Curtis Jerry Smothers - Teacher, Editor, Poet, Writing Coach
Six Short Stories
Every writer eventually wanders into fiction.
Unlike my essays, where facts and experience provide the framework, these stories begin with a simple question: What if? What if an ordinary decision took an extraordinary turn? What if a chance encounter concealed a hidden danger? What if justice arrived in the most unexpected way?
The six stories collected here explore suspense, irony, dark humor, and the unsettling truth that appearances are often deceiving. Most begin in familiar settings with ordinary people whose lives are suddenly interrupted by events they never imagined. Some endings offer justice, others leave unanswered questions, and a few may linger in your thoughts long after you've finished reading.
Whether you enjoy psychological suspense, cautionary tales, or stories with an unexpected twist, I hope you'll find something here worth your time.
So, settle into a comfortable chair, suspend disbelief for a little while, and enjoy the journey. Just don't assume you know where it's going.
An Internet Encounter The Hunter A Picnic By the Lake
