Author’s Note: This is Part 10 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series. Chapter 10 I was the last kid left at home in the spring of ’73. I could have moved out a dozen times, but every time seemed… Read More

Author’s Note: This is Part 9 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series. Chapter 9 Monday was a holiday—not that we would have gone to school that day if it hadn’t been. Pop still wasn’t home by the time we… Read More

Author’s Note: This is Part 8 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series. Chapter 8 About six months before, Tony had hit me in the gut with an old boxing glove. That punch knocked the wind out of me for… Read More

Author’s Note: This is Part 7 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series.   Chapter 7 The knock at the door shattered the still of the night, startling me from my sleep. “Michael Mallory, are you in there?” said a… Read More

Author’s Note: This is Part 6 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series.   Chapter 6 I was in bed when I heard the unmistakable stomp of Mikey’s boots coming up the sidewalk. The screen door squeaked a little more… Read More

Author’s Note: This is Part 5 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series.   Chapter 5 Mom and Dad pulled back into the driveway hours later, exhausted and silent. The tension in the room rose as they walked in the… Read More

Author’s Note: This is Part 4 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series.   Chapter 4 Mass never moved as slowly as it did that day. The choir droned on for what seemed like hours, through the longest hymns they… Read More

Author’s Note: This is Part 3 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series.   Chapter 3 Cathy didn’t come home that night. When breakfast rolled around Sunday morning, her chair remained empty. Brenda tried to cover for her, saying that… Read More

Author’s Note: This is Part 2 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series. Chapter 2 In May 1955, I had just turned six. Mikey was twenty—a big spread in ages these days, but not back then, especially with four brothers… Read More

Author’s Note: This is Part 1 of a series of posts serializing my novella 38 Years Old (Never Kissed a Girl). For more information on the origins of this novella, including all disclaimers, and a complete chapter list, please see the announcement regarding this series.   Chapter 1 Kingston, Ontario – Spring 1973 Punching metal parts for a living wasn’t much of a career, but it paid the bills. Pop got me… Read More