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    Agony: A Short Story
    Agony: A Short Story
    Agony: A Short Story
    Ebook28 pages23 minutes

    Agony: A Short Story

    By John Anson

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    About this ebook

    What is agony? Is it an insufferable blind date? The losing end of a physical altercation? Being ignored by the people there to help you? Is agony physical, mental, or something much more?

    This is a short story that at first was intended to stand alone, but I later decided to use it as the opening chapter of a larger work. The story, as the title suggests, explores the different sides to what people deem 'agony.'

    As an aside, this is adapted from a true story; these events happened to me.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJohn Anson
    Release dateJun 3, 2011
    ISBN9781458071552
    Agony: A Short Story
    Author

    John Anson

    You'll never meet anyone quite like John Anson. He has a way of shoving himself into the reluctant role of the protagonist, narrating with astute observation and unblemished honesty. His works are adapted from real events in his life, given a richness of detail and wry perspective that rarely disappoints. Intricately simple, Anson puts an unmistakable sardonic wit into his dark humor that will stay with you long after his closing sentences.

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      Book preview

      Agony - John Anson

      Agony

      By: John X. Anson

      Where the hell is this chick?

      Times were getting desperate.

      Every man has his breaking point; the juncture at which even the most ludicrous option masquerades as worthy pursuit. It ends in a foolish agreement; a blind date personally arranged my brother’s fiancé. My future sister-in-law: a girl who actually enjoyed Ulee’s Gold. Genuine interest in watching old men and bees does not inspire confidence.

      Somehow though, sifting through the bar-dwelling detritus last weekend, the hope of a genuine connection emerged- just in time to negate any need for tonight. The long, dry, sexless season had finally ended after eighteen grueling months. But of course, this evening’s obligatory tryst is the handiwork of impending kin. This has become a family obligation.

      And nothing is more important than family. Well, that’s not really true. Lots of things are, actually. But what is true is that nothing is more important than avoiding the guaranteed matriarchal shit storm that would come with any pre-wedding slight toward the newest impending kin.

      These are the things that meander through the mind of a man who lives in his head when he is forced to wait; he begins to mentally narrate his own life.

      It's been 40 minutes of waiting. An unmistakably pissed-off sentiment has progressed from murmur to wail. The weather has turned to the sort of mist that just hangs motionless in the air; not really falling, though still managing to make a damp, soggy mess of the world.

      Apparently, tonight’s mistress doesn't understand that being fashionably late only works at ritzy cocktail parties- not blind dates. Frigid chills are making every hair stand on end. The black polo shirt begins to dampen and cling in the sodden humidity.

      The narrow concrete stoop against the window outside the coffee house

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