At Rock Bottom

Aaron Ralston, a 27-year-old seasoned mountain climber had planned to be back at his truck…

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…hiked seven miles into Blue John Canyon and was climbing over an eight-foot boulder when the 1,000-pound rock suddenly shifted, pinning his right wrist between the rock and the canyon wall. He struggled…

By Pete Black

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1951

When bad news Charlie sees an oblong craft zigzag across the sky and cartwheel over the flatlands of Bakersfield, he runs to the crash and discovers he’s hit the jackpot.

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…didn’t have the guts to rob the drugstore in Visalia. The woman behind the coun-ter reminded him of his mother—what a chump. His truck needed gas, oil, a new carbu-retor. No sweat. Now he could buy…

By DC Dismondopolous

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Breaking Point

I should have known something was wrong when the trees started talking back.

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…because I won at a poker game. He was the ringleader, the star of the show, teaching us newbies how to play our hands, how to hide our emotions, when to place the right bet. I proved to be a quick study, surprisingly good. Or just…

By Slyvia Rose

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In Threes

…stared down into the mouth of the open grave. The name engraved on the coffin lid plaque may have read the name of one of his closest friends but he still couldn’t believe it. It couldn’t have been Tony lying down there. The service was over but he remained. The rest of the mourners were heading back to the cars, to follow the funeral procession to the wake being held at a local social club. Jamie still could not take it…

By Chris Platt

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