O’Henry

pchero on October 15th, 2009

 A Guard came to the prison shoe shop where Jimmy Valentine was stitching a boot. The guard took Jimmy to the warden’s office. There, the warden passed Jimmy a pardon, which had been signed by the governor that morning. Jimmy took the document and looked bored. He had spent nearly ten months of his four-year […]

Continue reading about A Retrieved Reformation

pchero on October 14th, 2009

 Imagine you are walking down Broadway after dinner. You have ten minutes to smoke your cigar while deciding whether to see a tragedy or a comedy. Suddenly a hand is laid on your arm. You turn to look into the thrilling eyes of a beautiful woman wearing diamonds and a fur coat. She quickly puts […]

Continue reading about The Green Door

pchero on October 13th, 2009

   Soapy moved uneasily on his park bench. When wild geese honk high at night as they fly overhead, and when women without fur coats become kind to their husbands, and when Soapy moves uneasily on his park bench, you know that winter is coming.    A dead leaf fell in Soapy’s lap. That was […]

Continue reading about The Cop and the Anthem

pchero on October 12th, 2009

 John walked slowly towards his flat. Slowly, because there are no surprises for a man who has been married for two years and lives in a flat. There was no “perhaps” in his life. As he walked John Perkins gloomily imagined the end of his boring day.  Katy would meet him at the door with […]

Continue reading about The Pendulum