JT EVERGREEN SHORT STORIES

Thunder rolled softly in the distance as Annie McDougal exited the train terminal onto Jackson Boulevard. She had just arrived from her home in Arlington Heights and was on her way to Chicago’s Loop to buy herself a birthday gift, one of the few self-indulgences she allowed herself. As she crossed the Canal Street Bridge, she inhaled the negative ions of the approaching storm and felt an exhilaration she had never experienced before. When mist from the approaching rain began to touch her face like tiny cold fingers, she headed for shelter at the nearby ladies’ apparel shop but changed her mind when she noticed The Olde Book Shoppe across the street.  Traffic was light as she dashed across the traffic lanes and entered the bookshop at the very moment large raindrops cascaded down from the gathering clouds. High winds began to gust and whip the rain into a frenzy as she pushed the door shut against the force of the wind. The little bell above the door, caught in the gale, ra...

My name is Dan Martin. Yesterday I experienced what appeared to be a normal event, a yard sale, until I realized how extraordinary it had been; the lingering effect of which shall influence the rest of my life. It was Saturday morning as I stepped out onto the front porch of my cottage with Charlie, my golden retriever, and took a deep breath. It was a perfect day for a long, leisurely puppy walk, and it was also a perfect day for a yard sale. It seemed as if everyone in the neighborhood was having one. As we strolled down Evergreen Avenue, we stopped first at the Clausing’s and chatted with Margaret and Myra Lee for a few moments. The items they had on display were hand-crafted and quite beautiful but were of little interest to me. I did take a sample, maybe two, of the chocolate chip cookies they offered to entice would-be buyers. After that, Charlie and I paused at a few more sales and spoke with neighbors briefly before continuing our walk. Most of the stuff being offere...

Marge Benson circled and underlined the last of three yard sales in the newspaper. It was a block yard sale which meant there would be lots of goodies and hopefully a treasure or two. She folded the newspaper, drank the last of her coffee and placed the empty cup in the sink. “Okay, girls, let’s go.” “Mom, do we have to?” “Clarise isn’t available to babysit so you're stuck with your mother. I know this is cruel and unusual punishment but there’s nothing to be done about it. Where’s your sister?” “She’s next door, hiding.” “From you or me?” “From you and your yard sales. Don’t you have enough dolls?” “It’s my hobby ... the one thing I enjoy doing besides keeping you and your sister out of trouble.  Someday you’ll have babies of your own and you’ll be begging me for a few of them.” “But you won’t let us have them, right?” “Right. Okay, here’s a promise. Let’s do the three yards sales without any more complaining, and I’ll do anything you want the rest of the ...