H N Arabian Blog - Random Tales

*** The Last Day at Federal Savings is a quiet slice-of-life narrative that gains emotional resonance through its depiction of generational continuity, domestic hopefulness, and the cyclical rhythms of family life. Rather than relying on conflict or dramatic stakes, the story draws power from small details, tender moments, and the symbolic alignment of two families at opposite ends of a financial journey. *** The Last Day at Federal Savings Jack and Diane pushed open the glass doors of Federal Savings Bank, their two toddler boys, Billy and John, tumbling in ahead of them like excited puppies. The corner of Main and Oak had become strangely familiar over the past month—ever since that first visit to fill out the loan application. What the boys remembered most wasn’t the paperwork. It was the chocolate chip cookies. “Are we getting the cookies again?” Billy whispered, tugging Jack’s sleeve. “And hot chocolate,” John added with the solemn certainty of a seasoned negotiator. Insi...

 ***   Cambridge Half Marathon – A Thanksgiving Surprise is a charming, well-crafted slice-of-life narrative. With its vivid setting, believable characters, and gentle humor, it succeeds as both a personal anecdote and a reflective commentary on the unexpected joys that life—and especially Boston can offer . ***  Cambridge Half Marathon – A Thanksgiving Surprise By Harry Arabian I was visiting Boston for Thanksgiving, enjoying the unusually warm weather—one of those mild November mornings that tricks you into thinking winter might skip New England just this once. It felt like the perfect chance to stroll through the city and revisit old haunts. It was Saturday, November 23—just my second day back from Los Angeles—so I slipped into light athletic sweatpants, a polo shirt, and comfortable shoes, thinking it was the ideal outfit for a lazy walk downtown. On the Red Line, starting at Harvard Station and heading toward Park Street and the Public Garden, I noticed clus...

 *** "The One-Stop Express" is a quietly luminous slice-of-life narrative that demonstrates how the smallest departures from routine can become emotional landmarks. Set against the familiar backdrop of an office potluck and the pre–Thanksgiving lull, the piece transforms an ordinary afternoon into a moment of micro-revelation—proof that good writing does not require dramatic stakes so much as attentive observation and emotional honesty. ***  The One-Stop Express By Harry Arabian The office potluck was supposed to be a lunch, but by ten the break room already resembled a Thanksgiving buffet assembled by people who hadn't coordinated a thing. Deviled eggs beside samosas. Pizza next to cranberry sauce. Someone had even plunked down a full Costco pumpkin pie, still in its box, as if daring someone to take the first slice. By two in the afternoon, everyone was full, drowsy, and pretending to work. The managers announced an early end to the day—an unofficial tradition, like th...

*** A Columbus Day Surprise is a slice-of-life vignette and a reflection on emotional awareness. By anchoring his story in everyday moments, narrator transforms a routine holiday into an exploration of gratitude and rediscovery. Reminds readers that joy often arrives not as a grand event, but as a quiet surprise set lovingly in motion by those who know us best. *** A Columbus Day Surprise By Harry Arabian Columbus Day was an optional holiday at Technovate Inc., and after a long weekend of musical celebrations at the Newport Beach Civic Center, I needed one thing above all—a long, uninterrupted sleep. It was nearly ten in the morning when the scent of fresh basil drifted into the bedroom, wrapping around me like a soft invitation. I followed it to the kitchen, where Marie stood at the stove, stirring a pot of tomato and basil sauce—the foundation of our annual Columbus Day lunch, a tradition she’d kept alive since our move from Boston’s North End. She turned as I entered, her face ...

*** The story is a slice-of-life narrative baked with humor and tenderness , offering both laughter and reflection. It sits comfortably between memoir and comic sketch, proving that even a simple pie can carry the weight of memory, love, and laughter. *** Apple Pie Flash Memoir I never meant to betray the apples. Really, I didn’t. Marie and I had just picked them from our small backyard orchard , and she carried her basket like a trophy. “These,” she declared, “are going to make us healthier.” I nodded solemnly, already considering how to prepare them with butter and sugar . Back in the kitchen, she washed the apples while I sharpened the knife. “Salad?” she asked. “Pie,” I answered. She rolled her eyes. “Of course.” Soon the counters were covered in flour as though a storm had passed through . Marie was laughing at my lopsided crust, insisting hers looked “like the cover of a baking magazine.” I countered that hers looked “like it was holding on for dear life.” The apples—once so ...

*** "The Recycle Bin Incident" is a sharply observed slice-of-life story that explores themes of personal boundaries, suburban etiquette, and the invisible lines we draw to feel a sense of ownership and control. With humor and quiet empathy, the narrative unpacks a seemingly trivial conflict—a neighbor using a recycle bin—into a deeper meditation on identity, privacy, and reintegration after absence. ***  The Recycle Bin Incident By Harry Arabian After nearly three months basking under the Southern California sun, Marie and I returned to our snow-laced neighborhood with a sense of calm and a trunk full of laundry. That calm evaporated the moment Marie noticed something off in our backyard. “Look at that!” she shrieked, pointing out the kitchen window, her coffee forgotten on the counter. “Our recycle bin—it’s been used!” I squinted out at our pristine green bin, usually emptied before we leave, now crammed with boxes, bottles, and what looked like the remains of someone’s...