The Road You Came In On: Southwest Surreal Shorts

By Ed Teja

"It's not the destination, it's the journey."

That little bit of wisdom is according to none other than Ralph Waldo Emerson. Unfortunately, Ralph never managed to drive the back roads of the southwestern US. If he had, like Horace and Irma he would have learned just how interesting a journey can be when you travel the back roads that crisscross the wide open country.

Those two love to wander and see what's out there, even if it's nothing. They've got different styles, different approaches to meandering, but share that passion.

Even if you don't know the area and there is no cell service, you can't get lost, can you? After all, if you find yourself uncertain of your whereabouts, you can just backtrack, follow the road you came in on... right?

Relying on that, you better take into account the surreal vagaries of the southwest. Reality gets nuanced around ghost towns and cattle trails. And it might be that, in their enthusiasm, Irma and Horace have forgotten that lesson.

It takes place in the blink of an eye.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Float Street Press
• Release date: Oct 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223873518

Book preview

The Road You Came In On

Southwest Surreal Shorts

Ed Teja

Published by Float Street Press, 2023.

Table of Contents

Title Page

The Road You Came In On (Southwest Surreal Shorts)

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Copyright © 2023 by Ed Teja 

All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

Original art © 2023 Dagny Sellorin ([e-mail])

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The Road You Came In On

It’s impossible to get lost out here, Horace, Irma said. "If you get to a dead-end, you just go back on the road you came in on. Then you backtrack to the place where you turned onto it.