"The Selection" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

Matt Pierce stood with his back against the wall of the gym and watched as the two captains appointed by Mr. Tachuk chose their teams. The best athletes were picked first and then the two team leaders grudgingly accepted the remaining screwballs.

Matt was usually chosen last or next to last. He was well aware that his athletic abilities were lacking but he resented being humiliated just because he couldn't throw a ball fast enough. On this particular day, the two captains argued about who would be stuck with him.

Mr. Tachuk finally intervened and put him on Ed Carson's squad. The activity of the day was dodgeball, and Matt watched the rest of the class form on the gym floor to start the game. "Let's get moving Pierce" Mr. Tachuk said with a look of irritation, but Matt stayed where he was. 

The gym teacher walked up to Matt. "Is there something wrong? are you sick?" Matt shook his head. "I just don't want to play" Mr. Tachuk looked confused as if he had never heard such a thing before. "This is a physical education class Mr. Pierce and if you aren't sick then you are required to participate."

At one time, Matt would have been intimidated by the gym teacher's order, but something in him had moved and he no longer gave a shit. "I'm not playing" he said finally. Tachuk glared at Matt "We're going to have a little talk once class is over." he said in a low voice.

For the next hour, Matt watched the weaker kids get pummeled with the ball by the stronger kids and realized that was probably what the rest of his life was going to be like, but for now he wanted no part of it.

"Suburban Rituals" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

17-year-old Thomas Brooks was well aware that the country club dance was one of the tribal customs that the upper classes had to endure in order to advance to the next level, but he hated it all and in the middle of the present gala, he grabbed his coat and left. 

Thomas drove aimlessly and tried to understand his restlessness and anger. His family was very wealthy, and he had never wanted for anything. He should be happy, but he wasn't. Without a particular destination in mind, Thomas headed for the beach.

Somewhere near the waterfront, he spotted a girl in front of a mini mart and picked her up. At the same mini mart, he paid an old man to buy him a bottle of wine. Once that was accomplished, he took the girl and the wine to a secluded place on the beach. 

The girl's name was Donna, and she was from Nebraska or some state in the mid-west. The details became a little fuzzy after Thomas consumed some of the fortified wine. After sharing the bottle with Donna, Thomas gradually fell asleep and in the morning the girl and his wallet were gone.

Thomas knew that he didn't have the courage to sustain a long-term rebellion, so he pulled himself up from the sand and tried to figure out what he was going to tell his father.

"Bruno's Pizza" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

Every Friday night, the order came into Bruno's Pizza for a large pepperoni pizza to be delivered to the old Hazelwood mansion. The assignment always fell to new drivers like Robert because the ancient house was notoriously hard to find- even with the aid of GPS.

All the other drivers laughed at Robert as he put the pizza in his car, and headed out of the parking lot. The GPS signal took him to the outskirts of town and then into the dense forest beyond. About ten miles out of town, Robert's cell phone died and he had to figure out which way to go. 

A faded sign pointed the way to the Hazelwood place, but the road soon became impassable with fallen trees. Determined to deliver the pizza, Robert got out of his car and walked down a lonely dark road. Somewhere in the distance, Robert could see a light and he hurried to it.

Robert finally arrived at the mansion around midnight and knocked on a huge oak door. A stunningly beautiful young woman answered. "I'm really sorry it took so long" Robert apologized. The woman smiled. "No need to apologize, you're right on time." Robert looked at his watch and sure enough it had only been twenty minutes since he had left Bruno's, but he was positive that hours had passed.

The young lady whose name was Julia gave him a fifty-dollar tip and her phone number. The other guys were never going to believe this.

"Flaming Springs" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

The only way to get to "Flaming Springs" was 15 miles up a steep and rocky trail. Some brave souls tried biking it, but Michelle Brinks and her boyfriend Dennis were packing everything on their backs and walking the trail.

The couple started the grueling hike early in the morning and had made it about half-way by noon. Michelle was looking forward to soaking her aching legs in the warm water of the springs. 

It was early evening when the pair finally arrived in the meadow that contained several hot pools. Michelle was disappointed to see a tent pitched at the other end of the clearing. She was hoping they had the place to themselves.

After unpacking their gear and setting up a tent, Michelle changed into her swimsuit and stepped into a nearby pool that was lined with smooth rocks. The water was heavenly and she never wanted to leave. Dennis soon joined her and they shared some wine while the sun sank below the horizon. 

The next morning, Michelle made breakfast and wondered about the tent across the meadow. She hadn't seen anyone near the campsite since they got there. Of course, it was possible that the owners were on an extended hike, but it still seemed odd. 

While gathering water for lunch, Michelle noticed strange lights pulsating from the deserted tent and assumed that the owners had returned. Dennis was out in the woods somewhere so Michelle decided to investigate by herself.

The lights became brighter as she walked across the clearing and bizarre mechanical sounds also issued from the tent. Michelle called out several times, but no one came out of the structure. The lights and sound were more intense than ever and she unzipped the opening.

A vast cavern appeared and Michelle stepped into another world. She began walking without and stopped when she noticed something ahead of her. A large table was occupied by dark and strange creatures. One of the beings stood up. "Please have a seat Michelle-we've been expecting you." it said.

 

"Five-Mile Lake" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

Jonathan Kepler was driving though his old hometown on the way to a business conference when he noticed the sign for "Five-Mile Lake." Back in high school, Jonathan and his friends used to hang out at the lake all the time and he decided to stop and take a look.

The parking lot was now covered in graffiti and litter, and a "No Trespassing" blocked the trail that led to the beach. Jonathan walked around the sign and was shocked at how everything had fallen into decay. Empty beer cans and other debris littered the beach. The fishing dock looked like it was about to fall into the water and the tree under which he first kissed Julie had been cut down.

Jonathan angrily kicked one of the beer cans. He couldn't believe that everything was gone. For a few minutes, Jonathan stared out at the dismal water and then walked back to his car. A police officer was waiting for him in the parking lot, and he got a ticket for trespassing. Jonathan had to admit the officer was right: He no longer belonged at the lake.

"Holly" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

Long-haul truck driver Sam Shelton was trying to get some sleep in the cab of his truck when he heard a faint knocking on his door. Sam opened the door and was surprised to see a teen-age girl standing there. "Can I help you?" Sam asked although he had an idea what she wanted. The girl blushed furiously, "I was wondering if you wanted a date." 

"What's your name?" Sam asked gently. "Holly" the girl answered looking down. "Well, Holly, you should be at home and not walking around a truck stop at two in the morning."

"I don't have anywhere to go" the girl said sobbing.

"Look, I have a friend-she's a teacher and you could stay with her for a while." For a second, Sam saw a flicker of hope in the girl's eyes and then it was gone and she turned and ran away. 

The next morning, Sam was getting ready to haul a load to Boise, when he heard that same faint knocking. It was Holly, but she had been badly beaten. Sam called 911 and followed the ambulance to the hospital. Fortunately, Holly was going to be ok, and his teacher friend Paula had agreed to let her stay at her home until they could make permanent arrangements.

There was one last piece of business that had to be taken care of. Holly didn't know the name of the man who had attacked her, but she did remember the mural of a green snake on the truck's door. Sam knew the truck and the driver, and he planned to make a visit the next day.

Sam rapped on the door of Ernie Gibb's truck and waited for the man to come out. Gibbs wasn't pleased to see him. "What the hell do you want Shelton?" Sam grabbed a fistful of Gibb's hair and drove his knee into the man's face. Gibbs held onto his broken nose and cursed Sam with everything he had.

"Refugee" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

Ariana sat by herself at the lunch table and watched the other kids laughing and having fun. She wished she could join them, but thoughts of her father and war crowded her mind.

Ariana and her mother Parisa were forced to flee their home when the Taliban overran their village. The soldiers took her father into the fields and shot him. After fleeing to Kabul, Ariana's mother was able to get a job at the big American military base. 

For a while, life was good and Ariana was even able to go to school, but it wasn't long before the Taliban came down from the hills and the Americans began to leave. During the frenzy of the evacuation, Parisa was able to find a spot for herself and her daughter on one of the departing planes.

After a stop in Germany, Ariana and her mother were granted refugee status in the United States. Their new home was a small village in the state of Kansas. Ariana was in awe of the endless fields of corn and wheat. There was never so much food back in Afghanistan. Parisa found a job in housekeeping at the local hospital and Ariana was enrolled at the local high school.

Ariana was unprepared for the hostile glances and whispered comments from the other students. She tried to be friendly, but it seemed as if everyone hated her. Lunch time was the worst, Ariana sat alone while the other kids chatted and laughed together. 

Ariana tried to talk to her mother, but Parisa was usually tired from work and went to bed soon after dinner. After several more weeks of eating lunch alone, a girl with red hair and braces asked if she could join her and Ariana was surprised to learn that she had made a friend.