SHORT STORIES{collection]

CARL'S HEAVEN..............{hell}

At ten o'clock at night, Carl Parris got out of bed and got dressed. After dressing, he took the gun that was on the dresser and checked the chamber to make sure the gun was loaded. "Perfect, I got a loaded gun, and now I have t' find someone to shoot," he said as he sat on his bed. Should I rob a liquor store? They're easy. Yeah, why should I make work for myself. Yeah, I'll rob a liquor store, and if I have t' kill someone, then I have t' kill someone. What I gotta do I gotta do."

He left his run-down rooming house, walked across the street to a liquor store, and entered. No one was in the store except the clerk. Carl walked up to the counter and pointed his gun at the man behind the counter. "Okay, gimmie all y' money?"

"Okay, mister, take it easy," he said, took all the cash out of the cash register, and gave the money to Carl.

"Hey, there isn't enough here. Are you tryin' t' cheat me," Carl growled and shot the man. "He was tryin' t' cheat me," Carl said as he walked toward the front door, counting the money as he went.

When he opened the door, two police officers stood in his way pointing their guns at him.

Ballistics tests proved that his gun was used in five murders, and his record proved that he was a career criminal. The police ended his career.

Carl Roache pulled at his collar while he looked behind him at the packed courtroom. He turned back, faced the front of the court, and slouched in his chair. After a few minutes of slouching, he sat up. His 6'6", muscular frame was too much for his chair. Carl pulled a large, white handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped his brow. As Carl leaned forward to stuff his handkerchief back into his pocket, the judge entered the courtroom and the bailiff called the courtroom to order. All stood as the judge walked to the bench and seated himself. After the judge was seated, everyone sat except Carl and his court-appointed attorney.

Carl Roche stood quietly and as still as he could, but his shirt collar, which was too small for his huge neck, was choking him, so he pulled at his collar and ripped the collar button from its stitching and sent it flying toward the judge. Everybody in front of the court room watched the button bounce several times and then roll under the stenographer's desk. Carl's attorney put his hand to his forehead, looked down, and shook his head in disgust.