Ron Van Sweringen

Jul 2013 13

Shooting Stars Over Brooklyn: A Hot Summer Short Story

2013 Articles, Terrific Tales

by Ron Van Sweringen

Manny D'Angelo, dropped the air mattress on the roof. A pillow followed on top of the mattress. "Hot as heck," he groaned, his fifteen year-old body reflected in the moonlight, naked except for his jeans. He looked over the edge of the roof, five stories down to Demato Street, in the center of Little Italy. People were resting on their front stoops and he could hear faint radio music wafting on the hot sultry air. "One hundred and one," he recalled the weather man saying that day, "and more expected tomorrow."

Jul 2013 6

The Lake

2013 Articles, Pets, Terrific Tales

by Ron Van Sweringen

Radio music drifted across the lawn on the humid air. Occasional lightning flashed in the distant swamp and rumbles of thunder could be heard rolling over the dark lake. A yellow Lab dashing near the water's edge barked at his companion

Jun 2013 8

Pizza For One

2013 Articles, Pets, Terrific Tales

by Ron Van Sweringen

My pizza arrived in the little Italian restaurant and looked tempting. Fair to say I'm not usually a pizza lover, but having exhausted the somewhat limited menu of pasta dishes on earlier visits, I decided to take the plunge. The first hot bite was a howling success, followed by a healthy chug of wine. Halfway through the second bite, I knew I'd made a terrible mistake. The best mental description at the time was, "It tastes like a used litter box dipped in the Great Salt Lake." The anchovies! Needless to say, I carefully removed each one, leaving no trace behind.

Feb 2013 23

The Power

2013 Articles, Rodent Ramblings, Terrific Tales

by Ron Van Sweringen

The rat came every day, taking its place before Nora on the damp stone floor. The drabness of the rodent's coat melded so well with his surroundings that he sometimes disappeared even while she was staring at him.

Jan 2013 12

Malcolm Goes Missing

2013 Articles, Pets, Terrific Tales

by Ron Van Sweringen

"Malcolm is missing, maybe even dead," Bertha said to herself, standing on the back porch between the sagging clothes lines. With each item she pinned up, her eyes traveled across the palm fringed back yard, hoping for a glimpse of the orange cat.

Dec 2012 15

A Refrigerated Christmas: A Christmas Short Story

2012 Articles, Rodent Ramblings, Terrific Tales

by Ron Van Sweringen

All of the animals in the forest, dressed in their warm winter furs, sat looking up at the starless sky. Even the wise old owl in the oak tree, ruffled his feathers in discontent, ignoring the little field mouse sitting on the branch beside him.

Nov 2012 17

Saving Mighty Mouse

2012 Articles, Rodent Ramblings, Terrific Tales

by Ron Van Sweringen

The river was high that morning. Swirling brown water roiled up around the snow covered rocks at Bud Carter's feet. He was prepared for the cold, dressed in layers, starting with his flannel pajamas from the night before. Sweaters and a jacket followed on top of each other, until he felt like a turtle in its shell.

Oct 2012 24

The Pumpkin Witch: A Halloween Short Story

2012 Articles, Terrific Tales

by Ron Van Sweringen

She sat hunched-back on a large pumpkin, her face cast in shadow under a large black hat. The field was full of pumpkins, but none as fine as the one she chose; prodding and poking with her bony fingers, for the perfect orange texture and moment of ripeness.

Sep 2012 29

Perious Mouse and the Wind Buggy

2012 Articles, Rodent Ramblings, Terrific Tales

by Ron Van Sweringen

Perious Mouse took his seat beside Felicity Mouse, at the steering wheel of the wind buggy and flipped the tinted goggles on his flying cap down over his beady black eyes. The excitement was palpable in the barnyard and hardly a whisper could be heard from anyone except Piggy-Pig, who had managed to tip over the slop bucket in her pig pen.