It was a hot summer in Chicago, the kind of heat that could drive a man mad. The kind of heat that made even the toughest of drifters feel like they were melting in their own sweat.
Pete and Shorty were two such drifters. They had been riding the rails for months, searching for work and a place to lay their heads. They found themselves at a flophouse on the outskirts of the city, hoping to find some respite from the heat.
But they found trouble instead.
The flophouse was packed to the brim with men of all shapes and sizes. Some were down on their luck, others were looking for trouble. Pete and Shorty could sense it in the air, the tension building like a storm cloud.
And then it happened.
A brawl broke out in the common area, fists flying and bodies slamming into each other. Pete and Shorty found themselves caught in the middle, trying to fight their way out of the chaos.
It was a dangerous situation, but they were used to danger. They had seen worse in their travels, and they knew how to handle themselves.
But this was different.
The heat had made everyone edgy, on edge, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. It was like a powder keg waiting to explode, and the brawl was the spark that set it off.
Pete and Shorty fought hard, but they were outnumbered. They took a few hard hits, but they kept on swinging, hoping to make it out alive.
Finally, the fighting subsided, and the flophouse fell silent once again. Pete and Shorty were bruised and bloodied, but they had survived.
They walked out into the hot Chicago sun, feeling a sense of relief wash over them. They were alive, and they had each other.
As they walked down the street, they could feel the heat rising off the pavement, the sun beating down on them like a hammer. But they didn’t care.
They had survived the flophouse brawl, and they were ready for whatever else the world had in store for them.
allen@home over 1 year ago
Go on were are all ears.
The Reader Premium Member over 1 year ago
His Pete and Shorty stories are classics!
Shirl Summ Premium Member over 1 year ago
It’s like some of the movies now-a-days. The trailer gets your interest but the movie turns out to be rubbish.
jagedlo over 1 year ago
“Then we’re all ears!”
wagnerfax over 1 year ago
It was a hot summer in Chicago, the kind of heat that could drive a man mad. The kind of heat that made even the toughest of drifters feel like they were melting in their own sweat.
Pete and Shorty were two such drifters. They had been riding the rails for months, searching for work and a place to lay their heads. They found themselves at a flophouse on the outskirts of the city, hoping to find some respite from the heat.
But they found trouble instead.
The flophouse was packed to the brim with men of all shapes and sizes. Some were down on their luck, others were looking for trouble. Pete and Shorty could sense it in the air, the tension building like a storm cloud.
And then it happened.
A brawl broke out in the common area, fists flying and bodies slamming into each other. Pete and Shorty found themselves caught in the middle, trying to fight their way out of the chaos.
It was a dangerous situation, but they were used to danger. They had seen worse in their travels, and they knew how to handle themselves.
But this was different.
The heat had made everyone edgy, on edge, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. It was like a powder keg waiting to explode, and the brawl was the spark that set it off.
Pete and Shorty fought hard, but they were outnumbered. They took a few hard hits, but they kept on swinging, hoping to make it out alive.
Finally, the fighting subsided, and the flophouse fell silent once again. Pete and Shorty were bruised and bloodied, but they had survived.
They walked out into the hot Chicago sun, feeling a sense of relief wash over them. They were alive, and they had each other.
As they walked down the street, they could feel the heat rising off the pavement, the sun beating down on them like a hammer. But they didn’t care.
They had survived the flophouse brawl, and they were ready for whatever else the world had in store for them.
monya_43 over 1 year ago
That got their attention.
timbob2313 Premium Member over 1 year ago
the vast majority of stories “appropriate” for children, are boring(Dr. Seuss being an exception for our grandkids)
miltondavis over 1 year ago
From Bard…