The aroma of the cooking meat billowed from the frying pan, filling the air. The man inhaled deeply, taking in as much as he could. He looked at his surroundings and thought, my life isn't so bad. I've got all the things a man needs to get by in this world; shoes on my feet, a shirt on my back, a roof over my head, dinner cooking in the pan, I'm actually pretty lucky. Life is good he thought, and began whistling a happy tune, something he'd heard way back in his childhood but couldn't quite remember when, or even what it was called, but that didn't matter to him. What really mattered was that the tune was happy, and he was happy, and his life was good.

     His life hadn't always been this good. He could remember a time when he felt like he would never be able to acquire true happiness. His life had been filled with turmoil then; problems at his job, constant fighting with his wife, never enough money, feeling less than equal to his peers. Why had he let it go on for so long? It did him more harm than good to continue living that tortured life, but live it he did.

     He'd come to the conclusion a long time ago that it must have been his upbringing that kept him locked in that prison for so long, not that he blamed his parents for anything, they did the best they knew how, but by the belief systems they believed were true, and so instilled in him all those many years.

     A prison of concepts and beliefs, illusions and disillusions, rights and wrongs, all meant to lead you on the right path through life, so that somewhere along that path success and happiness will be achieved and ultimately carry you on to that final goal, which is death.

     He'd fallen right into that trap along with countless millions of others who lead their lives according to a fixed set of rules, handed down from generation to generation to the next unwitting generation, who suck it up as though it's gospel, which to some extent it is, and try to follow these principles in the name of social and political correctness.

     What a load of crap, he thought to himself, and smiled knowingly. He'd been there. He'd done that. He'd tried to live his life their way, but it hadn't worked out for him. It had brought him nothing but heartache and despair, which gradually increased to such a magnitude that it nearly caused his demise by his own hand. He was grateful that he eventually wised up before that happened, because now his life was good.

     Maybe that way of living worked for some people he thought, otherwise the world would be filled with miserable, self loathing people, bent on self destruction like he had once been, or maybe it didn't work for anyone, and people were just too propagandized to realize how miserable they really were. Either way it didn't make any difference to him. He had freed himself of those bonds and started his life anew.

     He looked again at his surroundings and took a swallow of wine. The sweet Port felt good as it rolled down his throat and into his stomach. There's nothing better than a little wine before a good meal he thought, pleased to be blessed with all he had. He gazed at the view from his kitchen; a skyline filled with high-rise buildings and twinkling lights and he thought about how lucky he was to be alive.

     He gave the simmering meat a stir, then walked through his house in search of a cigarette. He found one before long and returned to the kitchen, lighting it off the stove. He sat down and took another sip of wine before picking up where he'd left off with that happy tune. He looked again at all he had and he was content. His life was good and he was happy.

     He felt the rumble of the approaching train before he heard it. As he looked up into the darkness a drop of water splashed onto his forehead. He wiped it away without a second thought. He spotted some movement out of the corner of his eye and instinctively grabbed the meat hook. Quickly but silently he closed in on it. A large rat had been jostled from it's hiding place by the vibrations of the train. He swung the hook and the rat squealed. As the train thundered above he looked at his catch, oblivious to the light shower of dirt and dust that rained down from the viaduct above his head and he thought to himself, I'll be eating good again tomorrow night. Life is certainly good.

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When I was nearing the end of my book I was having trouble coming up with a good ending. I didn't want the killer to get caught or killed because I was already thinking sequel. I was in a sort of writers block and didn't write anything for awhile. Someone suggested I write a short story in the meantime. What a great suggestion. I ended up writing several. Here is the first one I wrote. This is for you Johnny.
                                                          Time For A Change by Jerry Grosh
    I open my eyes and the darkness pours in. Where am I? What am I? What am I doing? How did I get here? all of these questions blaze through my mind as one. But are they really questions at all, or just mere thoughts. My eyes begin to focus on something, what little they're capable of. A dim ray of light off to one side. I try to look at it but I can't turn my head. I'm lying on my stomach, looking into complete darkness. The light is behind me. It's hazy glow is slowly rolling over the back of my head and slipping over my face. I try again to turn toward it, to see what it is, but I can't. It's as though my head were stuck to this surface I lay upon. Dampness on my cheek, cold and wet. I struggle to lift my head from this surface, but to no avail. It is fastened securely. My arms are laying limp at my sides. I push down hard against the surface trying to lift my body. No movement. Cold and wet there also. I am completely stuck.

    The darkness closes in tighter around me. A shudder of fear runs through my body and one of my legs twitches. I lift the leg and it comes up freely. I set it back down and try the other one. It's free as well. I begin kicking my feet, throwing one leg over the other, trying frantically to flip myself over. Whatever it is that's holding me to this surface is beginning to give. I'm building up momentum with every kick as I begin to roll back and forth. I kick harder and my body seems to come unglued, but my face is still stuck. I kick harder still, and I'm nearly on my side. Once more and I'm rolling, yes, I'm rolling over. My face comes unglued from the surface and I'm on my back, looking straight up into unending blackness.
    That dim light is to the side of me now. I turn  my head to the side and look directly into it. It's soft glow is dizzying. I feel as if I'm floating. I try to sit up, but just as before, I'm stuck fast. I push downward with my hands and try to raise myself. Nothing. Not even a budge. I try my legs and again they are free. But I don't kick them. I set them back down. At least now I can see the light better, although I still don't know what it is. It feels friendly. Comforting in a way. I try to focus on it but it only blurs.
    What was that? Something moved above my head. My eyes dart upward into the blackness. I can't see anything, but I know something is there. I can sense it's prisence. My heart starts to beat faster. I'm looking straight up at where I saw the movement, but I see nothing. I strain my eyes, trying to pierce the darkness, and ther it is. Hovering above me. Then I see another. And another. A whole swarm of them circling above my head. I want to cry out but I don't. I turn my head quickly to the side and close my eyes tight. I lie perfectly still, hoping they won't see me. The silence is deafening. I think about the light and my eyes slowly open. I seek comfort from the light but it gives me none. It's changed somehow. It's been split down the middle. It doesn't come toward me anymore, but goes off in two different directions. The friendly feeling is gone. No, it isn't split in two. Something is there in the darkness, obstructing my view. I look directly at the object. I can barely make it out. It's long and thin and goes straight up higher than I can see. It slowly comes into focus. Then I see another one right next to it. And another. A whole row of them, stretching further than I can see. It feels as if I'm trapped. Locked in by this wall of posts.
    I reach out to touch one of the posts. My hand brushes against something else. I quickly pull back as the thing omits an eerie, rattling sound. My eyes slam shut and I toss my head to the other side. I hold my breathe, waiting for it to attack, but nothing happens. I listen closely for the rattling sound, but I hear nothing. I open my eyes again and look around. The soft light rolls gently over my face and I feel comforted. A shape starts to form before me. Another post. Another row or posts. I'm completely blocked in, surrounded by this giant fence. I try to touch it but it's just out of reach. My fingers stretch further, but without success. I'm stuck to the surface again.
    The hovering swarm above my head is forgotten. The rattling noise beside me is forgotten also. I concentrate on the wall of posts that hold me captive. I try to look beyond them, searching for some form of escape. I soon lock onto something in the distance. I'm flooded with tears as I realize what it is. A huge set of eyes looking back at me. The tears blur my vision and the eyes fade away. I look away. A tear rolls down my cheek. I savor the feeling as it comes to rest on my upper lip. I glance back and see that I'm still being watched. But now the huge eyes are not alone. They're joined by a host of others of various shaped and sizes. I let out a piercing scream and shut my eyes tight, closing myself off from their threatening stares. 
    I'm floating inside a bubble. It's filled with liquid, warm and soothing. I'm completely submerged but I have no trouble breathing. A relaxing, rhythmic vibration encompasses me and I feel completely at peace. My stomach begins to rumble. The feeling brings me out of my slumber. A foul odor fills the air. I open my eyes and search through the darkness. A loud noise rings out. My body tenses. I listen intently. The noise again, louder this time. And again, coming closer. Terror overtakes me and I scream out for help. Closer, louder, almost upon me. I cry out again. A crack of bright light, growing wider. A figure appears in it's midst. Coming at me. Arms outstretched. Reaching for me. Lifting me up. It peers down upon me. I look back and everything is alright. It's only mama.