Fiction Published in Literary Yard

 

The idea for this fiction story, titled "The Money Dog," came from a trip I made to Boulder, Colorado for a friend's wedding.  Writing this story gave me an opportunity to work with ideas about the struggles of homeless people, blind people, and war veterans.  Writing this story also made me think long and hard about staying true to the story I want to tell versus the story those providing feedback on my work want me to tell.  It's a fine line to walk because feedback from others is an invaluable part of the writing process.  I'm very proud of this story, and it was published online in Literary Yard on January 21, 2018.  Here is the opening section:

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The Money Dog

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     Like all the other nights we sleep by the river, my guide dog’s the one who ends up on the cardboard box, avoiding the roots and sticks that might poke her in the middle of the night.  Still, the dog deserves better.  I want to be better.

     “Patience, where are you girl?”  Her tail moves back and forth, and the sound soothes my battered psyche.  I dig my elbows in the ground, and crawl towards her.  Worried about incoming fire, I remind myself I’m in Boulder, Colorado, not in Iraq where a bomb exploded twenty yards from my bunk.  The memories start to agitate me and I whisper, Jeremy…let the past go.

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Click here, and go to the full story to continue reading.