Short Days

It's time now to join the unlikely best friends Josh Mundy and Vern Ernesto as they embark on their first ever fishing trip without adults. The joys of camping and a crackling fire make them sleepy and prepare them for a day of creek fishing high in the mountains... or does it? Can anything truly prepare them for what is about to happen? It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that they will never be able to talk about and it goes beyond the trophy trout they are about to catch.

Rochester and Merle are two ghosts who help children in need. Their first adventure brings them to a carnival to protect Scotty and his aunt and uncle against the dastardly deeds of Mr. Greenfinger and his henchmen....

Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More is almost out of Mother's Day cards. She has a few more in stock, but she's set them aside because she needs Greg's help choosing one for his mother. It'll be Jill's first time meeting her boyfriend's mother, and she's understandably nervous. Turns out Jill isn't the only one having feelings about mothers. Kyle, who works at the antiques store next door, needs to find the perfect card for a mother he hasn't seen since he was five - when she went away to jail.

After a great deal of romantic strife, Maria Lucas finds herself married to Mr. Jonas Card in a desperate attempt to extricate herself and her sister Charlotte from a dire financial situation. Mr. Card, however, truly loves Maria and has vowed to woo her. Alas, she views him only in friendly terms. But when it seems that Mr. Card's feelings have changed, Maria sets out to discover why. And through a series of unexpected events, Mr. Card succeeds in wooing his wife without saying a word.

This delightful short story was the first work of Jules Verne to be translated into English by Anne T. Wilbur in 1852. Just as the balloon starts rising, a stranger jumps in with the intention of taking it as high as possible without regard to his own safety or that of the pilot. During the long journey, this mysterious passenger relates the historical background of the quest for lighter-than-air travel.

Third story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Being a top-flight chef can be stressful. Thankfully, a professional kitchen throws up some unique opportunities for body disposal….

Sixth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. The maternity ward: the last place you’d associate with criminal activity. Which makes it as good a place as any to carry it out.

Eleventh story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. What could be more festive than a trip to see Santa at the local shopping centre? Depends on who’s gunning for Santa…

First story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Billy Partridge wasn’t really cut out to be a cat burglar, but it was ‘do the job, or come up with thirteen grand by Thursday, or have both legs shattered’.‘Do the job’ seemed the least worst option. But he’s about to find out just how bad the least worst option can be….

Fifth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. There is never a good time to look upon the face of a dead loved one. But Mr Unwin has dedicated his life to helping the bereaved. While helping himself at the same time….

The final story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. It’s Christmas Eve, but the criminals never stop working, so neither do the police. The raid is on... but things don’t go entirely to plan.

Ninth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Kayleigh’s a professional. But lap-dancing has rules. And when someone breaks the rules….

Second story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. When a double suicide arrives at the city morgue, Sandra thinks it’s a Christmas like any other. But she’s about to get a very nasty shock – make that two very nasty shocks….

Tenth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Lord Peter Forsyth-Leven, MSP, is about to discover that having it all just means you’ve got more to lose….

Fourth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Working in a call centre normally offers few career opportunities. But it looks as if Tracy’s about to get her big break.

When a limb-different girl discovers that her dream in life is to become a ballerina, she asks for dance lessons. But will she manage to perform like the other girls, when her augmentations do not allow her to do the ballet positions, when the other girls avoid her, and when the teachings do not fit her particular differences?

Will Bevis is a prolific writer of short, sometimes controversial "slice of life" stories, articles, essays, and memoirs that make you feel you are right there, experiencing the story as it it happens.

In the middle of the night, a shadow is running in the darkness of lonely New York City corners, chasing criminals, helping lost souls. Wrong Day for a Kill is the first short story in the science fiction series Superhero Stories: The W Series. W is a superhero like no other, who struggles between the hunger for Justice and the need to use violence to achieve that very ideal of justice. Where is W running to tonight? Who is being chased? Meet W in the first of a long series of adventures.

This is a story from the Dubliners, Volume 2 collection.

A fictional story that is positioned in time with the crucifixion of Jesus. While events that would shape culture and thinking were taking place, Ben-Tovit was consumed with a toothache. Would his own health issue prevent him from recognizing history? Narrated by Glenn Hascall.