Factory Tails — Short Story Nine by Barbara Anne Helberg ***The Pawboot Georgio and Harold, ancient Golden-Lab mixes, sat side by side on their haunches, tails flaired behind them, facing the sunset just outside the west side door of The Big Blackie Biscuit and Specialty Items, Inc. plant. Harold was a Big Blackie veteran who had […]
Factory Tails — Short Story Eight by Barbara Anne Helberg ***Whisper or Scream “It’s all in your attitude, kid,” Harold said in his rough, scraping teaching voice. “You can make that machine whisper or you can make it scream.” The look on the kid’s face didn’t display understanding. Harold, a Big Blackie Lifer (over […]
Factory Tails — Short Story Seven by Barbara Anne Helberg ***BLAH Loose Lips, a grand mixed shepherd of great paws and a large head with big, unusually erect, pointy ears, hailed the Shift Supervisor. The Super sighed with his shoulders in a gesture of unwillingness familiar to those in Operator’s Row. Craning their necks and […]
Factory Tails — Short Story Six by Barbara Anne Helberg *** Lost Parts The black knit cap on Lady Dill’s head normally sat tilted, but just now it slipped forward a little, and Jethro, across the aisle, felt embarrassed as he sneaked a peak at Lady Dill’s swift adjustments. Everydog wondered about Lady Dill’s […]
Factory Tails — Short Story Five by Barbara Anne Helberg *** Partials Charles, second shift quality inspector at the Big Blackie Biscuit and Specialty Items, Inc. Henry County, Ohio, plant, recognized Chuk’s mood as testy before he’d heard Chuk’s second sentence. Chuk’s first comment seared: “Hey, Charles. Ready for another sparkling day at the millstone? […]