About Red Tales

Here's an evolving electronic collection of short prose pieces, with a poem contributed occasionally. Brevity guides. Although sometimes a piece will run to 900 words, most pieces are much shorter. Here one may find erotica, flash fiction, brief observations, and modest improvisations. Another rule is that each piece must have something to do with"red"; at least the word has to appear in each piece functionally. . . . All pieces are numbered and titled, so there's a de facto table of contents running down the rail below, under "Labels" (scroll down a bit). Browse for titles that look interesting, if you like. Thank you for stopping by. Look for some red today, tonight.

"Flaming June," by Frederick Lord Leighton

"Flaming June," by Frederick Lord Leighton

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

272. Red Shirt

Once I bought a red shirt, and it was a big mistake I wore. People let you know, you know, when you make a shirt mistake. The great thing is no one remembers but me because they quickly go on to assessing other people's wardrobe. The scorn machine never sleeps. Too, I got lucky and no one photo-seized me wearing the red shirt. 

Along with the shirt, I'd purchases stylish shoes. Another mistake. Always is. Stylish means you're trying too hard. The question is, why record such incidents of low-grade shame? Because recording is a triumph over shame, thanks for asking. I bought a red shirt once, and now it doesn't matter. The shoes are walking all by themselves somewhere in the Mojave Desert. Which is a very stylish desert. 


hans ostrom 2019