Category Archives: short story

The Luncheonette

Posted on May 4, 2018 by toritto

Written more than a decade ago and originally appearing here in 2015.   The old man shuffled in the doorway of a Brooklyn luncheonette on a bright Autumn Saturday morning. The door was open. He breathed the air before going in. Fresh … Continue reading →

Posted in short story, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

The Clothes Line

Posted on October 18, 2017 by toritto

A  piece of fiction Freddie and Philomena Bartolomeo lived in a small 1 bedroom second floor apartment in Brooklyn’s little Italy along with their two sons, Fredo and Nicola in 1950.  The place was small with four of them;  little … Continue reading →

Posted in short story, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

The Picture

Posted on May 15, 2017 by toritto

Young J. Edgar Hoover was tapping his desk with the eraser end of a sharpened pencil; it was habitual when he was feeling agitated.  And J. Edgar was agitated. He kept staring at the picture in front of him and … Continue reading →

Posted in history, short story | 3 Comments

The Succession

Posted on April 25, 2017 by toritto

It is the Spring of the year 1553 and Edward, the sixth of his name, King of England lay dying in his bed. He was but 15 years old. His father, Henry VIII, of blessed memory had desperately wanted a … Continue reading →

Posted in history, short story | 2 Comments

The Favorite

Posted on April 18, 2017 by toritto

“Your Majesty!  Your Majesty!” Elizabeth awoke from her slumber to hear her Lady in Waiting knocking at the door to her bed chamber. “A messenger from Cumnor Place with urgent news” Elizabeth immediately knew  the subject of the news.  She knew … Continue reading →

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Year of the Rat

Posted on November 18, 2015 by toritto

Crawford’s business trip to Beijing was coming to an end. Tomorrow evening, after a grueling but successful negotiation involving a triangle of conflicting interests each armed with teams of lawyers, he would take the red-eye home to London. Crawford needed … Continue reading →

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The Introduction

Posted on August 13, 2015 by toritto

“Comrade Balabanoff! There is someone here I would like you to meet!” Angelica turned around to face the voice. It was Franco, one of her colleagues on the Central Committee of the Italian Socialist Party. “Good evening! How are you!” … Continue reading →

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A Day at the Chariot Races

Posted on April 6, 2015 by toritto

A re-post from last Spring – originally published at a curated site elsewhere The young Emperor of the East at Constantinople was preparing to flee the city, effectively abdicating his throne. The mobs had been outside the palace complex for … Continue reading →

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Tales of a Polish Woman

Posted on March 29, 2015 by toritto

Originally posted several years ago on a curated site elsewhere  Christine Granville, nee Krystyna Skarbek, O.B.E., GM, Croix de Guerre, died tragically on June 15, 1952. She was a Special Operations Executive Agent during the war, celebrated for her daring … Continue reading →

Posted in history, short story | 5 Comments

The Luncheonette

Posted on March 19, 2015 by toritto

  The old man shuffled in the doorway of a Brooklyn luncheonette on a bright Autumn Saturday morning. The door was open. He breathed the air before going in. Fresh air mixed with restaurant smells. The waitress behind the soda counter, in … Continue reading →

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