It was autumn of 1950. The early morning sunlight splattered onto the grass and walks of the quadrangle formed by the high school buildings. The students crossed this space but did not linger there. The upper grade girls assembled on the senior wall that ran along the main walk into the main classroom building. A
I became aware that I had mentioned my imaginary friend, Gumbye, in a previous story without introducing him to you, my readers. Let me do so now. I was five years old and pretty much an only child having a three-year-older sister who had figured out that her life was better without me. Other than
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During Jesuit Theology class at Loyola High School one warm afternoon in 1947, Father Duggins’s monotonous voice was mesmerizing the ninth-grade class of fifty boys into a somnolent state. Rays from the afternoon sun slanted through the trees and into the windows. There was a warm hum in the air. The teacher was lost in
Priest Murdered. Alter-Boy Held By Bernie Suttle Mom said, “We are going to a mission at the church.” A mission was a session designed to scare everyone into repentance with hell-fire and brimstone. “I said, “Do I halfta’ go?” Mom said, “It’s good for us all to go.” We went. A tag-team of two
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Closer To The Tracks By Bernie Suttle Gaunt and bent, he wore a torn, dirty, felt hat and bib overalls over a dirty long john shirt. His feet were encased in white and brown sport shoes with slits cut to ease painful toes. He looked like he hadn’t shaved since when and a scab on
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Exposed By Bernie Suttle I never thought I’d end up naked in a church pew. All great accomplishments or defeats start with just one step. Mine was more of a lurch. At seven am, dressed in nothing but a pair of shower shoes, I open the door of my fourth floor apartment to pick
Intrusion And Recovery By Bernie Suttle The pay from my after high-school job delivering furniture for Corben Co. helped me on my way to college. I got to drive the flatbed, Ford delivery truck. At five-three I barely reached the pedals. After two-weeks experience I deemed myself driver and quiet Charles Smith, my six-feet-four-inch classmate
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Priest Murdered. Alter-Boy Held By Bernie Suttle Mom said, “We are going to a mission at the church.” A mission was a session designed to scare everyone into repentance with hell-fire and brimstone. “I said, “Do I halfta’ go?” Mom said, “It’s good for us all to go.” We went. A tag-team of two
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He’s Coming To Get Me By Bernie Suttle I know who he is and how he’s coming. I don’t know what to do ‘til then. My bedroom, an afterthought add-on, is separated from the real house by a closed door. I sleep alone in my youth bed with my stories, hopes and fears my
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Survival Of The Hedonist By Bernie Suttle “That marine is standing on our guy’s head!” Abel yelled. ”That’s not going to happen to me.” It was the last day of the US Navy, “Survival, Escape and Evasion,” course in the California high desert. This course was required for all pilots and crews. The previous four
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