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Short Stuff--The Sequel: Flash Fiction, Haiku, and Aphorisms
After the critical success received by his book Short Stuff, Neil M. Levy has kept on writing and now publishes Short Stuff–The Sequel. Like Short Stuff, the sequel is a combination of flash fiction (very short stories), haiku, and wise observations. Much of The Sequel is about travels to Latin America in the 1970’s and travels to South East Asia in the 21st Century. As to whether these vignettes actually occurred, the author tells us, “The line between reality and fantasy is very narrow, indeed.”
An excerpt, from a short vignette called "TO TIKAL--1970":
Finally leaving the charms of Mexico, we entered Guatemala. We eventually spent about nine months on the road, getting as far as the Panama Canal.
We reached the capitol, Ciudad Guatemala, and set out to drive to Tikal, the fantastic Mayan ruin, perhaps 300 miles away, through the jungles of Peten. The road was fairly wide, but unpaved. There was very little traffic on the road. But about halfway there, the road was blocked by six cars. I stepped out to see what was holding things up. There was a large mahogany tree lying across the entire width of the road. The tree was too heavy to move so two men were cutting it in half with axes, hoping each piece could then be moved.
I got out of my Land Cruiser and turned the gears on the front wheels into super low gear. I drove the car into the marsh on the side of the road. I passed the tree and turned my car around so that I could attach my winch to the tree. I accelerated in reverse, very slowly, and was able to move the tree. I stepped out to look and I had moved the tree trunk just far enough that one lane was open. Those waiting called out “Viva, amigo,” and we all proceeded on our way.
An excerpt, from a short vignette called "TO TIKAL--1970":
Finally leaving the charms of Mexico, we entered Guatemala. We eventually spent about nine months on the road, getting as far as the Panama Canal.
We reached the capitol, Ciudad Guatemala, and set out to drive to Tikal, the fantastic Mayan ruin, perhaps 300 miles away, through the jungles of Peten. The road was fairly wide, but unpaved. There was very little traffic on the road. But about halfway there, the road was blocked by six cars. I stepped out to see what was holding things up. There was a large mahogany tree lying across the entire width of the road. The tree was too heavy to move so two men were cutting it in half with axes, hoping each piece could then be moved.
I got out of my Land Cruiser and turned the gears on the front wheels into super low gear. I drove the car into the marsh on the side of the road. I passed the tree and turned my car around so that I could attach my winch to the tree. I accelerated in reverse, very slowly, and was able to move the tree. I stepped out to look and I had moved the tree trunk just far enough that one lane was open. Those waiting called out “Viva, amigo,” and we all proceeded on our way.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2015
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