GONE. FISHING.

The air is always quiet before a disaster. James Dally had taken a 'sick' day, a means to escape his hectic job at Capital Records. He felt great, driving up Iceberg Mountain Road to go fly fishing at Skogland River. The day before, stopping in at Jake's Bar across the street from the office, he spotted Nat 'King' Cole. Mr. Cole frequently stopped in at Jake's after meeting with the record company. They chatted about family, work and life in general. James mentioned his crazy workload, and it was Nat who suggested - "You get sick time, don't you?" - that he take a day off. James cast his line in the river stretch below Skogland Falls. And then he became aware of the ominous silence. No wind, no water splushing, no birds crying, no trees shaking. Wierd. Before long there was a gunshot. It was so loud, it scared James to death! He fell back, gulped on glacier water, and convulsed in an "Unforgettable" way.
© BILL BLAIR 2009

CURSE of the SKYE TERRIER

Ollie Adams had experimented one too many times with his liquor. If he didn't drink enough, he'd dream about his abusive father. If he drank too much, he'd dream about his first pet - Sky, the Skye terrier. Tonight he drank too much. Lying on his coupon-strewn floor, a barrage of doggie images - little Sky yipping and yapping - bounced off the walls of his mind. He always thought the dog looked half-human under his scruffy brows (reminding Ollie of Jo-Jo, The Dog-Faced Boy, whom he'd once met at one of P.T. Barnum's booze-filled circus events). As Ollie drifted off, he cued some 1001 Strings music in his head...to bid farewell to his childhood canine companion. Soon Skye would bleed with Sky, a blurry curse that repeatedly haunts Ollie Adams.

© BILL BLAIR 2009

INCIDENT at CRUSTY LAKE

With the maple-sugar harvest nearing completion, the residents of Crusty Lake took to the frozen lake. The ice was thick and firm, great for skating, frollicking - and thrills. Dodie and Paul built a snowman on the shore, their recently-dead poodle pup (blame that Buick driver) buried inside the figure's frosty belly. Wilburt chased Ed, hoping to catch some of his loot from the corner grocery robbery. Sandy tightly fastened her laces while Timmy slipped on his pool of incontinence. Roger and Anne waltzed a glide, their skate blades cutting shrieks over the ice. Further down the lake, Leonard did an interpretive dance-come-crucifixion pose. All appeared well in this charming scene. As dusk approached, however, the Buick driver would return, racing over the lake - flattening each thrill-seeking participant at Crusty Lake.
© BILL BLAIR 2009