Short Stories

Some stories are meant to be short. If a short story stands on it’s own, complete from the the writer’s point of view, then it has met its destiny.

A Marriage Courting Quicksand

They were looking for a second home. Donna wanted a beach house on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Gary wasn’t keen on the idea. He had his heart set on a manufactured home development in Stuart, Florida, which catered to tennis players. “Honey, it’s a very unique setup. Most 55 and over communities have executive golf courses,” he said. “Whitestone Courts is a tennis player’s dream.”

Donna focused her emerald, green eyes on her husband, her lips pursed until she was certain she had his full attention. “Very unique. How marvelous. You convinced me. We should buy a double wide trailer in Stuart, Florida immediately. Had you just said unique, I might have refused...”

Short StoryLen SerafinoSeptember 21, 2026Stuart Florida, Ocean City, Maryland, Tahoe, HyundaiComment

An Old Timers Day Game to Remember

“Our next Cougar needs no introduction. He’s a five-time batting champion, a two-time American League MVP, who holds a lifetime batting average of .322. A member of baseball’s Hall of Fame. Let’s give a rousing welcome to number 29, center fielder, Kurt Clayton!”…

Short StoryLen SerafinoAugust 11, 2026Jim Beam, Jack Daniel's, Old Timers Day, Baseball Comments

The Chattanooga Peppermint Twist

“Any plans for next weekend?” It was Bob, calling as he did most Sunday afternoons to check on his friend, Miles.

“Nope, no plans. Why?”

“Why don’t you come to Chattanooga? We can spray paint the town burgundy.”

“Not red?” Miles asked.

“Nah, we’re too old for red. Burgundy allows for some…

Short StoryLen SerafinoApril 28, 2026Chattanooga, Peppermint Twist, TeslaComment

Two Birds With One Stone

…Cal’s phone rang. It was their captain, Bill Robinson. “I hope you guys enjoyed your down time,” he said. “We just got a double murder on our hands over in Madison. Grab Lorraine and get in here.” Madison was the…

Short StoryLen SerafinoMarch 29, 2026Comment

A Christmas to Remember

…There was a knock on his door. “Mr. Sambuca?” A woman’s voice, soft and tentative.

He opened it and saw a pretty girl, a woman really, who had passed girlhood a while ago, but still retained a pretty, youthful look. …

Short StoryLen SerafinoDecember 19, 2024Christmas, Yankees, Sambuca, Santa Claus Comments

A Very Expensive Christmas Bread

A Very Expensive Christmas Bread

“Are you sure you should be making this trip?” Sally asked.

“Nope. But I’m doing it. I saved my frequent flyer points all year to do this.”

…He was determined to fly to Newark, shop at the best Italian deli and stop at Calandra’s Bakery for Italian bread and Italian…

Short StoryLen SerafinoDecember 22, 2022Calandra's, Newark, Nolensville, Christmas Comments

Cold Case in a Cold City

“Alvarez! You at your desk?”

“Yeah, what’s up Captain?”

Short StoryLen SerafinoSeptember 19, 2022Portland, LL Bean, Cadillac Lyrica Comments

As Soon As Possible

Leo sat in the big rig, a blue Peterbilt that had seen better days. The owner-operator was in the line at the Wendy's that was situated at a trucker’s rest stop just off of I-40 about 75 miles from Nashville.
He had been standing near the highway entrance ramp down the road with his thumb out and his expectations…

Short StoryLen SerafinoJune 8, 2022Nashville, Wendy's, Music City, Ray-Ban Comment

The Bank Job and the Lady

Spike and Caleb stood on Spike’s tired front porch sharing a cigarette. It was raining, lightly at the moment, but judging by the dark clouds that were heading in their direction, it would soon be raining much harder. He rented two rooms from an elderly couple, who didn’t press him too hard when he was late paying his rent. He hated the place, but it was the best he could do.

"You think he's coming back?" Caleb asked.

Short StoryLen SerafinoMay 18, 2022Ford FairlaneComment

The Baby Deal

"You know what your problem is?" He asked.
"I'm sure you're about to tell me,” she said.
…"You only care about yourself."

Short StoryLen SerafinoMarch 23, 2022Mustang, Tennessee Titans, Flemings Steak House Comment

Grandma's Christmas Present

…“I knew you’d say that! But I have a different idea. I want to buy a Christmas gift for Grandma.” Ella was especially close to her grandmother. Her grandma always took the time to do things with her; interesting things that made her feel…

Short StoryLen SerafinoDecember 22, 2021Santa, antiques Comment

Broken Egg Shells

I was a high school senior, sitting on the couch with my girlfriend Bambi, a name given to her because her mother was at the movies watching Bambi, when her water broke. Bambi hated her name, but…

Short StoryLen SerafinoAugust 19, 2021madras, Easter, Good Friday, Bambi Comment

Murder in Scottsville

“Good morning,” he said, a bit louder than normal. He walked up to the solid wooden counter and saw the steam coming from the two coffee pots set on the shop’s back wall. There was no response. He walked through the narrow opening that employees used to get behind the counter and peered at the work space. What he saw sickened him. He’d seen worse in his years working homicides, but still…

Short StoryLen SerafinoJune 22, 2021Red Cross, Brooklyn, Yankees, Sonic, Jim Bowie Comments

Destiny Delayed

“You won’t believe who I ran into the other day, at the airport in Charleston, of all places,” Tom said. He had gone to Charleston to see his daughter.

“We’ve been friends for forty plus years. Why wouldn’t I believe you?” I asked. “You would lie to me?”…

Short StoryLen SerafinoMay 5, 2021Infiniti, golf, Cocoa Beach, NASA, Disney Comment

Jenny's Gambit

Sean looked around the condo where he and Jenny Colby were living. His two duffle bags and his huge Samsonite suitcase, all stuffed with his things, sat by the door. Just before dinner, his buddy Josh had helped him…

Short StoryLen SerafinoMarch 16, 2021Chevrolet Silverado, Nashville, Donelson, American IdolComment

It Shouldn't Happen in Coleman

“This was bound to happen,” Jasper Baker said, as he stood over a dead body, scratching his shaved head. Baker was a police officer who patrolled the streets of Coleman, a tiny town located just 35 miles east of Nashville…

Short StoryLen SerafinoFebruary 23, 2021Jack Daniel's, Cadillac, Coke, Kroger Comments

A Family Problem

Armando Caparelli sat in his spacious home office late one morning in early December, sipping tea laced with anisette. He hated coffee. His consiglieri, Bruno Messina, was sitting in one of the chairs in front of his large, ornate desk going over the previous month’s take. “We broke a record last month,” Bruno said. “We took in more than a million bucks for the first time. Not bad for November, no?”…

Short StoryLen SerafinoDecember 14, 2020Miami, Newark, Star Ledger Comment

Detective Dalton's First Case

The woman was in her late-twenties, but she looked much older. She had the look of someone who had been abusing drugs for a while, most likely methamphetamines. Now she was dead, sprawled out on her filthy couch, dressed only in…

Short StoryLen SerafinoOctober 15, 2020Meth, Chevrolet, Williamson County, Toyota, Moon Pie Comment

The Butter Churn Murder

…“We got ourselves a homicide here, first one in almost five years. A 49-year-old woman found dead in her antique shop about 90 minutes ago.”

Conti grabbed his notebook and started writing. He got the woman’s name…

Short StoryLen SerafinoMay 12, 2020Essex County, Glen Ridge, butter churn, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers Comment

The Runner -Part 6 of 6

The next day, the Oliveri family got some bad news. The night before, it appeared Jack would make a complete recovery. But by noon the following day, doctors discovered…

Short StoryLen SerafinoApril 6, 2020St. FrancisComment