H N Arabian Blog - Random Tales

*** "The Exit Blocked  " is a story about interruption and revelation: how a violent halt on a highway reframes a polished presentation, transforming it from a corporate pitch into a testament to human endurance. Through the complementary arcs of Herald and Dan, the narrative explores fragility, dignity, and the moral weight of innovation. Its cinematic style, thematic dualities, and final symbolic contrast leave the reader with a sense that progress isn’t measured in contracts, but in lives changed. ***  The Exit Blocked By Harry Arabian Herald, fifty years old and every bit the methodical engineer, steered the sedan down the long, winding exit toward the DoubleTree Hotel. In the passenger seat, Dan—thirty, quick-eyed, scrolling through slides—rehearsed their pitch. The Granite Meeting Hall waited, filled with executives who could decide the future of their design. Halfway down the ramp, brake lights flared. Traffic slowed, then froze. Ahead, a tractor-trailer lay on its s...

*** "The Charles River Shuffle" presents a deceptively lighthearted narrative about a misplaced evening plan, but beneath its conversational veneer, the story explores themes of communication, relational intimacy, and the tension between personal pursuits and shared commitments. *** The Charles River Shuffle ( Or How My Passport and a Burger Saved Date Night ) By Harry Arabian Workday was nearly over when Mr. Sumner, our principal sales clown—pardon, principal salesperson—strolled by my desk with his usual crooked grin and a stack of mail. “Special delivery,” he declared, dropping an envelope on my keyboard. “Our receptionist thought walking ten feet was too much exercise, so here I am.” I recognized the envelope right away— passport-sized, government-sealed, and suspiciously water-wrinkled. I tore it open and exhaled relief: my new passport was safe and dry inside, even if the envelope had apparently wrestled a thunderstorm. “Neither snow nor rain,” I muttered with a s...

  *** “The Lightbulb Moment”  at its core, the story is about human fallibility, pride, and domestic comedy . What seems like a simple household task—replacing a light fixture—spirals into a humorous misadventure that reveals both the narrator’s determination and his oversight. The theme touches on the everyday tension between competence and overconfidence , and how pride can sometimes blind us to danger until hindsight casts a brighter light. *** The Lightbulb Moment By Harry Arabian The basement smelled of dust and detergent, steeped in decades of neglect. Cobwebs clung to forgotten corners, and somewhere in the shadows, the ominous buzz of old wiring hummed . I stood beneath a yellowed light socket that had, without question, survived the Second World War. The bulb had died days ago, but it wasn’t the bulb’s fault—it was the fixture, probably scorched from age, stubbornness, or both. Hours passed. Sweat trickled down my back as my arms ached from reaching overhead with ...

*** "The Great Bean Spill" is a delightful foray into domestic comedy that finds its strength in subtle observation and emotional honesty. The tone is light and warm, grounded in realism but laced with humor that feels organic to the characters and situation. It walks a delicate line between satire and sincerity—ultimately favoring human connection over punchlines. *** The Great Bean Spill By Harry Arabian Danny had been on a mission lately eating clean, whole foods, mostly plant-based, and especially beans. Beans were humble, hearty, and he’d read, practically superheroes in a can. Even canned pinto beans, if you chose the low-sodium kind, could be part of a heart-healthy diet. So, when his coworker Susan dropped by for lunch and mentioned her curiosity about healthy eating, Danny couldn’t resist showing off his pantry pick. He felt oddly proud. This was his moment—the culmination of weeks of label-reading, meal-prepping, and quietly turning down donuts at work. If he co...

*** "Back Door Serenade" is a gentle, resonant short story that explores intergenerational bonds, the quiet magic of childhood talent, and the unspoken emotional currents that run between a grandparent and a child. Rooted in realism but tinged with emotional lyricism, the story hinges on a deceptively simple premise: a five-year-old boy performs an old rock song at a party store opening. But beneath that simplicity lies a nuanced meditation on legacy, connection, and the small, private rituals that shape a young identity. *** Back Door Serenade By Harry Arabian It was just before the weekend, late Friday evening, when Geoff tossed on his coat, gave me a grin, and called over his shoulder on his way out of the office: “See you Sunday at Sandy’s grand opening in Woburn—bring your grandson! That voice of his is going to steal the show!” I chuckled, still at my desk. Geoff had been thoroughly impressed with Dave’s performances at the last company picnic—his enthusiastic rendi...

  *** "Herald’s Green Workshop"   explores reinvention and purpose in retirement. Herald refuses to see retirement as decline; instead, it becomes a season of creation and play. His environmentally friendly inventions connect him not only to his lifelong passions but also to broader global concerns—sustainability and stewardship. Yet the story resists being moralistic: humor keeps it grounded, reminding readers that innovation often comes with trial and error. *** Herald’s Green Workshop By Harry Arabian Now that Herald was retired, the clock no longer dictated his days. Instead, he woke each morning to the quiet hum of possibilities. Retirement hadn’t slowed him—it had freed him. Finally, he had all the time in the world to work on his passion: designing environmentally friendly gadgets. Some days, he tinkered with his own inventions—clever little devices meant to sip, not gulp, the Earth’s resources. Other days, he took the wild sketches and hopeful dreams of other “gre...

*** "Hippie attire reunion"  story unfolds in a distinctly Californian setting—Irvine’s North Lake community—where the tranquil, well-kept environment contrasts with the unexpected turbulence of an unplanned reunion. The Biergarten in Huntington Beach later becomes a cultural counterpoint, shifting from suburban quiet to live music vibrancy. This movement between spaces mirrors the emotional arc of the protagonist, Bobby. *** Hippie attire reunion By Harry Arabian After a long morning of weekly chores, my arms full of groceries, Jasmine and I made our way back to our loft apartment overlooking North Lake in Irvine. The sun glinted off the water, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the faint scent of the community jacuzzi bubbling nearby.   As we rounded the corner, we ran into our ever-loud neighbor Matt, unmistakable with his signature headband keeping sweat from his eyes.   “Hey Bobby!” he called out, voice carrying across the courtyard. “You missed the lad...

*** “A Morning Out of Step” is a short narrative centered on Jake, a disciplined sixty-eight-year-old whose rigid morning routine is unexpectedly disrupted by the arrival of a local parade. Through sensory-rich description and reflective narration, the piece explores themes of spontaneity, community, and the interplay between habit and surprise. Within the canon of slice-of-life short fiction, it aligns with works that derive emotional resonance from everyday disruptions. *** A Morning Out of Step By Harry Arabian I’m Jake—sixty-eight years old with a morning routine so finely tuned it practically runs itself. Every day, without fail, I wake at 6:30 a.m. No alarm clock, no reminder—my body just knows. A glass of water to rehydrate, a thorough brushing of the teeth, a splash of cool water on the face. Then five to fifteen minutes of stretching, followed by five to ten minutes of meditation, deep breathing, and journaling to focus the mind. After that, a balanced breakfast. Then forty-...

*** "Under the Western Sky" is a quiet yet resonant piece of narrative nonfiction, blending personal reminiscence with the portrait of a man whose life bridged industry and passion. At its core, it is about paths taken, paths abandoned, and the bittersweet symmetry of mentorship across generations. *** Under the Western Sky By Harry Arabian Under the Western Sky Mr. Dave Wallberg rarely called me. When he did, it was for one of two reasons: either to get my opinion on a company or technology he was considering acquiring, or to invite me to the rooftop observatory outside his office to watch some celestial wonder unfold in the night sky. The observatory wasn’t much—just a small, amateur setup accessed by a spiral metal staircase—but it offered an unobstructed view of the western horizon over the Upper Charles River Reservation. On clear evenings, you could see the first stars before the rest of the city noticed them. Dave was a pleasant man of seventy, originally from Portla...

*** Breezes of August is a quiet, sensory-rich reflection on how small disruptions in a day can deepen its beauty. Its artistry lies in its restraint—letting the Pacific breeze, the seals, the flicker of police lights, and even a low gas warning serve as narrative “beads,” strung together into a meditation on unpredictability, companionship, and the fleeting texture of summer. ***  Breezes of August By Harry Arabian It was an exceptionally hot Sunday—the kind that made the streets shimmer and the air feel heavy. After hours of the relentless hum of the air conditioner, Marie and I decided we’d had enough. We slipped into the car and headed for the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), letting the road carry us toward the promise of cooler air. The ocean appeared like a sheet of hammered silver, the horizon lost in a soft haze. We rolled the windows down, and the sea breeze rushed in—cool, salty, alive. As we wound through Newport Bay, I noticed a cluster of canoes gliding across the calm...