nbrown

Accidental First Date

Sitting in the bleachers, I’m beginning to think I’ll be watching the game alone. That’s ok, I guess, but I didn’t really come to see the game. It’s not that I don’t like basketball. Basketball’s fine. But there’s a reason that junior-high girls basketball doesn’t air on prime time TV. Please understand, junior-high girls’ basketballContinue reading “Accidental First Date”

Summer Religion

It’s bitterly cold. The wind off the water, the dark of the early morning, and the absence of any shelter on the small boat prompt John to wrap his coat more tightly around his body. But as the boat nears the town, John’s mind is not primarily on the cold. His mind is racing, thinkingContinue reading “Summer Religion”

For Starters

I love my kids. I love them more than I can possibly put into words. But sometimes, having a babysitter feels like just about the best thing in the world. On this particular August day, life is good. My wife and I have a babysitter which means it’s just us and our daughter. We’re gettingContinue reading “For Starters”

Necessary Members

(The characters and events in this story are fictional. They are exaggerated for the sake of illustration.) It’s 9:48, and everyone in the small church auditorium braces. The pastor even stumbles over the words in his prayer a little as he furtively glances at the back doors, waiting for them to swing open with aContinue reading “Necessary Members”

Nobody’s Hero

The king steps out to a carefully chosen vantage point on the city wall. Looking out over the wall, he can see the enemy army camped outside the city gates, their tents stretching off into the distance. They have been there for over a year now. Panic is setting in. People are hoarding food, distrustingContinue reading “Nobody’s Hero”

Something Appropriate

Frank, Jim, and Bill were not going to make it home for Christmas. It was Christmas Eve 1968 and the three men were farther from home than they had ever been before. Truth be told, they were farther from home than any human being had ever been before. That’s because Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, andContinue reading “Something Appropriate”

Master Plan

In the spring of 1902, a French engineer named Philippe Bunau-Varilla scrawled a few simple words on a sheet of paper. He set his pen on the desk and picked up a postage stamp. He smiled as he held it up between his thumb and forefinger. It was a simple stamp with a picture andContinue reading “Master Plan”

Good Eyes

I was so excited the day I got it. Looking back, it wasn’t much to look at, but I thought it was beautiful and I just knew it was going to change my life. It was black and boxy with silver accents. A decal on the front touted its features. It boasted a mind-blowing 3.2Continue reading “Good Eyes”

Critical Error

As Bowen looked out over the village of tents that had served as his happy home all his life, he marveled that things could change so quickly. Bowen used to be a respected member of his community. He was the kind of man everyone could depend on. He was honest, he was kind, and heContinue reading “Critical Error”

Acting Badly

It’s August in Manchester, one of the most pleasant times of year in that part of England. It seems, in many ways, like a normal day, but the town is about to become the site of what will go down in history as a massacre. On this day, like others, the center of the cityContinue reading “Acting Badly”