March 7, 2025
Image of monastery on a distant mountain top view from another mountaintop into the valley - TEXT: The Nature of Work Part 5, Alex Barr, Historical Fiction
Published by Alex Barr at March 7, 2025
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The Nature of Work, Part 5

It was just another day, just another plank – neither harder nor easier to lift than most, the nail heads groaning as they were left behind like tiny square-headed sentinels. So, seeing a cylinder in red Morocco leather on the dry earth lying as simply as if this day was entirely foreseen, Yannis was unable to move, heart racing, confused by this intrusion into the normal pattern of his days.
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March 2, 2025
Image of monastery on a distant mountain top view from another mountaintop into the valley - TEXT: The Nature of Work Part 4, Alex Barr, Historical Fiction
Published by Alex Barr at March 2, 2025
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The Nature of Work, Part 4

“And the emptiness of the casket, Little Father, is the great revelation of Apostolis, the hevel of your favourite writer Ecclesiastes, that all our desires and ambitions are ‘mere breath’, and—” He paused to suck in air, “and that even our desire for wisdom is ‘chasing the wind’. Please bring Fotis more water.”
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February 23, 2025
Image of monastery on a distant mountain top view from another mountaintop into the valley - TEXT: The Nature of Work Part 3, Alex Barr, Historical Fiction
Published by Alex Barr at February 23, 2025
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The Nature of Work, Part 3

When the endless labour ahead tormented him, Yannis told himself to remember cycling up long hills when instead of looking ahead to the summit, he panted with desire to reach the top and freewheel down. He looked at the kerbstones and counted mortar joints, and when he rested, he found himself surprised at how far he had climbed.
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February 17, 2025
Image of monastery on a distant mountain top view from another mountaintop into the valley - TEXT: The Nature of Work Part 2, Alex Barr, Historical Fiction
Published by Alex Barr at February 17, 2025
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The Nature of Work, Part 2

“Daughter,” Yannis said sternly, “it is not fitting you come here. Please send another nephew if you have one.” The hint of a smile played around her lips… Apart from the rustle of bougainvillaea leaves and the repetitive song of a mistle thrush, a thick silence descended. Yannis said, “However, you must convey my order for tools. Hammer, crowbar, and bolster. You know what a bolster is?”
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February 12, 2025
Image of monastery on a distant mountain top view from another mountaintop into the valley - TEXT: The Nature of Work Part 1, Alex Barr, Historical Fiction
Published by Alex Barr at February 12, 2025
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The Nature of Work, Part 1                                          

So he allowed himself to imagine the Maker’s delight in working out the orogeny – not just here in the Meteora but in every part of the world – arranging pleats, wrinkles and horizontal bands. The Maker placed a cirque here and a tarn there, ornamenting the work with delicate silver streams, and taking time to decide where to place the treeline.
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May 22, 2024
Leave it there bobbing on the ocean - a Will & May story
Published by Melissa Juchniewicz at May 22, 2024
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Bobbing On the Ocean

“I’m sorry. I’ve almost got it licked though. I’m never touching another drop. Going on the wagon. I’m quitting. That was it last night, I promise. I’m done,” he said.
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April 6, 2024
Interior of large Catholic church - For Thine is the Power title
Published by Melissa Juchniewicz at April 6, 2024
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For Thine is the Power

Paulie and Will were friends because they were almost the same age and lived next door to each other but Will spent more time with his brothers, John and Stevie, than the neighbors. Will and Paulie kind of looked alike, though, and when they walked around town people thought they were brothers, or “Irish twins,” as Mr. Carey at Carey’s market said.
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March 25, 2024
duped - part 2 - red beam of light, man being lifted - pod person
Published by Claire L Marsh at March 25, 2024
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Duped, Part 2

Penny stood up and waved her hand in front of Benny’s glassy eyes. No reaction, no blinking, nothing. It was like Benny had been scooped out of his body. Eve pulled the bottle away from his right-hand without resistance but the hand kept repeating the motion.
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March 23, 2024
red light, man in beam - science fiction - duped part 1 - cul-de-sac life
Published by Claire L Marsh at March 23, 2024
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Duped, Part 1

All captured by his spotlight, Benny wrestled the bag like it was a dopey Alsatian three-quarters his size, up and over the plastic container. The white property light intermingled with yellow streetlights, overlaying Benny with a nostalgic sepia tone. Just as he closed the lid, the light changed and Penny uprooted herself from within the squidgy cushions to the edge of the chair. Benny stood in a vertical tube of crimson light descending from the sky. His arms bolted straight upwards and head flopped down to his chest like his neck bones had dissolved.
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March 16, 2024
by the light of the moon - couple silhouetted by bright orange and yellow moon - Saturday romance
Published by Peter J. Barbour at March 16, 2024
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By the Light of the Moon, Part 4

“I can tell the future and here's what I learned,” I said with dramatic seriousness. “I will not need to ask anyone to homecoming because I'll be taking you. Paul will be home with mono. You may not know but my pebbles know.”
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March 11, 2024
by the light of the moon - part 2 - romance fiction cover - she stayed - moonlight background
Published by Peter J. Barbour at March 11, 2024
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By the Light of the Moon, Part 2

I raced through the line taking food without much thought. Platter piled high, I breezed past the cashier and out into the dining room. Normally, we ate in a small room behind the main hall away from the co-eds, but I refused to miss this opportunity to dine with her.
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