Today’s soundtrack: “Rough & Tough” by the Skatalites (feat. Stranger Cole) and “Police & Thieves” by Junior Murvin are currently battling for control of my soul. These days I need to hear an accordion to feel better.Today at 9:02pm: scrubbing the shower



Ten Random Potential Beginnings For Short Stories


1. I didn’t mean to shoot the cashier, it just kind of happened.


2. Up, down. Up, down. The turbulence was enough to make anyone vomit.


3. “I can’t marry you,” she said, throwing a ring in my face. The funny thing was I’d never met this woman before.


4. Motorbikes are meant to go fast, but only in certain conditions. No one’s supposed to hit 135 m.p.h. on a twisty stretch of the West Side Highway, no one without a strong urge to die.


5. Leaving the window open turned out to be a mistake.


6. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the alleyway, he could see for certain what he thought he’d seen a moment earlier: One of the garbage bags was moving.


7. The train pulled out of the station at 1:45pm sharp, carrying every last piece of my luggage. I stood on the platform and watched.


8. Falling wasn’t supposed to feel like this.


9. After slowing for a period the car finally sputtered to a grinding halt, and this time there was no question about it: Every last droplet of gasoline was gone.


10. She turned her head once more, ever so slightly, and I came achingly close to seeing her face.