Mark Gagnon
Bio
My life has been spent traveling here and abroad. Now it's time to write.
I have three published books: Mitigating Circumstances, Short Stories for Open Minds, and Short Stories from an Untethered Mind. Unmitigated Greed is do out soon.
Achievements (1)
Stories (457)
Filter by community
Waltzing Matilda
When I first moved to the middle of Nowhere Ville, USA, I was suspicious of everyone and every place. It didn’t matter if I were buying gas or wandering around the grocery store, all it would take was a sideways glance by a passerby, a barking dog, or a car backfiring and my guard was up. I know, I sound paranoid, but for me the term stranger danger has a personal meaning. You’d feel the same if you were enrolled in the Federal Witness Protection Program commonly known as WHITSEC.
By Mark Gagnon5 months ago in Criminal
Green Eggs
The USS Hawaii, a fast attack nuclear submarine, finished replenishing supplies at the naval base in Yokosuka, Japan. Once underway, they would prowl the Pacific in search of threats to the US and its allies for the next three months. All 15 officers and 113 enlisted personnel reported for duty; the order was given to cast off, and the ship was soon underway.
By Mark Gagnon5 months ago in Fiction
Sword of Destiny
I enjoy perusing the classified ads. People will post everything from attempting to reconnect with a long-lost love to selling a pair of slightly used shoes. There really is something for everyone. Since I’m new to town, checking out the classifieds gives me some insight into the people who live here.
By Mark Gagnon5 months ago in Horror
Get Out of My Head. Top Story - August 2025.
When I first heard it I was mesmerized. Maybe it was the backbeat that captured my brain or possibly the syncopated rhythm that snaked its way into my every thought. The melody was definitely captivating. Whatever the reason, I was ensnared in its clutches, and the song had no intentions of letting me go.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Fiction
Time in a Box
One of my favorite pastimes is rummaging around antique shops in search of that one special treasure that everyone else has passed by. I was taking a tour of famous historic battle sites and had stopped in Hastings, England. I wandered into a dilapidated, overstuffed shop with an intriguing sign in the window that read, “Lost Things Found Here”. It was just my kind of shop.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Fiction
Lifes Ups and Downs
Alan left the sixth-floor law offices of Swindell and Shyster and walked to the elevator at the end of the long empty hallway. It was late and all the other offices on the floor were already locked for the weekend. He and his now ex-wife, Maggie, had spent the last three hours hammering out the last details of a very contentious divorce. By leaving first, Alan would avoid riding in an elevator with the woman who had just tried to take everything he possessed—both now and in the future.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Humans
Something Very Fishy
Doris would tell her friends whenever they asked how she was doing, “I have four loves in my life: Harold, may he rest in peace; Kathy, my beautiful daughter; this solarium; and my saltwater aquarium. I miss Harold, but I still have the other three, so I’m doing just fine." She was content with where life had placed her, and at seventy-six, contentment was really all she could ask for.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Fiction
Jocko
Every time I talk about my childhood pet I always get the strangest looks. Yes I understand, most young boys have a dog or cat, maybe a bird or possibly a rabbit, but how many do you know have ever had a pet bull? Well, I have, and his name was Jocko. He was born several months after my family moved into a small cottage located on a dairy farm in Horseheads, NY.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Journal
What Did You Say It Was
People enjoy hobbies but not everyone enjoys the same thing. What one person may consider a captivating way to spend their spare time another individual may think the very same activity is boring or weird. Charlie and Bishop are two such individuals living on different sides of the spectrum. Charlie considers himself an ophiologist. It’s a fancy word for a person who studies snakes.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Fiction
I'm Still the Best
Wayland strode purposefully along the nearly deserted city street. The lack of fellow pedestrians worked to his advantage and disadvantage. He should be able to spot a tail sent by the opposition, but there was no crowd to blend into should he need to duck out of sight. In his line of work, every plus came with at least one and usually multiple negatives. The game, as Wayland liked to call it, generated an adrenalin rush he found intoxicating.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Fiction
Rags to Riches
Every time I think my life couldn’t possibly be any better, POOF! WHAM! KAPOW! It becomes more heavenly. It didn’t start that way, not by a long shot. I was born into a dirt-poor family, the middle child of seven brothers and sisters. We usually had at least one meal a day during the summer and three when school was in session. All my clothes, from underwear to shoes, were hand-me-downs from my older siblings. My parents possessed no special skills, so they earned a living as day laborers. It looked like life had dealt me a losing hand from the start.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Criminal
That's Called Fashion?
Last week, a group of people gathered in the hotel lobby where I work. They were waiting for their ride to a company Christmas party. The women were dressed in elaborate evening wear, covering just enough of their bodies to stay legal, but not enough to hide much else. The men wore the usual suit or sports coat and slacks. Some had ties, while others sported open shirt collars. What many of the men were not wearing were socks.
By Mark Gagnon6 months ago in Men
