Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
Original Poem — Halloween Fun
This is a poem I wrote based on many years as a trick-or-treat host. Halloween Fun by Bob Welbaum Halloween can be fun for adults, too. I like to hold out a bowl of candy — a nice assortment — and simply say “You may take one of your choice.” and watch the little
Do Animals Get Drunk?
I come from a non-drinking family, so I don’t know what it’s like to be drunk. But apparently humans aren’t the only ones who come under the influence of behavior-altering drugs. There is a column in the October 24, 2016 issue of Time magazine (page 8) that gives four examples of under-the-influence animals. — Recently
Do You Have a Second Brain?
There are some interesting ideas in this world (and a lot we still don’t know about ourselves), but this idea is so radical I’m almost afraid to write about it. There is a short video on YouTube entitled “You Have a Second Brain” that claims your digestive system acts as another brain and it has
How Smart Is Your Dog?
Do you have a dog? Then you might be interested in a Yale University study that has shown that dogs are so smart, they will ignore your bad directions. In the study, a treat was placed inside a puzzle. Solving the puzzle involved one step — lifting the lid — but the researchers added one
Short Story — One Last Chance
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an original short story. This was published on the Bewildering Stories website in issue #635 (http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue635/last_chance.html) It does contain a bit of adult language. One Last Chance Jake had been in nicer hospitals than this. His mother had passed away in a new facility, big and
The Real Reason Behind Road Rage?
This piece combines two of my favorite interests — the English language and Disney. In 1950, Disney produced a Goofy cartoon entitled Motor Mania, in which a mild-mannered “Mr. Walker” transforms into a manic “Mr. Wheeler” every time he gets behind the wheel of his car. (There are multiple uploads on YouTube.) It’s a great
Why Do We Need Words To Think?
Every so often I see a questions that brings me up short. For example, we need words to talk, but why do we need words to think? Durham University psychologist Charles Fernyhough has been studying this. Fernyhough thinks approximately 20 to 25 percent of our waking time is spent with language directed at ourselves. Why?
Between Two Cultures
What is it like to be caught between two cultures, not completely identifying with either and not completely being accepted by either? I’ve met people who are the offspring of mixed-race marriages, but two distinct cultures? If you’re wondering, too, one insight into a European-Middle Eastern dichotomy is a published series of comic strips entitled
The Greatest Atrocity You Never Heard Of
The fatal shooting of an unarmed black man in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 30th and the resultant community reaction triggered a historical flashback for me. There are many events that get forgotten in the shadows of history, many of them intentionally. This is one such event (I just read about it a few years ago),
A Better Political Movement
I’ve noticed two things about this presidential election I’ve never seen before. First, so few people have yard signs or expressions of support for a candidate. Second, there is a very unusual yard sign in my neighborhood. The American flag serves as the background, but the the top line simply says “Civilize It”. The fine