H N Arabian Blog - Random Tales

 *** In Red Rocks and Sourdough , the narrator recounts a serendipitous afternoon in Concord, Massachusetts, where music, memory, and food converge to create an unexpectedly profound reunion. What begins as a casual moment in a library swells into an exploration of how art and place shape identity, how hunger guides human connection, and how the past resurfaces in the present with uncanny force. Through its sensory detail, layered symbolism, and cyclical structure, the piece demonstrates how the ordinary and extraordinary intertwine, reminding us that life’s most enduring moments often arrive by chance. ***  Red Rocks and Sourdough (Music, memory, and a sandwich that stitched the past to the present) By Harry Arabian The Concord Free Public Library smelled faintly of old paper and polished wood. I was thumbing through the latest periodicals when soft guitar strumming drifted through the open window, delicate and inviting. Curious, I stepped outside. On the lawn, a small con...

*** At the heart of the story " The Pastry Box"  lies a simple promise: to visit Uncle Aram before leaving for Detroit. What could have been dismissed as a minor courtesy becomes the central moral thread. The protagonist’s choice to honor this promise, despite the pressures of time and business, highlights the tension between professional obligations and personal commitments. The pastries themselves, fragile yet enduring, serve as a symbol of loyalty and the weight of promises carried through chaos. ***  The Pastry Box By Harry Arabian The week in Detroit loomed large before me—an endless carousel of client meetings, hotel lobbies, and airport corridors. Before leaving, I promised Marie one small thing: visit her Uncle Aram. He always asked about me on the phone, always said my name when Marie called. A promise is a promise. By Friday, after a final, wearying meeting, I steered the rental across town. The city rolled past in shades of gray, traffic oddly lighter than the wei...

  ***    The story “Under the Live Oak” juxtaposes two distinct settings: the serenity of Golden Gate Park’s Arboretum and bison paddock with the oppressive environment of Acme’s workshop. These contrasting spaces act as symbols of freedom versus confinement, vitality versus exploitation, and natural cycles versus industrial degradation. Recognize that comfort and suffering often exist side by side. *** Under the Live Oak By Harry Arabian San Francisco had a kind of restless energy that even our toddlers seemed to absorb. By mid-morning, they had pulled us through every winding path of the Arboretum in Golden Gate Park, chasing ducks, touching every flower they could reach, and laughing at their own echoes in the quiet garden groves. Marie and I followed, half-shepherds, half-spectators, until their energy finally began to slow. The bison paddock gave them a final burst—two little bodies pressed against the wooden rail, pointing and squealing as the massive animals lu...

  *** "The Wrong Code" is a  story is about choice, discovery, and the cycles of return , framed through the narrator’s decision to spend one week exploring the Columbia River Gorge rather than attempting to cover dozens of tours across California and Oregon. What begins as a practical narrowing of possibilities gradually deepens into a meditation on nature’s rhythms and their parallel to human journeys. *** The Wrong Code By Harry Arabian Sunday routines had a way of finding their own rhythm. Mine usually began with a slow walk through Harvard Square, ending, as always, at the Harvard Book Store. On August 28, 2005, I drifted past the new non-fiction shelves, but something tugged me toward the travel section. Oregon was on my mind—my first trip west—and there, waiting on the shelf, was Frommer’s Oregon’s Best-Loved Driving Tours . The back cover spoke like a promise: guided drives through the Oregon Coast and Columbia River Gorge, mist and fog adding mystery to the dark...

*** "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...