Purgatory

This story began in 1955 as a first-year high school English class assignment for the author. It became his first published story, originally titled Fearful City. The story's subject was to be "Scorched Earth". It consisted of about 300 words. His teacher was impressed enough to have it published in the school yearbook. In 2015, a fellow writer suggested he update the story, rename it, and extend it. "Purgatory" is the result.