Articles written by Tom Rinkes

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About me - Tom Rinkes

I'm a 55 year old truck driver who caught the writing bug two years. I'm presently enrolled in an on line creative writing course and enjoy writing mysteries and fiction of all kinds. My email address is-tomrinkes2002@yahoo.com, and would enjoy any and all

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Politics, News & Issues > Soldiers & Veterans Commentary: Tribute to America's veterans: 2 of 33

Died On The Fourth Of July "...I'm dying, but life's been fair to me I guess, all except for this" Stanley Albert "Stosh" Frakowski is a common man of likewise language who was just eighteen when he joined the Army in 1966. Rather than follow his father and older brothers into a well paying job at the local coal mine, he cho... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Ghosts: 9 of 142

13 SYCAMORE She haunts me. She deviled me last night and the night before and the night before that. I'm napping in my truck the old-fashioned way-ball cap over my eyes, leaning against the driver's door with my feet on the passenger seat. I hear a noise, I look up from under the brim and I see her. She's short and young wit... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Family memories: 8 of 85

When I first told my family about my plan to be a psychiatrist, they didn't believe me. All six eyes-no, eight. My dad wears glasses-glared at me from three directions. Dad peered over his latest copy of the Weekly World News, Mom dropped her peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich, and my older sister laughed so hysterically ... More..
Other If you could have a one-hour interview with any human being past or present, who would it be?: 50 of 230
If I was granted a one hour interview with anyone past or present, I would have to interview Jesus Christ. There are many questions that have plagued me, for at least forty years now, that only He could answer. I know that His replies would be truthful, precise and to the point. How could they be anything other? My first que... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: The Veteran's Day mystery: 6 of 25
Green Peas and Socrates Everyone knew John McKimm. Everyone hated John McKimm. Everyone in the place had worked for him at least once in their life. John never fired anyone, he just had it down to a look, and you didn't come back. Even his waitress, Maggie, worked a full year before she "disappointed" him. She served him his... More..
Jobs & Careers > Office Politics Advice on how to deal with hostile bosses: 4 of 16
We've all worked for them a time or two. The kind of boss who can go from zero to A - hole in 3.2 seconds or less; seemingly breaking their own world record each and every Monday. Oh, you can try to understand them by walking a mile in their shoes, but then you'd be a mile away from them and you'll have their shoes, and I fa... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Mother's Day & Father's Day Mother's Day: How to be sentimental (without being cheesy): 4 of 12

Sentimentality is in the eye of the beholder, and right now I'm holding onto a cup of coffee and a spatula waiting for my lovely wife of thirty-six years, the mother of my children, to rise from her slumber. I cook breakfast for her every Mother's Day, and that's the only time I cook because I can only make one thing right a... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Beliefs & Culture Are we close to the battle of Armageddon?: 6 of 15

Are we on the road to Armageddon? Answer: We're not even close to the on-ramp. I say this because of three dates in particular. Jesus gave the end-times scenario to Mark in year 32 or 33 A.D. John gave his Revelation in between year 85 and 90 A.D. It's 2008 A.D. and it hasn't happened yet. Did you ever wonder why? I know I h... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Tall tales: 19 of 42
An Unbelievable Day With Aunt Louise The highlight of my twenty-year career as a private eye had to be the time I was asked by my aunt, one Gladys Van Hoffman, to find a woman she knew growing up in Mannington, West Virginia. Aunt Gladys moved up to Wheeling after college, had worked hard, married well and prospered greatly.... More..
Autos > Trucks Road safety from a truck driver's perspective: 6 of 12

As a professional truck driver of thirty-one years, I've seen many changes in people's driving habits, no matter how many tires you have under you. I read in USA Today not long ago there are an estimated 180 million drivers in this country, so there are that many opinions on the best way to drive. Everyone is an individual; ... More..