making the noon meal. As I dragged myself into the dining room, the servants stared at my tired eyes and I’m sure they wondered why I looked so haggard. In the afternoon, I sent Rasul to my private investigator, Kieran, with…
The following week I stayed at Krishay Manor and kept my distance from Magdalon. He did not come to see me and I was thankful. Our last encounter had left a foul taste in both of our mouths. Although our recent coupling started with warm feelings, our amorous inclinations quickly…
I stood to my feet in preparation for the Tonrar’s approach, feeling for the knife tucked into my skirts, but fully cognizant that it would be useless against the evil wraith. A mist floated down from the green leaves above, stopped and hovered ten feet before me at eye…
“You want to destroy him?” I asked in shock. Narcissa placed a finger to her painted lips and said, “Correction, we want to inuge him. We will from now on speak in code.” “You have told me too much. Are you not concerned what I will do with this knowledge…
The ebony smog moved to a single location on the far side of the table, compacted and a shape began to congeal. Slowly the evil wraith took on more substance and a hideous creature materialized. A long snout with razor sharp teeth became visible, the face somewhat dog like with…
I’d sent a servant to fetch Akiko for me and I paced the floor of my room as I waited. There was a ladies tea scheduled for the afternoon and I needed to prepare. Thoughts of how my life had changed coursed through my mind. A span of four…
Once again Magdalon’s handsome looks took my breath away and the blaze of desire in his eyes fueled my own. He stopped before me and said, “You came.” “Yes.” “I’m flattered. So I take it that you are interested in a possible union with me.” “I’d suggest…
Ragmag, the man who had showered me with compliments, looked older, well-fed and I was sure he was already covering a women. He said, “I am Grand Admiral Strutz’ body guard, secretary, you name it, I do it. He depends on me for everything.” “It’s a pleasure to…
The next day I traveled back to Dwarkaa Capital, to Krishay Estate, and arrived mid-afternoon. Akiko met me in the entrance and assisted me to my bed chamber to help me change. “Have you forgotten about the ball?” she asked as soon as we entered my room. “No. Of…
The next day I traveled to Venilia by horse and carriage. Arriving at noon, I noticed a servant standing at the gate to welcome me. I recognized him as a young warrior from my home farrin of Akoni. Many of the servants here were part of the revolution and they…
As I walked the pathways in Daegel’s garden, I saw him approach and stop at one of the benches. He waved me over and I went to join him, taking a seat beside him. On his lap lay a wooden board. The contraption was an unusual shape, with a…
Two days later, I sat across from Daegel in his sitting room once again. This time I sipped the mead very slowly and I had eaten a small meal at my estate before I came. I determined I would not mix this strong mead with an empty stomach and make…
The next day as I prepared for my evening with Daegel, Akiko came to help me. She was my fellow clan member from Akoni Farrin, who took on the role of my lady’s maid. Akiko and I had travelled to this land mass together on a ship confiscated from…
My extensive training stretched for a brutal two weeks. Vanora instructed and demonstrated on how to act like a woman born in Dwarkaa High Society, a true citizen of the ruling land mass. I was not the best student. My revulsion with the new set of directives did not diminish…
I spent the next week and a half diligently working at the dump. Some days were productive and I found numerous items, like colored stones, bent, salvageable wire, some stained strips of varied shades of cloth, torn clothing and shards of metal. These metal pieces could be shaved and manipulated…
Bodil was shattered by the news but she remained stoic as I handed over the items I’d found at Enyo’s murder site. “That’s all I could bring, all I could find of hers.” I said. “What about her body? Is it salvageable? Can we bring her back…
We all moved into action, retreating to the many rooms lining the large open area. I and two others, a man and a woman who joined me, headed to the darkest corner of the room and fell deathly still. We stayed that way for a very long time, listening and…
I felt the oppressive ponderosity of the Tonrar enter the space, like fingers of death reaching for me, eager to strangle all hope from the atmosphere. The three of us all shuffled quietly over to the corner where the shadows fell like an entity, shrouding us in darkness. A shrill…
Dark streets, dim light from a window here and there, homeless children crouched in sheltered corners or behind garbage, rats that scurried in the shadows and the odd hungry bark of a dog in the distance was the norm as Bodil and I navigated toward the burned out shell of…
The next four days of work at the dump brought in slim finds. The excessive amount I scavenged the first day would sustain us for a while but only if Enyo managed to sell the trinkets at the market. I did succeed to kill a scrawny, mangy but vicious fox…
The Royal Guard uncrossed his arms, a battering stick held firmly in one hand. Numerous weapons were strategically placed on his belt. My own knife was back at Bodil’s residence and I longed for it as I stood before him, feeling exposed and powerless. I despised being unarmed. The…
We all listened at the door, attempting to decipher what was taking place in the hallway. A woman screamed obscenities and a man raised his voice with threats. “Let go of me you wretched piece of trash.” “How dare you,” screeched the woman. “Give me what you owe me.” “The…
We traveled through the alleyways and side streets, keeping our heads down and trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. The farther we traveled, the rougher the areas became. Thin, emaciated children roamed the streets, their eyes vacant and hopeless, likely orphans left to fend for themselves. Adults fared about…
I rushed from my hiding spot, staying light on my feet and as crafty as night. I came up behind the two men, readied my strongest arm and plunged my short double-edged sword through a man’s back and into his heart. He made a grunt and fell to…
I heard footsteps entering and Brone’s voice say. “You can come out. The danger has passed.” I threw the blanket to the side and crawled out from under the bed. Brone was no longer at my door. He was a room over giving Akiko the same instructions. Stepping from…
We settled into our new home but our hosts, Brone and Almana, were extremely nervous and seemed eager to keep their distance. Their gazes of revulsion and the twitching of their noses gave indication that perhaps we smelled badly. Spending weeks at sea without much fresh water for washing didn…
When we arrived at the grandest and largest land mass in all of Dwarkaa’s Domain, the ship was docked and the gangplank lowered. Andrei and some of the warriors helped to secure the disembarkation of the false Dwarkaa crew. I went to stand beside Razmig on the deck, both…
I began scribing the events of this mission to hopefully one day share with my clan leader, Xiomara. This was what she requested of me. Only if I survived my assignment would I be successful in handing the scrolls over to her. Xiomara is a powerful clan leader and also…
