Dead Rats

INTRODUCTION

Dead Rats, an eclectic collection of cobwebs and clutter from the corners of a claustrophobic mind. That subtitle probably needs a little bit of explanation. Dead Rats is the first story in the book and therefore need not be explained. The rest is due to the fact that there are things in my head that need to be removed before I can go on with other things. My dear mother always said that she had to forget things so she could learn something new. I never agreed with her but I do believe that the clutter has to be cleared away so it doesn’t influence other things. You might say that I am small-minded but I would rather think that it is just too crowded in there. By getting the clutter out I open up vast areas of brain power that can be directed in useful directions. The cobwebs come with the clutter.

This book is like a yard sale at the end of the day. For one small price you get to take everything left home with you. The first section is pure fiction. If you are looking for children’s stories you will find them. If you are looking for creepy stories you will find them. If you are looking for science fiction or fantasy you will find both. What are not there are stories about cops and robbers or lawyers. You will not find a single attorney in my book. Sorry, Hank, but there were no attorneys in my attic.

The second section is full of Shag stories, Shag as in the state dance of South Carolina. Some have appeared in a magazine directed at shaggers called CareFree Times in a similar form. The essay on Shagging Ethics can also be found on many Shag Club websites.

Christmas and the Grandkids include not only letters to my grandchildren but also fictional stories about them during the Christmas season. The letters are true, the stories, not so much.

For the fans of Hero of Bullfrog Hill, section four will be right down your alley. I have a few which are not included but they deal with the Y2K scare and since nothing happened they are completely irrelevant. You will find stories about growing up in Bethel along with the problem with dump trucks and roads that split all to Hell.

The last section contains the cobwebs. These are the things that keep me up at night. I don’t consider them to be essays or stories. They are better described as trains of thought where the trains keep jumping the track. They are an ongoing process in trying to understand the world around me.

Dead Rats is not intended to be read from cover to cover. Instead, just flip it open and start reading. If what you find is not to your liking, turn a few pages and try something else. The book is somewhat like a car wreck; you don’t want to look but you just can’t help yourself. Some of the material is dated or soon will be while some is absolutely timeless. So sit back, grab a frosty adult beverage and enjoy.