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 (457)
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Meginormous
“Harry, Harry, look at the size of these footprints—there meginormous!” “You’re right Pete. I think we finally found his trail. These prints have to be three times the size of a normal human, and they look fresh. This could be the find of the century. We’ll be famous!”
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Mind the Gap
Mind the Gap is a phrase Archie heard over the loudspeakers every day when entering and exiting the tube, or as they call it in America, the subway. Naturally, he thought the announcement was referring to the space between the platform and the train car. He felt the need to remind people about a small void by using announcements and signs was silly and a waste of money. Seriously, how inept would a person need to be to step out of the car and wedge their foot in a space only a few inches wide? It was totally illogical.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Oops!
There are no words in the English language more terrifying than oops, damn, and oh crap. Simple paltry words, true, but they can strike terror in a person when spoken in the wrong setting. Every time I look in the mirror, each of those words haunts me. If you have a little time, I’ll be happy to explain.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Humor
Miss Celeste
Celeste was the center of attention wherever she went. It wasn’t because she was attractive, even though she was. It wasn’t because she was smart and witty; she was all that and more. No, it was because she accurately predicted the future for her clients. Celeste was a fortune teller extraordinaire. People came to her from around the world hoping to find out what the future had in store for them. She plied her craft with a flair for the dramatic, coupled with a high level of discretion her clients appreciated, but she remained an enigma.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Horror
Brothers In Arms
Franz Franz Anderson squatted with his back against a muddy wall of the trench assigned to him. Mud was the word of the day. The goopy stuff oozed over the top of his boots, stuck to his pants, coated his skin, and even infiltrated his food. When he ran for cover from incoming fire, it slowed his progress. If the officers ordered him “over the top," the mud transformed his charge into a slog. Just the rats that infested the trenches were unhindered by the mud. The only positive effect of having so much mud was that the British and French had to deal with it as well. When the phrase War is Hell was coined, what they really meant was War is Mud!
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Revenge
Zephyr meticulously mixed the potion to ensure its maximum strength. When his brew was complete, he drained every drop from the cauldron into a waiting mug and guzzled it down. The mixture took effect immediately. His beard changed from long and white to a salt-and-pepper gray stubble. Zephyr’s back straightened and stretched, adding several inches of height to his already imposing frame. His eye color transformed from a mysterious black to an alluring deep ocean blue. There was nothing about him that resembled his original self.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
The Coffee Shop
Peter always needed to trek across town if he wanted to enjoy the welcoming feeling he got when visiting his favorite coffee shop. No matter the traffic conditions or the weather, he felt the trip was always worth it. The joy Peter felt when he learned the local company was opening a new shop in his neighborhood was indescribable. There would be no more sitting in traffic or hunting for a place to park. In a matter of a few short weeks, he would simply walk down the block to his new home away from home.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
SSSSnake
“Well, kids, today is a great day to learn about humans. The first thing you have to learn is that they are more afraid of us than we are of them. Let me show you exactly what I’m talking about. I’ll just poke my head up through the space between the boards and watch how the people react.”
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Humor
What to Believe?. Top Story - October 2023.
You probably won’t believe what I’m about to tell you, and I can’t say that I blame you for being skeptical. Really, with all this disinformation floating around the web, it’s hard to know what’s real. For example, did you know Elvis is alive and living in a trailer park outside of Vegas, and how about all those pictures of Bigfoot? If it’s on the internet it must be true, right?
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Un-Haunted House
The high-mileage car sputtered, bucked and coughed before giving up the ghost, stranding its occupants. Kevin, Marsha, and their two kids sat quietly for several minutes, trying to decide on their next move. The family stared out of the car windows at what looked like the set of a Hitchcock movie. A full moon illuminated the leafless trees lining the windy driveway, which led to a dilapidated Victorian-style house. It sat atop a hill, commanding the surrounding valley. None of the family were sure if it was the crisp October night air or the creepy surroundings that made them all shiver.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Horror
Personal Connection
The steady rhythmic beep, beep, beep of the monitors attached to Ida’s body lull me into a semi-conscious state. I cradle her hand in mine, absentmindedly rubbing her wedding ring with one of my fingers. It’s strange how the mind works. I sometimes have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast, but even after sixty years, my memory of the day we met is as vivid as if it were yesterday. I know it’s the same for her because of a recent conversation.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Humans
Treasure
A fade of spectacular orange hues announces the approaching night. The tide has ceased its retreat and will soon follow the moon’s command to invade the shore. I am here at every low tide, rain or shine, in daylight and darkness, combing this section of beach, hoping the sea will return what it has stolen.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
