Artfully Played

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Modern educators stress the value of the sciences; reality underscores the need for the arts.

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…was a scientist; he was an engineer, and he had an idea. He thought it was genius; it would, in his mind, make him a fortune. His father, laughed; he said it was a “pipe dream." "If you wish to be rich, you should follow a different path,” he said pontifically. “Scientists don’t get rich; they become famous. Business majors get rich,” he explained to a dipondent son. Vladimir believed his analytical mind could cope with any challenge and proceeded with his…

By Robert L. Scarry

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Inka’s Curse Part 28: Cave

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…the insistent ringing in my ears quiets, and I start to feel the cold sweat on my body. I wake up the other two.

I wake up having a stomach ache.

The air was refreshing in the early morning as we walked up the abandoned unkempt path. The familiar sounds of the woods gently waking in the new day surround us. I paused, suck in the fresh air, and closed my eyes. As I opened my eyes again, I carefully look around the surrounding pine, mighty oak, and cedar trees, the birds fluttering through the majestic…

By Cristina Collazo

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You Can Smell the Love

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Only mom can generate this much love.

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…pulled the glove-shaped pot holder over her hand. Opening the oven door she felt a rush of hot air against her face. It made her flinch and back away from the stove. The pumpkin pie on the center rack filled the kitchen with the delightful aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

She didn’t mind the crack in the custard filling, or the darkened rim of the…

By Robert L. Scarry

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Inka’s Curse Part 27: Meal

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…we’re getting ready to leave town, a young stops us. I don’t know how he knows me, but I don’t know him. He says he’s a fan of mines...

“A fan of what?” I ask confused.

“You’re exotic catches,” he snickered.

“My fishing?”

“You’re a legend in the fisherman world…”

“No way,” I can’t believe that but Titan seems to believe him.

“I know my finds can sometimes be rare, but those are completely fortunate.”

He doesn’t believe me. “No way,” he…


By Cristina Collazo

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Friendly Reservations

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Ever wonder what the animals discuss at the Dog Park?

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…and Roscoe were buddies. They generally got together every week at the park. Without leashes they were free to run and compare their days. “So what’s new with you?” Roscoe began the interrogation. Barkly always had something going on.

“We got a cat.”

“Really? How is that working out?”

“That feline bitch is about to ruin my life.” Roscoe realized he was about to instigate a…


By Robert L. Scarry

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Gas Waltz

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A flash-fiction by Gregory Vincent St. Thomasino

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…sign read OPEN 24 HOURS. It hung beneath a giant red and yellow scallop that wheezed each time a wind pushed across its cracked and sun-blasted surface. Dave Mannion, former stock car racer and one-time owner of a ’56 Corvette, was standing at its base scuffing the weeds into heaps with his soiled work shoes. The station grounds had been neglected, weeds jostled through the chaps in the ill-laid asphalt paving. Dust was accumulating everywhere. The dry hot wind was ceaseless, and the Carson City weather made no mention of rain. He felt…


By Gregory Vincent St. Thomasino

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Why Won’t You Watch?

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…can’t you watch? Marlene has no problem watching; why do you? Marlene not only is watching she has a smile showing her approval. While you...you remain emotionless

Kenneth may have been Marlene’s “pride-and joy”, but Kenneth was a “bad dude.” His going away was a blessing for everyone...except Marlene, of course.

I really had no choice. When Phyllis developed a relationship with Kenneth, she ceased being a part of my life. For me that was devastating. Phyllis was my older sister; she was part of my life from the day I was born. Then Kenneth’s influence began; she…


By Robert L. Scarry

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Inka’s Curse Part 26: A Few Drinks

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…carefully cleans out his visible wounds before checking on mines. After we had left the beach, we went to the village. A flintstone and striker. Three quick hits and the glowing sparks flew. We carefully held onto the makeshift torches to the local village. 

“Let’s go eat...and drink,” Rachel said. We unanimously decided to go to the bar before staying at the inn.

Rachel orders us the first round. We start talking about the mighty dragon. I gulped. “He must be over 100 feet long and almost as tall. In all my life, I’ve never seen anything as magnificent…


By Cristina Collazo

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The Quantum Engine

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A work of speculative fiction about the mystery of the universe.

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…Hartock was an abused child. He remained silent. No one knew what happened, but people knew he rarely talked. He never looked directly into another person’s eyes. He avoided contact. When he was very young mechanical toys were his only friends. He listened to them and marveled at the way the toys moved, spinning and racing across the playroom floor. As he grew older, his love for toys developed into a love for computers and robots. When he turned eighteen he was given a sex-bot. He grew to love…


By Lee Balan

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Inka’s Curse Part 25: Memories

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…just scared of her. You’ll soon see there’s nothing to be scared of.” I change my answer. “I do trust her. And you should too.”

No matter what she did, Rachel couldn’t recall her childhood. She couldn’t remember where she grew up, what the names of her friends were, all the times she had likely gotten in trouble unless somehow she was a perfect kid and she merely didn’t know. She didn’t remember if she’d had her first kiss or if she had ever done something absolutely foolish on a dare or if she’d ever even had the friends she…


By Cristina Collazo

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