Ashtrays to Jawbeakers: Volume 2

By June Project

From the minds of some of the finest indie authors comes Volume 2 of Ashtrays to Jawbreakers. Blending fiction with poetry, light with dark and fact with fiction, this is a collection that travels the winding roads of literature. The stories and poems contained within offer a glance into different worlds - some familiar, some less so; but all of them with a twist.
A writer’s world is that blurred area between reality and fantasy. Most writers are never known for their works other than by their tight knit rings of friends or family. Sometimes a writer is never known because he or she is intimidated at the thought of rejection and scrutiny from their peers. A writer's life is never cut and dried. There are no vacations, lots of sleepless nights, distractions of every type and structure. All can be blamed on the characters in our heads fighting to get out.
Most people only have that one voice they pay attention to, but for a writer there may ten or twenty talking at one time. Writing is sometimes the only way to ease the peace. These eleven authors have put a lot into their stories. A lot of thought to get the right word in the right place to provide an accurate picture in your mind of what he or she wants you to see. There are only 26 letters in the alphabet, but put together right the possibilities are endless. We hope you enjoy the stories provided and they help you escape for a minute or two from your reality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: June Project
• Release date: Aug 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310587962

Book preview

Ashtrays to Jawbreakers

A compilation:

Volume Two

All rights reserved: Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. No part of this publication may be reproduced distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a database or retrieval system; without prior written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction.

Names characters places and incidents are a product of the authors imagination are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events locals or persons living or dead are purely coincidental.

Copyrighted August 2014

All said property is owned by individual authors.

June Project Ink holds no claim to any individual rights or royalties

Photos courtesy of Google Chrome

Some stories may include adult content.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please

return to your favorite ebook retailer to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support

Table of contents:

Foreword

The Game by Lewis Rees

The Ring by Jason Wallace

After the fall – part 2 by Aaron R Roberts

Call of Fear by C. R. Powers

Mantrap by Neil McGowan

Shadow walk with me by Kenneth Norman Cook

The Dark Terror At The Forts By Kevin S. Hall

Dead, White, and Blowout by Misti Blake

The Girls by Viv Drewa

The Collectors By J.R. Cochran

The Pink Scarf by Shannon Thompson

Foreword

In a perfect world, all writers would get a fair break, judged on talent and not how big their wallet is. This is an attempt to give a few authors their just reward for being stubborn and not giving up. A hobby is not a hobby if it has the potential to be rewarding far more than personal enjoyment.

No writer ever hits it big just writing for money. It would be like saying, I like breathing just to hear the wind blow. A writer puts all they have into what they create and should always attempt to do so.

Every writer puts part of their being into what they write. Their work is as much a part of them as their heart and comes from within.

Writing is something a writer needs to do. It's not optional, it's like breathing. If we don't write every day, even if it's just a few words, we don't sleep due to the characters in our head demanding that their stories are told. And when you get it right (or should that be write?) then the feeling is the greatest high on the planet.

Some authors say that their work is no good. That it lacks the certain je ne sais quoi to make it with in the world of literature. They are almost always wrong. The big part of any author’s experience is not getting it published but getting it read by the masses. Half the battle of any author is to stride onward, even if it means facing their fear of rejection.

As hard as it appears to be, it is actually the easiest part of the experience. Facing the fear of the unknown is more of the nail biter. It takes patience and perseverance. Not every story will be that one that makes the grade. The key is to just take everything in stride and know you made a valiant effort.

Writers are writers no matter where they may be from. This edition proves that no matter the region, fiction is fiction. No matter the age the story remains the same. We as writers strive for that very thing any other non-writer strives for. That is recognition. Recognition of our skills and talents to bend words to fit the need of expression intended to bring you into their (our) world, a world we have created or in some cases destroyed.

The Game

Lewis Rees

Dessert was a non-alcoholic decaffeinated Tiramisu, served with vanilla ice cream. The main course was seafood linguine- a recipe Hannah picked up at their honeymoon in Italy. The starter was Antipasti. All courses were served with non-alcoholic wine, picked specifically to compliment the course.

Hannah and Christopher spent all day setting up for the dinner party; painstakingly choosing place settings that complimented the tablecloth, itself painfully chosen to compliment the curtains. They've lived in this apartment for a week, now. A blissful week, spent acquainting themselves with each other as a married couple, enjoying their domesticated life. They've had adventures in Ikea, carefully examining each side table, desk and rug, trying to find the exact ones that defined them as a couple.

They chose the most traditional options available; wooden furniture, brown rugs, a shade of paint Hannah calls Cosmic Latte and Chris finds indiscernible from the shades she called Cornsilk, Old Lace or Floral White.

Still, she had her heart set on it.

She compromised and let him pick the curtains; a shade of blue she calls Palatinate. They have brown coasters, brown placemats. Hannah says one of the first things you learn when you study interior design is that brown goes with everything.

Christopher sits at the head of the table, Hannah to his left. Her sister, Charlotte, sits beside her, next to her husband, James. Christopher's brother, Daniel, sits opposite Hannah, fidgeting nervously the entire time.

They'd sent the cards out three weeks before- the day before leaving for their honeymoon.

On embossed paper, the colour of faded parchment, read the words:

Christopher and Hannah Marshall

Request the pleasure of your company on

The evening of April 28th, 2014, for an intimate dinner party.

Dress Code: Smart Casual

They sent the cards out in powder blue envelopes left over from their wedding invitations, and both replies were waiting in their mailbox when they arrived; one from James and Charlotte, one from Daniel. They spent the evening discussing their honeymoon; the weather, the exotic cuisine's they'd sampled, their journeys through the ruins of Pompeii; walking tours through the Coliseum, day trips to picturesque Italian villages where they still stamped wine underfoot, the scent of grapes so thick it all but perfumed the air. The scent of coffee; so electrifying, foreign even, that Hannah swore she could feel it in her bloodstream and had to retire to the hotel room to close her eyes. She'd sworn she could feel it affecting her already- intoxicating, almost.

She kept the door shut tight, the windows closed. The lights off. The lights were always off when they made love- years of waiting for that moment and it was over in two painful dissatisfying minutes. Frankly, Hannah didn't see what the big deal was about- there was very little pleasure in it. An acquired taste, she supposed. Given time- hopefully before the first baby- she supposed she'd grow to like it.

Or, at least, tolerate it.

Chris stands to his feet, taps his glass with a spoon to quiet them down.

They're not speaking. Chris just likes to be the centre of attention.

Alright, Gang! You all know the game! Hannah imitates a drumroll on the table, James and Charlotte join soon after. Daniel, his face ashen, looks like one who wishes only to die.

The rules are simple; questions about each other. Favorite movies or books, phobias. First person to five points wins the game. Chris brings out five piles of cards- Red for himself, Yellow for Hannah, Purple for Daniel, Green for Charlotte and Blue for James. Each is held together with an elastic band, kept separate. A six sided dice, each one coloured to match a card, with the remaining side painted white.

If someone rolls the white side, they get to choose who goes next. They all know the game, played it as kids.

Five colours, five people, first person to five wins the game.

Of course, they know each other so well. Spent their weekends together at the lake, even went to the same church camps. This game is just a formality. A piece of cake. An utterly boring exercise to end the evening.

Like Yahtzee.

Like Charades.

Chris rolls the dice. Purple.

Alright, Dan, first question is yours. he reads the card carefully. What is Charlotte's favourite book?

Twilight.

Charlotte scoffs into her non-alcoholic wine.

What?

Just because I'm a woman you assume my favourite book is Twilight.

It was last time. Daniel replies.

I'm sorry, Daniel, that's not the answer I have here. Chris says.

So what, pray tell, is your favourite book, Charlie?

Ender's Game.

Daniel sighs heavily. Pours himself a drink.

Chris hands Daniel the dice. He rolls it across the table. Yellow. He takes a card.

Hannah. there's no enthusiasm in his voice. No attempt to add tension. What's my favourite colour? he sighs heavily. Way to make them hard. I'll save you the trouble, Hannah, it's on the card.

Purple?

He nods and puts the card down. Hands the dice to her. She rolls blue. Clears her throat.

James; what's Charlotte's favorite movie?

Charlotte stares at Hannah, mouth agape. Hannah stares at the card, a dopey smile on her face. James looks deep in thought. Is it... Titanic? No, The Notebook.

Is that your final answer?

He hesitates. Yes.

Hannah stares him down. The rest of them still aren't saying anything.

Correct. she utters simply. She puts the card down.

What. The. Heck.

What?

Do you really think that question's appropriate?! What's the big deal!? Hannah interjects.

The big deal?! Do you have any idea how embarrassed I am?!

What's the big deal? James asks. They asked your favorite movie, I told them it's The Notebook. I mean, it sucks, but it's nothing to be embarrassed about.

...You're kidding me.

No. Why, what did you think I asked? Hannah asks.

...You're sure this wine is non-alcoholic?

Yeah, of course. I only use alcoholic wine for cooking.

She sighs. Sorry. I thought I heard... never mind. Whose turn is it? James rolls the dice. Red.

Alright, Chris; what is Hannah's greatest fear?

Heck... is it clowns?

See?! Charlotte interjects. Tell me I wasn't the only one who just heard that.

No. I heard it too. Daniel said.

Hannah, James and Chris look at him. What are you too playing at? I only asked what Hannah was afraid of. James protests.

That's what I heard. Chris says. Hannah nods in agreement.

Daniel? Charlotte asks.

James asked Chris how Hannah was in bed. Chris answered disappointing.

I would never-

Cut it out, guys! Charlotte says. Let me see that card.

Chris, James and Hannah look at each other. They shrug. James hands the card over.

Charlotte reads it. Reads it again. Sighs and puts the card down.

I'm so confused.

You're confused? Hannah asks. What about us? Do you really think that Chris thinks I'm bad at making love? That's ridiculous. Right, Chris? Well... Chris says. Daniel hisses through his teeth.

Wrong answer.

Chris?

I mean... you're not bad at it... but it was kind of disappointing. It's a skill, you know? You learn. The first step towards being an expert is being a beginner.

...I don't believe you.

Alright! Daniel shouts. Loud enough to get everyone's attention. Chris, roll the dice?

Chris takes the dice and rolls it hastily. Green.

Charlotte! What's James' favorite kind of fruit?

Hands up if you heard porno. Charlotte asks. She and Daniel immediately raise their hands. Hannah hesitates, then raises hers.

Cut it out guys! Chris says. This is getting ridiculous. Charlotte stands up. Heads for the door.

Where are you going?! Hannah asks.

Where does it look like? Away. she reaches for the handle.

No! Don't open the door! Chris now.

"What? You invite me here, ask all these stupid, crazy, obscene questions, then you play oblivious! I mean, I expected it from James,