Mark Gagnon
Bio
My life has been spent traveling here and abroad. Now it's time to write.
I have three published books: Mitigating Circumstances, Short Stories for Open Minds, and Short Stories from an Untethered Mind. Unmitigated Greed is do out soon.
Achievements (1)
Stories (458)
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Secret Squirrel
“Come in central, this is Fuzzy One. Do you copy?” “We copy Fuzzy One. Do you have anything to report?” “Only that I’m really bored. I’m your number one secret squirrel and you assigned me to this clown! My investigative talents are being wasted here.”
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Stop–Edit–Continue
A hot topic of conversation in today’s society is called cancel culture. It’s prevalent in every country and every society. Lately, every other month, a new atrocity is brought to light. Schools were supposedly set up by religious organizations to help indigenous children transition from a past culture to a new social structure. What these schools were in reality were concentration camps.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Journal
People Watcher
I have been a professional people watcher for the last 150 Earth years. My planet sent me here to observe and report on humans. Using direct observation will determine whether to add Earth to the Interplanetary Consortium or quarantine it. I take my work seriously, and this assignment has been the most difficult I’ve ever undertaken. When the posting was first assigned to me, I felt that in 25–50 years tops I would have my report complete and be ready to move on to my next assignment. Boy, was I wrong!
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Futurism
The Room
Isaac spent every day of his seventeen years in Southwest Florida. His parents never traveled outside of Florida. When Isaac was younger, he thought every state had palm trees, flat swampy areas, and alligators. When the temperatures dropped into the fifties, it was winter coat weather. He had heard about snow and even seen pictures of it on television and in the movies but had no idea what it felt like. Ice skating and skiing were bizarre sports he could barely comprehend. In true Florida tradition, his sports were baseball, football, swimming, and fishing.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Vocal’s Lost Communities. Top Story - November 2023.
For those who are unaware or have never counted them, Vocal has 48 communities available for writers to post their work in. The most popular of these by far are Poetry with 40,097 writers and Fiction with 31,637 writers. These numbers come from Vocal’s website and I’m sure they fluctuate from week to week, possibly day to day. These two groups generate most stories published on the site. What I found fascinating is how many Top Stories these two communities garner in a thirty-day period.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Chapters
Tick…Tick…Tick…
OK, I signed up for this job, so I have nothing to complain about. In fairness, though, I volunteered shortly after basic while I was in the middle of AIT (Advanced Infantry Training). The idea of running around Afghanistan with a rifle wasn’t my idea of a good time. So, when a couple of sergeants with a cluster of ribbons on their chests came into our training area and asked for a few volunteers, my hand shot up. I didn’t even know what the job was, but I figured it had to be a step up from being a grunt. That’s how I ended up in the Army’s Bomb Disposal Unit.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Serve
Warning Signs. Top Story - November 2023.
So many red flags, yet Peter ignored them all. There was a yellow symbol glowing brightly on the dashboard. The weather forecaster implored people to prepare for an imminent storm. A “No Trespassing” sign bearing skull and crossbones symbols guarding the entrance. Everything seemed trivial until it was too late to avoid his current predicament.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Chapters
Transition from Despair
Mika’s logical mind was trapped inside the citadel walls of despair. His dire situation and his inability to find a resolution quickly only worsened the desperation he was feeling. Despair is a beast that blinds its victim from seeing rational solutions that would be obvious to the unencumbered mind. Despair is a self-perpetuating creature that feeds off the hopelessness of its prey. Yes, he must find an escape before his body and mind succumb to the ever-increasing pressure.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
A Cry for Help
Paul, I spotted your poster stapled to a tree and feel I must respond. You and I share a bond that most people will never understand. You have lost your favorite black T-shirt, and I have lost my pants. They are not just any pair of pants. My pants are made from the best corduroy money can buy. They give off a rubbing sound when I walk. This vip-vip sound makes me the center of attention wherever I go. People stop and scan the area in search of this unique sound. I can see a look of recognition form across their faces as I pass by them. Oh, that’s where the sound is coming from, is what they’re thinking.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Lighten Up
Michelangelo experienced an epiphany while lying on his back, staring at a blank section of the Sistine Chapel. This place is possitively humorless. All day long, I’m subjected to the droning of Gregorian chants. Nobody ever laughs or even smiles. The priests, monks, and nuns dress in lackluster clothes that purposely hide any suggestion of their human form. It must be the most depressing place on the planet.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Sanctuary
If I can just make it to that house, is the thought that plays on a continuous loop in my brain. The lights are on and smoke is drifting lazily from the chimney, so I have to believe someone is there who can help me. Every time I think I’m making progress; the house appears to maintain its distance. It’s frustrating, but I have no choice. To stop moving is to stop living.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Sewerdiferous
His gelatinous body quivered and roiled as Blobby slithered from one intersecting sewer pipe to another. He filled his lungs with the sewerdiferous aromas that permeated the air surrounding him. How could anyone not enjoy starting their day this way? Why would anyone choose to live in a world that didn’t smell like the one he grew up in?
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
