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 (465)
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The Ugliest Building. Top Story - May 2024.
Mark Twain called the building I work in, “The ugliest building in America.” I agree. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building isn’t the largest in Washington, D.C., but its imposing façade makes it feel like it is. I work for the Office of E-Government and Information Technology. I have a satellite office in the bowels of this monstrosity. Working in this building gives us quick access to both the President and Vice-President because they also have offices here. This access may be why I’m in this situation, or maybe it’s the project I’m assigned to, or both.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
GPS No Thanks
GPS, thanks, but no thank you. I don’t know why anyone would want to own one of those things. I mean, come on, can’t anyone read a map anymore? Probably the better question is, doesn’t anyone own a map anymore? I certainly would never leave home without one. Of course, I seldom leave the town I grew up in, so after fifty-plus years, I know my way around pretty darn well. If I happen to get turned around, I can always stop at a gas station or convenience store and ask for directions. Most of the clerks will lend a hand. They’ll pull out their phones and get directions for me. It’s better for them to do it than me. Besides, I don’t own a cell phone.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
My Other Half
Jeff and Angela had been married for forty years when the inevitable happened. Being two years older than his wife, Jeff always thought he would be the first to die, so he was in utter disbelief when a heart attack suddenly ripped Angie from him. He had no children or siblings to help him share the grief, just some well-meaning close friends. The burden of making funeral arrangements landed squarely on Jeff’s shoulders, which was a blessing in disguise. He was so busy picking out a burial plot, coffin, and venue to hold a service that there was very little time to allow his grief to consume him.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
I AM. Top Story - May 2024.
This is not who I thought I would be. Before my family was captured and forced into slavery, I had aspirations of becoming a wealthy business owner or possibly a scholar and philosopher. Becoming a warrior was the furthest thing from my mind. Unfortunately, our Roman conquerors had other plans.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Deadline
Strange what runs through my mind when the pressure is on. I should be thinking about how many more miles I have left to go and, more importantly, how much time do I have left to get there before my world comes crashing to an end. Instead, I’m thinking about the origin of the word Deadline and how its meaning has changed over the years. I imagine many words can be traced back to their beginnings, but Deadline is particularly special to me right now.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Dangerous Mind
Five hundred years had passed since countries waged war against one another. It took centuries of conflict to reach this point in time, but once the last battle was fought and the remainder of humanity was no longer interested in killing each other, the leaders that survived examined what caused wars. After many months of extensive investigation, these wise men and women determined that exploration, in any form, especially exploration driven by curiosity, was the root cause of all conflicts. Make people remain in the location they were born in and not venture out of those borders, and war would cease to exist.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Futurism
Over in a Minute
Our motor coach tour arrived in Bristol, England, around three in the afternoon. The sky was a deep blue, and the temperature had peaked at a comfortable seventy degrees Fahrenheit. From a tourist's point of view, everything about the day was picture-perfect. The city, located in the southern part of England, was resplendent with ancient and modern buildings interspersed with beautifully kept parks and public gardens. Its biggest attraction, seen from miles around, was the Clifton Suspension Bridge. It was the largest iron suspension bridge of its type when it was built, spanning the 702-foot width of the Avon Gorge. The bridge has been the scene of historic events and multiple suicides.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Shocked
It will be over in less than a minute. All you need to do is relax and don’t struggle. Your outcome has been predetermined so you might as well accept your fate. Think of it as your path to freedom and a new life. This, and so much more, is what I was told to make me feel better. Of course, I knew they were lying and so did they. Nothing, not kind words, or soothing gestures, no nothing will make me willingly accept my rendezvous with old sparky.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Shocked
It will be over in less than a minute. All you need to do is relax and don’t struggle. Your outcome has been predetermined so you might as well accept your fate. Think of it as your path to freedom and a new life. This, and so much more, is what I was told to make me feel better. Of course, I knew they were lying and so did they. Nothing, not kind words, or soothing gestures, no nothing will make me willingly accept my rendezvous with old sparky.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
To Con a Pig. Top Story - April 2024.
Mo, Larry, and Curly were simple country pigs. They lived in a small town called Sty, where nothing much changed from day to day. Their homes were humble abodes constructed of straw and sticks, much like their neighbors. Every day was like the day before until it wasn’t.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
