The Ghosts We Carry
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 1: Returning Home As the sun began to set on Friday evening, cars started rolling into Thurmont, bringing with them alumni from all over who were returning for their anticipated Saturday reunion of the Catoctin High Class of 2016 at Thurmont Ambulance Company…
Capture Art in a Park
Art has been part of the history of national parks since the 1860s when Hudson River School painters captured the majestic Western landscapes that became our first iconic national parks. Their awe-inspiring works spurred Americans to preserve those lands for future generations. Artist George Catlin, during an 1832 trip to the Dakotas, was perhaps the…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. T h e C a t o c t i n B a n n e r b r i n g s y o u . . . 12: Second Chances Jack Lawrence asked Bobby Hennessey to drive him from Bobby’s farm…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. T h e C a t o c t i n B a n n e r b r i n g s y o u . . . 11: Happy Birthday Bobby Hennessey slowly opened his eyes, the bright morning light stabbing…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. T h e C a t o c t i n B a n n e r b r i n g s y o u . . . 10: A Night on the Town Stacy Lawrence had reluctantly allowed her ex-husband, Jack,…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. T h e C a t o c t i n B a n n e r b r i n g s y o u . . . 9 : The Unwanted Guest Stacy Lawrence sat behind the steering wheel of her…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 8: A Surprise Visitor Stacy Lawrence turned in her two weeks’ notice to Kevin Poland, the owner of the Thurmont tavern where she worked. He was disappointed she was leaving so soon, but he realized that her new job managing Bobby Hennessey’s farm…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 7: Making a Deal Stacy Lawrence and Bobby Hennessey set up a time to meet at the Kountry Kitchen restaurant the day following his job offer to her. Stacy had wanted time to think about the offer and think of any questions she…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 6: A Job Offer Bobby Hennessey and Peter Lawrence entered the bustling Thurmont tavern, their boots tapping against the wooden floorboards. The warm, inviting scent of freshly cooked food filled the air, mingling with the sound of glasses clinking and people chatting. Behind…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 5: Helping Out Peter Lawrence seemed to mature before his mother’s eyes, and she wasn’t sure if she was proud that he was growing into a fine man or sad that he was losing his childhood. Stacy Lawrence had reluctantly given her son…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 4: A Hard-Workin’ Man Stacy Lawrence liked life in Thurmont, mainly because there was little drama. The worst that she had to deal with was the occasional bar Romeo trying to pick her up while she was working. So far, they had all…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 3: Job Hunting Saturday morning, Stacy Lawrence slowly woke from her slumber, feeling disoriented and unsure of her surroundings. She looked at the ceiling and then at the nightstand. She didn’t recognize them. With a jolt, she remembered that she and her son,…
Never the Wonder
by Christine Maccabee (Songbird) It feels like a fairytale a “once-upon-a time” my life with my children so long ago. At the store yesterday I saw a mother with a child upon her hip, and I saw myself as I once was……
From May To December
written by James Rada, Jr. 2: Age Old Issues Stacy Lawrence and her 12-year-old son, Peter, climbed out of the tow truck when it stopped in front of the Super 8 Hotel. They waved to Jack, the driver, who had a friendly smile on his face as he drove away. Stacy put her arm around…
From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 1: Breakdown Stacy Lawrence glanced anxiously from the dashboard to the winding road ahead of her, as the temperature needle steadily climbed. She had been a teenage mom, but now she was trying for a fresh start. The rising gauge reminded her, though,…
What Happens on the Mountain
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 6: Escape Brian Johnson waited, hidden in the treeline around President Franklin Roosevelt’s secret mountain retreat. The night was quiet, but the area around the one-story home was still well lit. He could also see two guards patrolling the perimeter of the house.…
What Happens on the Mountain
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 5: On The Move Brian Johnson had a plan to assassinate President Franklin Roosevelt. It didn’t matter that Brian didn’t know where the president was. He knew the man would come to him, and when he did, Brian would kill him. He was…
What Happens on the Mountain
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 4: Preparing Brian Johnson had discovered where President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s top secret getaway in the Maryland mountains was hidden. It was one piece of the puzzle he needed to find before he could kill the president in the name of the Fuhrer.…
Local Veterinarian Publishes His Adventures
Lisa C Cantwell In the nearby hamlet of Utica, Maryland, resides a gentleman and a farmer. He’s a seemingly unassuming sort of fellow, who not only gardens and cans the bounty, but also raises 40 prize Boer goats, along with a bevy of peacocks, chickens, and pheasants. In addition to his homeplace, he manages his…
What Happens on the Mountain
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 3: Planning A hand shook Brian Johnson’s shoulder, and he opened his eyes. The first thing he realized was that it was still night. The second thing he realized was that Lt. Harcourt was standing beside him. “You have five minutes to get…
