Inspirational Story Samplers

§ 04 · INSPIRATIONAL · EXCERPTS

Inspirational Samplers.

Opening excerpts from Zalman’s longer works — get a taste before you commit.

01

Bubba

“Oh, by the way, I have a surprise for you,” my wife informed me. “What kind of surprise?” “We have a new addition to our family.” Bubba was a cute…

READ · 3 MIN →
02

Knuckleballs

Three hundred impatient teenagers formed a mob outside the front doors of Massapequa High School. They were allowed to leave school grounds for…

READ · 2 MIN →
03

Dying Is Not So Easy

Rabbi Levi’s cell phone buzzed on his night table. He opened one eye, and looked at his alarm clock. Three a.m. It’s probably bad news…

READ · 4 MIN →
04

Septic Sam

He was a short man, less than five and half feet tall, with brown eyes that darted about like a bird. He was thin, bald, heavily wrinkled, and in his…

READ · 2 MIN →
05

Seventeen and Invincible

She was lying in the hospital bed, looking pale without her makeup. Her luxurious dark brown hair was now mousey looking, and her expressive hazel…

READ · 2 MIN →
06

He Was 18, She Was 16

He navigated his boat to a secluded beach on the Back Bay. He anchored, and then they played in the water like dolphins. Afterwards, she spread out…

READ · 1 MIN →
07

Dead Baby Story

Charles Largent entered First National Bank of Staten Island on Monday morning and took the elevator to the top floor. He gave the receptionist his…

READ · 2 MIN →
08

Disposable People

Charlie knocked on the door to 2F. They better be gone, he thought. After a short wait, he fit his passkey into the lock. He unlocked it, and then…

READ · 3 MIN →
09

Dark Man on Flight 1225

I watched him enter the plane. Passenger’s heads turned as he walked up the aisle. I could tell by the way he looked there was going to be trouble. A…

READ · 2 MIN →
10

Fred’s Diary

“So Mr. Largent, could you check to see if Fred’s okay? It’s not like him to be out three days without calling in.” “Yeah, sure.” Charlie hung up the…

READ · 1 MIN →
11

Fire!

A ringing sound startled Charlie out of a sound sleep. His digital alarm clock showed 3:10 AM. He reached for the phone and knocked it over. His…

READ · 2 MIN →
12

No Damn Good

There was a New York City Police cruiser parked in front of his building when Charlie drove over to unclog Mrs. Tarkanian’s toilet. “Not again,” he…

READ · 3 MIN →
13

Doing a Fred Astaire on His Skull

Artecca swaggered into Ray’s Pizza Parlor carrying his reputation on the same sturdy shoulders he had a large chip on. The crowd of young people…

READ · 2 MIN →
14

After Seth’s Murder

‘.. When I thought about Seth, I remembered the night he drove his friend John home to the West Village. John lived in a low rent, rough New York…

READ · 1 MIN →
15

Walking Odie

Odie scratched on the front door, and then turned around and looked at me with pain in his eyes. He was a cute little dog, fuzzy brown, about ten…

READ · 2 MIN →
16

Little Buttons

I parked the car, and we were on our way to the movies when I saw it. It was pitch black, maybe two months old, sitting by the bushes, crying softly…

READ · 1 MIN →
17

One Duck, Two Ducks, Three Ducks, Four

In the beginning, there were five white ducks. The wife of the story writer purchased them from a local farmer and placed them in the pond in front…

READ · 1 MIN →
18

Hamburger Booby Trap

“Daddy, where do Lifesavers come from?” Heather, aged four, was sitting in the front seat holding a roll of them. “Shush.” Her father put his finger…

READ · 2 MIN →
19

First Love

Tom walked by his son’s bedroom in the dark hallway and stubbed his little toe on a football helmet. He gritted his teeth to keep from screaming out…

READ · 2 MIN →
20

Tam

I met Tam when she was twelve. She had a round face with short brown hair and large soft lips. Her hazel eyes were a kaleidoscope of color and…

READ · 2 MIN →
21

It Was An Accident

It was a cool Saturday night in April on Long Island, New York. Tony and Dennis, two 16 year olds, were standing in the shadows under the Massapequa…

READ · 3 MIN →
22

Best Friends Forever

Zack and Steve, both 13, lived across the street from one another and were best friends. The boys had a secret plan for Friday night. They were both…

READ · 3 MIN →

Want full-free content?

Browse Free Stories & More →