Stories from Six Minute Story

Traveling Count

gormanwriter — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 05:49:43 -0400

My eight-year-old brother couldn't sleep. He had watched a scary movie, and its main character was invading his thoughts.

"Is Dracula here?" he asked.

"No, he's back home in Transylvania," I assured him.

"Maybe he's visiting!"

In order to distract him and help him get to sleep, I came up with an idea.

"Let's make a mixtape of songs that will keep Dracula from visiting us."

I serenaded my brother with tunes that sent Dracula to all sorts of locations. The bloodthirsty count sailed away to Key Largo. He visited "Aruba, Jamaica ..." and the other exotic locations in the "Kokomo" song. I even sent him up north to "O Canada."

After a while, my brother was off to dreamland. Hopefully, Dracula wasn't visiting him there.

The Substitute

gormanwriter — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 05:57:28 -0400

Every morning, the No. 7 bus drives down Cherry Lane. The kids waiting for the bus get splashed by a puddle whenever it rains. A homeless man sees it happen every day that it rains.

One rainy spring morning, the homeless man had enough. He walked right out in front of the bus before it could reach the corner.

The driver stepped out of the bus in a rage.

"Are you crazy? What are you doing?"

"Something. I'm doing something."

He raced around the bus driver and hopped into the driver's seat. He maneuvered the bus around the driver and approached the corner without soaking the children.

"Let's go, kids!"

The children cheered and high-fived their new driver as they entered the bus.

The last one, a six-year-old girl, asked, "Could you take my teacher's place, too?"

Growing Potential

gormanwriter — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 05:55:47 -0400

The young woman stood in the garden, clutching a bunch of dead flowers.

"This place needs a LOT of work," she thought.

Looking around, she began to formulate a vision for what the garden could become.

She pictured family and friends sitting around the table, enjoying a Fourth of July barbecue. She would need to make room for a grill. Kids would need a place to play as well.

"I can't do all of this by myself," she thought.

Then she realized that she's been trying to do too many things by herself. Maybe that's why she was alone at age 35. She had everything her way, but she needed to open her heart to new ideas and new people.

She pulled out her phone and opened her calendar app.

"It's time to get to know some people in this town."

A Modest Birthday

gormanwriter — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:59:04 -0400

The kids huddled around the tiny bundt cake, sipping juice from their plastic cups.

A lone candle burned at the center of the cake. The kids were trying to figure out how they were going to get a decent piece of cake.

"Don't forget to sing! Happy birthday to you ..." Tommy's mom began.

The kids sang half-heartedly. When they finished. Billy grabbed the cake and broke off a piece for himself. The other kids did the same, and everyone got a piece ... except the birthday boy.

His eyes filled with tears. The doorbell rang.

It was the pizza delivery girl to save the day!

The kids cheered. Tommy got the first piece.

Say 'Aaah'

gormanwriter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:55:06 -0400

Friday is supposed to be a day to look forward to - TGIF, right?

Sammy had been dreading Friday all week because he had to go to the dentist. He wasn't afraid of cavities or drilling. He just didn't like his dentist, and there was only one in town.

Sammy walked into the office, waited his turn and took his place in the dentist chair. A new dentist entered the office. He looked like he was fresh out of dental school. Indeed, he had a fresh idea.

"In order for you to understand dental health better, we're going to switch. You can look at my teeth."

Sammy stood up, and the young dentist hopped into the chair and opened his mouth.

Puzzled, Sammy picked up a tongue depressor and the little pokey mirror thing and went to work.

"Your teeth look good, Doc. But your gums are a little puffy. You might want to pay them a little attention."

"Thanks," the doctor replied. "You can get back in your seat. Since you gave me the same dental services I'm giving you, your visit is free."

Perfect Heads

gormanwriter — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:59:11 -0400

There's only one country in this world. You would think that would be a recipe for peace. But haven't you ever heard of civil war?

No matter how much people try to stay united, some people will insist on being divided. It's just human nature. We don't conform. We rebel. So instead of focusing on similarities, some people have to classify themselves based on their differences.

That was the premise behind the first meeting of the PBS (Proud Bald Society). The members of the fledgling group filled the park, their heads shining in the mid-morning sun. Romulus Jones, their president, addressed them on the microphone.

"No longer will be cover our heads in shame!" he intoned. "Hats and head coverings of any kind are banned! Rogaine is an illegal drug! We are a big-tent society, so we are not limited to old men who are going bald. Encourage your friends to join us!"

The crowd cheered.

"And one more thing ... we need women!"

The crowd cheered louder.

Barn of Screams

gormanwriter — Sun, 31 May 2026 06:43:03 -0400

All I heard were screams. I didn't want to enter the rickety barn, but I could not ignore the anguish that I heard inside. I searched my pockets for a weapon. Nothing but keys. I clutched the longest one between my fingers and slowly opened the rickety barn door. Stepping inside, I discovered that the screams were coming from the back of the barn. I didn't see an obvious "bad guy," so I raced forward.

The screams were coming from underneath a large pile of hay! I quickly dug through to real the face of a 10-year-old boy. I dragged him out and dusted him off.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, Mister," the boy replied. "I'm Billy. I was looking for a warm place to sleep, and I got under the hay, but then a whole bunch more hay fell on me, and I couldn't move!"

"Well, you're safe now," I told Billy. "Where are your parents?"

"That's a long story."