In case you haven’t noticed, I have added a new section to my menu bar above. This new section is located at the right-hand end and is titled “My Greatest Hits.” It lists my stories that “professional readers” like contest judges and journal editors consider worthy of special recognition. I have annotated the list so you can get a feel for each story. In these perilous times of hunkering down many of us feel we’re in prison. This list will help you escape.
The quotation in the header above the menu bar is from my story titled “A Case of Murder.” This story is not listed under My Greatest Hits, but you may enjoy it anyway. It is written in the classic style of a tough-guy private eye spoof. Detective Dick Pistol is working on a case to find the murderer of Dilbert Gates, the cubical guy with out-of-control neck ties. He meets a cast of characters with whom you may already be familiar. It is listed under the Stories Just for Fun heading. Check it out.
This website is about my published stories. As you can see, I have sorted them into three groups: Stories About Friends, Stories Just for Fun, and Stories of Life and Love. These stories are the building blocks of the site. So I guess that means that right now this site is under construction. Ideally, it will always be under construction, because I will be adding stories from time to time. So come back to visit every so often and check out my building skills.
The American ethic is that if you work hard and play by the rules, you will succeed. In the large picture that may be generally true, but each of us lives in our own small picture where life can be more variable. Raul is the first in his family to go to college, struggling with working while struggling with courses. But he is a good student and goes to graduate school. He is on the cusp of his PhD and has his first job secured and his future all laid out. Then his life falls apart. More struggle lies ahead for him just to stay even. How does that fit into the American ethic? His story (On The Edge) is under the Life and Love section.
Fireworks Cabbage is guaranteed to dazzle the eyes and sparkle the taste buds. It is sliced green cabbage with a stir-fried flavor powered by ginger, garlic, and dried red chili peppers(!). It is at the heart of a story that took place at a dinner party that Suzie and I hosted. We introduced the dish to my old friend and college roommate, Steve, who is from El Paso. He definitely got his taste buds sparkled. Read how he fared, and learn how to sparkle your own taste buds (the recipe and cooking instructions are in the story) by going to the Stories About Friends section and checking out The El Paso Kid.
Wild animals are considered wild because they don’t have the same manners as people. They eat their meat raw. (Wild!) They eat their fruit and vegies unwashed. (Wild!) If they move into your neighborhood (or you into theirs), there could be a major culture clash. If they look huggable, with cuddly fur and soft brown eyes, you may lean toward supporting the wild ones. But if they want to eat you, you may lean away. Mountain lions look huggable, but on the other hand … If you have a deep appreciation for mountain lions, choosing which culture to support in such a clash may not be easy. A story of making such a choice is told in Doing the Right Thing, listed in the section Stories of Life and Love.
Most people don’t collect fresh monkey poop in the jungle for a living. However, friends Gord and Dan are doing that for a research project. Then Dan discovers Gord harbors a deep prejudice against his (Gord’s) daughter’s fiancé due to the fiancé’s race. This prejudice is threatening Gord’s marriage. Alarmed, Dan tries to enlighten his friend. Would you? Their discussions have a lot of poopy interruptions. Their story is in Getting Better, listed under the Stories of Life and Love section.
Most of us have been new members of a group at one time or another. It’s an awkward period as we try to get to know the old members and they try to get to know us. Full acceptance doesn’t come until the members know we are similar to them and can contribute to the group’s efforts. In Steve’s case, not only was he new to the group, he had a separate mission that did not contribute to the group’s efforts. In addition, his presence was forced onto the group. Getting acceptance required conscious effort on his part and a little bit of luck. Isn’t that like the rest of life?
Many of us, maybe even most of us, have had a childhood fear that was so intense that we remember it even now with a visceral trepidation. Sometimes avoidance of similar situations is the best response. Sometimes, however, gritting your teeth, clenching your fists, and jumping back in with both feet offers redemption. All her life Joanna addressed her fear by avoiding similar situations, but now that practice would ruin her career. Something had to change. But what? Her story (Up a Creek) is under the Life and Love section. Catch up on your procrastination and poke around there.
With the change of seasons many of us have a change in activities. That means our moves may be a little rusty. Start out easy and be careful … especially with your hands. For example, even though Walt was experienced at plucking sheep shit and was basically a careful sort, his story would be very different if he had been more careful with his hands on one particular day. His story (Bighorn Country) is in the Life and Love section.
Clifford Hui's Stories, Etc. 