Tag: joe bustillos short stories
![Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend [A Short Story/Reflection]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1990-06-COMM217-BW-Photography-Self-Portrait-Guitar-Dude-04.png?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend [A Short Story/Reflection]
I remember a time when I made friends just standing in line waiting to go into the cafeteria for...
![The Chaos & Fog of Glendington [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-photo-35317730.jpeg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
The Chaos & Fog of Glendington [A Short Story]
The day began with the kind of thick grey fog that made walking dangerous, but it was his routine,...
![Two Old Rugs Survive Their Trip Outside [a short story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/baseball-on-rug.png?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Two Old Rugs Survive Their Trip Outside [a short story]
baseball bat on rug I woke up thinking about an old rug, it kind of looks like it’s being hung up...
![Dee, Friendships & The Delayed Departure/Dismissal [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-photo-9887430.jpeg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Dee, Friendships & The Delayed Departure/Dismissal [A Short Story]
Friendships seemed simpler in the past. In the third grade I noticed this blonde kid on the bus...
![Running Around In The Park [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/pexels-photo-8083430.jpeg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Running Around In The Park [A Short Story]
They do so much with so little. A little girl, her shoes in one hand and purple plastic bowling...
![Older Fellow Attempts Modern Dating [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2001-03-27-Sunset-at-Santa-Monica.jpg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Older Fellow Attempts Modern Dating [A Short Story]
He couldn’t remember the last time he found himself taking a leisurely evening stroll on Ocean...
![Didn’t Know To Not Expose the Container to De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/pexels-photo-15509863.jpeg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Didn’t Know To Not Expose the Container to De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da [A Short Story]
The original records were lost or at least never found about how the university ended up with a...
![The Last Runner, The Crowd and Caught Being Human [a Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2007-12-15-6th-grader-boys-880-race-19.png?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
The Last Runner, The Crowd and Caught Being Human [a Short Story]
One of the under-appreciated duties as the teacher of the yearbook class was covering Saturday...
![There’s a Whole in My Life [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Not-Full-By-Choice-no-attribution.png?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
There’s a Whole in My Life [A Short Story]
10:51 PM. Just a note or two before I drift off to sleep. I wish there was some meaningful way of...
![Three Rectangular Tiles in the Park [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/pexels-photo-286263.jpeg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Three Rectangular Tiles in the Park [A Short Story]
Three ceramic rectangular tiles were laying in a suburban public park in a spot about halfway from...
![The Kid and The Lime Green Buddha Named Bart [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/pexels-photo-11356284.jpeg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
The Kid and The Lime Green Buddha Named Bart [A Short Story]
A little nine-year old boy was found in his suburban home, apparently abandoned by his parents,...
![Three AM at The Beach, Remembering the First Love That Wasn’t [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/pexels-photo-7181902.jpeg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Three AM at The Beach, Remembering the First Love That Wasn’t [A Short Story]
This is an intimate place. I wish that I would have come here before. Had I known about it,...
![Fall Out From Unexpected Handholding in Aerobics Class [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pexels-photo-32627101.jpeg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Fall Out From Unexpected Handholding in Aerobics Class [A Short Story]
It was my ex’s idea that we join a gym. It’s not my fault that I lost all the weight and really...
![Fate & Saturdays Working with Dad [Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25741-Cervantes-MV-2.png?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Fate & Saturdays Working with Dad [Short Story]
No matter what I did, I never seemed to be able to escape my fate. As soon as I finished breakfast...
Weekly Short Story Project & “Longer” Project
It’s time. Beginning June 9th I’ve decided to post one short story every week on Mondays. I have a...
![Questions At the Edge of a Stream of Lights [A Short Story]](https://i0.wp.com/josephbrucebustillos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pexels-photo-9548515.jpeg?resize=627%2C376&ssl=1)
Questions At the Edge of a Stream of Lights [A Short Story]
Her apartment complex sits just beyond the edge of the river of lights. Just beyond the incessant...
