M.J. Downing In mid July, 1970. Kyle and MaryBeth too a stroll down Lucas Avenue. The heat of the day had broken with an afternoon thunderstorm and the winds of a mild cold front that would relax the sun’s grip on Louisville for a day, perhaps. A fresh north wind blew through MaryBeth’s long dark... Continue Reading →

“The World’s Saddest Dollar Store.” M.J. Downing             “That ol’ truck’s been a ways, ain’t it?”a voice said behind me.  I turned away from the steaming radiator of my ’56 Chevy pick-up and saw a small, slender man sitting on the sidewalk of the General Dollar Emporium.  With a week’s worth of beard growth and shaggy hair, he... Continue Reading →

Here is a scene from a book I’ve been working on, Elwood’s Poem. I’m trying to do some dystopian world building through character. Let me know what you think. “Hanging on.” “Hey! Old man!” A rough voice called from the dark of the alley Mike Riley just passed. He hadn’t heard ‘tough guy’ voices calling... Continue Reading →

Timely Meeting: An Homage to Bill Forrester and Helen Loomis from Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine.” M.J. Downing At ninety-two, Bill Forrester weighed the same, was as trim as, he was at thirty-one.  As Helen had told him sixty years before, though, he knew enough of his body to know that it was winding down. Still, he... Continue Reading →

Used Up: A Halloween Tale.” M.J. Downing After thirty years of employment with National Reaping Machines, Charles, “Bud” Fabbro was sent home one fine fall day. Though still a powerful man, having spent three decades lifting heavy, steel flywheels from one line to the next, Bud found himself out of a job. “You don’t fit... Continue Reading →