Thanks for the comments, Rob. It's been awhile since I wrote this story, so wasn't sure who had seen it or not. I agree about the rampant similes; the original draft had been criticized for being too plain, so I think I overcompensated in the revision. D'oh! It's funny how reading over these old drafts can give you the itch to write fiction again. It's been my lifelong dream to write novels, but that's about as unrealistic as a college freshman dreaming of a life as a professional actor (or poet, ouch!)

I have a horror story here as well (in the vein of Lovecraft), but I've hesitated making it public. It's a deeply psychological tale told from the eyes of a madman. It's called "The Portcullis of Love." :) It might be a bit too dark for most of AA, though.

I need to dig up my old story "Metal Monk." I thought it was one of my best, though I need to polish it up.