Author: W.A. McDonald

Twenty-First Century Ag

Robot Planter

Not for the first time in his short life, Led Pappin wondered if he squandered away his youth. His education. The drudgery of his profession, one basically cast upon him at birth, again, had his mind wandering off on other…

Day-life Savings Time

Steampunk Clock

“I bought a clock at a thrift store.” “You did what?” I responded to his statement. A statement that had no bearing on the question I asked him. “I bought a clock at the thrift store, then,” Mathew flashed that…

Walking Fingers

Local Phone Book

The oddest thing happened to me this week. Well odd for me. The Yankton/Vermillion phone book was delivered to my mailbox. In the past, I would have grabbed it and said, tongue firmly planted in cheek, “What the hell is…

Radio Rambo

Radio Rambo

I started driving truck way back in 1989. Shortly thereafter, I obtained my first CB radio. With that radio came an introduction into a whole new nomenclature. The “old hands,” threw out words and terms like they were a part…

Variant CXXIV

Variant 124

“Jane, have they released the numbers from the last census?” I asked my wife as I checked the locks that secured our bunker. “There wasn’t a census,” she replied flatly. She sat in one of those collapsible chairs we used…

Kathmandu

Kathmandu

I found something, I said in an IM to Elynne. What? She responded later that day. It’s a place. A place where we can escape, be together, isolated for as long as we want, “Katmandu!” I hoped she would make…

The Candy Man

The Candy Man

 We called him the “Candy Man.” The first time I saw him was just after we moved to south Minneapolis. He shuffled along the opposite side of E 50th St, from my parents’ house. It was summer, but the old…

Time Machine

Time Machine

Kent and Tonya lay skin to skin bathing in the glow of mutual pleasure. After thirty-five years of marriage, the desire, intimacy, and passion still flourished. Though it was their anniversary, it wasn’t the only reason for an intimate romp.…

Love Bytes

Bubble Hearts

My smart phone pinged alerting me to the fact that I just received a text. It wasn’t just any alert; it was Marie’s special text alert I made just for her. Anything from her demanded my immediate attention. Thanks for…

Electric Oasis

Recharge Oasis

When I was a young man, a cross country trip in your car meant short pit stops to refill and recharge. Hell, if my math is any good, most cars could go six hours without stopping. It was mother nature…