Sides

By Denis Vaughan

A collection of short stories covering two different sides of human emotions, those highlighted in the dramatic part of our lives and those from the lighter side.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Denis Vaughan
• Release date: Jun 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458099990

Denis Vaughan

Born in Dublin, I now live in the country, in County Cavan, a place full of creative influences and history. I enjoy observing people and places, finding a story in every event I see. I have mainly written flash fiction entries on my blog but did complete a novel for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWrimo) in 2009. Yet to be edited and published, I hope to complete soon and continue with short story writing initially and then maybe another novel.

Book preview

Sides

Denis Vaughan

Published by Denis Vaughan at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Denis Vaughan

ISBN: 978-1-4580-9999-0

Smashwords Edition, License Notes Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all those who have read and commented on my blog where these stories were originally posted - http://inshin.wordpress.com/

Thanks also to Chris Nash & Debra Snider (the original readers and givers of encouragement) and also Donna Carrick who has given great advice through her Twitter comments.

Dedicated to

Auntie Kathleen

Sides

There are different sides to human nature and what happens to us in life. Some are sad & dramatic, some are humorous. This collection takes seven stories from our more dramatic side and seven from our humours side. I hope you enjoy.

Table of Contents

From This Side

Through His Eyes

Could have been us, could it?

The Window

Come to say hello

The Cell

Crystal

One last Christmas job

Cuddles

The Devine Office

Glorious Hands

The Confessional

The Other Church

The Sitters

From This Side

Wow, the sky, blue with puffy balloons of white cloud look amazing when you’re lying on the ground looking up.

It’s an incredible site, and completely dismisses the pain.

I wish I’d done this more before I was on the ground easing my history in a red signature across the fresh early grass.

I suppose what was the biggest shock wasn’t being downed, it was how and by whom. I was always sharp, I knew exactly who was close and who was to be watched.

When I put the barrel right between the eyes of my so-called friend as he whimpered in a saliva’d attempt to say I didn’t do it, I didn’t blink as I squeezed, and that was that problem sorted. See, I always knew.

But it seems things change, and the older you get, well maybe.

I broke my own rules I suppose. Maybe age has that effect. But he was a young and somewhat reckless hood, and could have gone wrong at any time. I decided to guide him, help him in the ways of damnation. He learned well. He knew the time, he knew the place, he knew the words. Words I had taught him, words that signalled the end.

Everything was silent now. It was like the explosion of the shot had frightened everything and everyone into hiding. That would be the way, into hiding. That’s how it worked. When you did a job, you didn’t do it quietly or sneakily, you made sure you were seen, made sure you were heard, then no one talked.

Only this guy had gone the other way. He had decided that my departure should be ‘quiet, concealed, hidden’, that was his mistake. You can be a hero in this world when you take out a big name, but only if everyone knows. I told him that, don’t do something you won’t get credit for. It wasn’t that I wanted to be a celebrity for the jobs I did, no, it was much more basic. When people knew the job you did, you were safer. Now he’d have to face the fact that he’d done the job, but no-one except the customer, would know. For a guy like him, a death sentence.

Don’t worry, I’m not dead yet. With a poor shot, it takes a while. It’s not that he was normally a poor shot, he just found this one difficult. I kind of find that somewhat comforting. Worry, it’s not a word I actually use that often, but it’s on my mind now. I worry that I didn’t give him the right guidance, or even just information. He’s not ready to handle the fallout of what he’s just done, and the customer knew that.