Feb. 13, 1990: The Story of Tiny and Valera

In the late summer of 1989, I had an idea to approach the University of Central Florida’s student newspaper, “The Future,” about writing a weekly column. I wrote the first one and very humbly submitted it in person to the editor, Scott Altman. Without much fanfare, it was accepted, and so it went for the next fifteen months. Ultimately, many positive experiences grew from these efforts. One esteemed instructor made much of my work and was instrumental in me winning a Scripps-Howard Foundation Fellowship for the column. Thank you, Keith Fowles. Read more

Dec. 5, 1994: Drama

I originally wrote this unpublished experimental short back in 1994 specifically for an editor at a certain literary magazine. I touched-up a few lines in the version below this evening in honor of its 16-year anniversary. Please feel free to add to the storyline! Read more

January 29, 1996: “Stop Counting”

I was deeply involved in many writing projects in the early part of 1996, while also focusing on planning for my business. Around this time, I also began to notice that some literary publications were becoming interested in very short pieces of fiction. This is one of my early attempts at such… and nearly 13 years later, this is its first appearance.

STOP COUNTING

by Roger Darnell

Part of the way through that fourth period, I started getting really hungry. It seemed like the bell would never ring and I thought for a minute about how long it had taken for them to finally get the new McDonalds open. Just about then, if I’m not crazy, the teacher stopped whatever he had been doing and looked right into me, but he didn’t say anything. It was spooky, but I just kept waiting. Then, he started talking to the class again, very slowly, explaining that the earth has existed for, like millions of years. I completely felt the gravity of each word. He didn’t look at me again, but finally the bell did ring and I tore out of there, right out into the snow. At last, school was finished for me; I’d have to explain to Mom about the teacher. Obviously, he knew, and would have to be dealt with immediately.

Copyright Roger Darnell. All Rights Reserved.