Seven Short Stories Compilation Fall 2025

#1

The train stops. Everyone groans. It’s already bad enough that they had departed hours late from Union Station at Chicago. Now they could expect several more hours of delay.

In the exclusive dining car found just behind the 1st class car, Agent Waller had just taken a bite off the rib-eye steak he had been dining on when the train stopped. It had already been a long day for him, and with the case that had been thrown on his plate, he needed all the time he could get.

A unicorn. As white as could be. It was of great value, and had been at the center of a fierce worldwide search. Now it had fallen into the wrong hands, a powerful enemy, of a nature so evasive that every other agent had failed to track down. Now it was all down to him.

The goals of this group were so nefarious that it made Agent Waller recoil. He already had enough motivation to track them down, yet there was also the small matter of Waller’s impending promotion. At the Pinkerton office at Chicago where he worked at there was no shortage of skeptics and detractors to be found that doubted of his merit. He wanted to prove them wrong and leave no doubt he was worthy.

At the table nearest him, a woman saw Waller and decided to ask him an innocuous question to pass time.

“Are those your suspenders on the floor?”

Waller looked up in surprise, then found that she was right.

“Yes, you are right. They must have fallen off when the train came to a stop.”

“They are of a distinct color. Turquoise, are they?”

“Yes, I think. I got them back in Boston, when I was about to plunge into a new job.”

“It’s definitely not something you see everyday.”

#2

At the crossroads were the forest split in two, Robin Hood and his trusty companion Friar Tuck came to a stop. Taking out his flask of water, Robin sat down to relax. It had been a long day. Robbing the rich was hard work.

“You know Tuck,” Robin said, “I’ve been thinking…We’ve been at this for a long time. How long has it been, five-six years?”

“More or less,” Friar Tuck responded distractedly, more concerned with the turkey leg he was about to feast on. “You lose track of time.”

“And we’ve done a lot of good work. Given money to the poor, messed with the rich folk. Just wholesome fun.”

“I suppose so.”

“So I’ve been thinking…What if we decided to just retire?” Robin said.

“Retire?” Tuck said incredulously. “What are you on about mate?”

“I mean we’re still young, we have our whole lives ahead of us. We can make anything out of ourselves.”

“But this is what we do best. This is all we’ve ever known since we were little. Why change Robin?”

“That’s the thing Tuck. I don’t think we have a choice. The Sheriff has doubled the number of patrols around the forest. His police force has grown, and the bounty on our heads has ballooned.”

“Well, when you put it that way we really are in a bit of a predicament.”

“Lady Marion and her family all had to flee to the neighbouring county. All towns around here are under surveillance. Anyone suspected of aiding us is being brought in for questioning.”

“Bloody hell, they’re treating us like if we were terrorists,” Tuck exclaimed as he chewed through the turkey leg.

“We very well might be,” Robin exclaimed.

#3

On the remote island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, there laid many secrets. Here there were secret laboratories and bases belonging to the Research and Development division, but the biggest and most insipid of them all was to be found nowhere else but in the volcano that towered over the rest of the island.

This was an island that was tropical, lush and blooming with many a flower. With the taste of coconut and pineapple, and the smell of nearby saltwater, this would have made for a picturesque setting.

But this island, known as the Crimson Rock, had been taken by the RDD. It now served as the headquarters of this secretive bureau. Many theories had been floated about regarding what exactly was in that volcano. Some said a nuke. Others said a super laser, capable of blasting through anything in the world. Some even said it was all a ruse, and there was nothing there at all. An act of deception, an illusion meant to deceive.

After the change in government, efforts were initiated to gain a greater understanding of Crimson Rock’s operations. “Transparency, accountability!” where the calls of those who demanded an inquiry. With the impending audit coming closer to reality, the RDD chose to take preemptive action. The most delicate and strategically crucial aspects would be shuttered, and shipped off to a nearby island for safekeeping.

#4

That morning I didn’t want to think about what happened last night.

Twelve hours before…

Silence. In a place that had been so raucous, ear-deafeningly loud, there was hardly any noise to be heard. The crowd knew what it had to do. They had made this arena into a cacophony of energy. Now it was time to be silent, and hope for the best.

The score is 90-90. It has been a difficult night for the home team. Nothing had gone right. For three quarters fouls, turnovers, missed layups and other such mistakes had afflicted the heavy favorites and tormented those ever-loyal fans that had accompanied the team all year.

For three quarters, that is, for in the 4th everything changed.

“This arena does not roar, it shakes.” The common refrain of the home fans, a homage to that distinguished past of theirs, rang true once again. The home support inspired their team to fight back. The star player, Dave, was especially moved. All night he had been a ghost, missing every shot and turning the ball over. Now he couldn’t miss.

Dave’s resurgence in confidence caused a chain reaction in his teammates. They all stepped up to the moment and turned things around. The away team, the underdogs, shrunk and wilted. The 18-point deficit at the start of the 4th quarter was erased. Tied game. 10 seconds to go.

Free throws. Star player Dave had driven into the paint. He was fouled. There were two seconds left. He had a chance to win the game at the line.

The crowd was ready to storm the court, lift Dave and his teammates onto their shoulders. With frenzied anticipation they awaited the two free throws that would surely clinch the comeback.

Clank! The first free throw bounced off the back rim. No good. “No matter,” the fans murmur, “He’s still got another one. Dave won’t let us down.”

Doink! This one is somehow an even worse miss. It barely touches the left part of the rim. Wide left.

Dave has missed both.

The home team is gutted. Devastated, they fail to rally in overtime. The game is lost. The road team wins the championship. Dave feels it’s all his fault.

For many days and countless weeks the criticism was relentless. It was a difficult time for Dave, and he retreated into the anonymity of his home and private life. For the longest of times nobody heard or saw Dave. All his teammates tried to contact him, to no avail.

Dave never played for the home team ever again. That summer, he was traded to a team up north. Eventually he left the country altogether to play basketball in China.

His teammates eventually overcame and won that much-awaited championship years down the line. The triumph had a special dedication–Dave. Wherever he was in the world, Dave’s presence was still felt.

#5

He was the keeper of lost things. At the place they called Fortin, home of the orphan children Granada city looked after, the man they called Doc was responsible for maintaining the lost items bin. Many things had been found by Doc, lost by the orphan children. A pencil, a stuffed bear, a harmonica, two pieces of candy, some string, money, and even a bottle of whiskey. Doc never knew what he’d come across next.

As Christmas season neared and the snow began to fall, Fortin’s administrators decided that it’d be a good idea to take the kids on a trip. It would be a special trip, to the mountain range an hour’s drive away. These mountains were normally green and arid, but now they were white and laced by snow. It would be a snow day.

The morning of the big trip came, and the children started boarding the bus. Everyone at the school was going. Everyone except Doc, that is. The old grizzled man, keeper of lost things, would be responsible for looking after Fortin with everybody else away. It was a big responsibility, and a show of respect from the administrators. They trusted him, he was told, it was a big honor. A dubious honor, in Doc’s eyes.

Alone. This was a big place. So many halls, rooms, kitchens. A massive garden, and a playground to keep the kids busy. Doc hated being alone at this place. There were rumors about something that happened to some kids ages ago. Apparently their ghosts were still around. Doc didn’t believe in stuff like that. Still…

The sun began to wane. Night would soon be upon the land. Doc was busy keeping everything in shape. He was growing tired. The home was still empty. They must have still been at the resort. Surely tomorrow they would all arrive, by the time he woke up.

#6

One Thanksgiving Daisy was preparing a great feast for her family. She was planning on making turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole and pumpkin cheesecake. She was planning on getting the dinner done by 7 so that her family could start eating by 7:15 pm.

Halfway through, Daisy realized that her green bean casserole had been in the oven for too long. She took out the tray and inspected the damage. She would have to make a new one.

“No big deal,” she thought to herself.

She began to make a new casserole, but soon realized that a new problem had arisen. The other oven where the turkey was cooking began to make noises. Smoke started to come out. Daisy began to panic. What could it be now?

She took out the turkey and realized that it was badly burnt. Turkey was canceled, and now the dinner was truly in jeopardy.

Daisy began to ponder the potential backup options available to her. She could try getting a new turkey from the supermarket, but it would take too much time and stall the rest of the dinner. She could just continue with the rest of the dinner and not serve any meat, but a Thanksgiving dinner without any protein just wouldn’t be right. She could order a ready-made turkey from a restaurant, but that just would not feel right on such an occasion like this.

As she considered just giving up on turkey, she was surprised by her family. They stepped in with their own turkey that they had bought on their own. This allowed Daisy to focus on the rest of the meal in peace.