H N Arabian Blog - Random Tales

*** “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...

*** The story frames Election Day not merely as a political event but as a recurring family ritual—one that binds generations together and imbues civic duty with the warmth of tradition. The convergence of shared food, cultural heritage, and symbolic gestures transforms the act of voting into a communal celebration, suggesting that democracy’s endurance depends as much on the living room as on the polling place. ***  A Family Tradition on Election Day By Harry Arabian The doorbell rang just as I was flipping a page of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator while seated comfortably in the living room. My father was in his usual spot, eyes fixed on the local Boston news, volume low but steady. The afternoon sun streamed through our front windows, casting warm lines across the rug. In our quiet, safe neighborhood, we usually kept the front door ajar during the day—our lives reflecting the message stitched into the welcome mat: “Come in, we’re home.” It was no surprise that my aunt and her h...

*** "Tides of Change"  is a quiet, powerful story that navigates the deeply human side of climate change — not through policy or data, but through lived experience, cultural wisdom, and personal transformation . It is a meditation on loss and connection, told through the lens of one person’s journey across oceans, only to realize the Earth’s pain — and resilience — is universal. *** Tides of Change By Harry Arabian It was work that brought me to New Zealand—or so I told myself—when the plane touched down in Auckland and a connecting flight carried me south toward a more remote destination. Yet, beneath that practical explanation lay the truth: I had come out of curiosity, and from a sense of responsibility that had grown too insistent to ignore. In Boston, my life was orderly, my days shaped by the quiet predictability of a tree-lined suburb where the seasons still kept their rhythm, even as storms grew more violent and high tides crept further up the shore. I lived in a m...

*** "A Day for Fado and the Sea"  combines Fado , a deeply emotive Portuguese music genre, with the Sea , a symbol of both New Bedford’s maritime heritage and the cultural crossings at the heart of the story. This pairing mirrors the narrative’s fusion of music, travel, and place, suggesting that the day is as much about emotional resonance as it is about the physical setting. ***  A Day for Fado and the Sea By Harry Arabian During a flight from Dallas to Boston, I passed the time viewing Fados , a musical documentary by Carlos Saura that examines the folk songs, dances, and instruments of Portugal. The film traced the African and Brazilian influences on Fado, from the legendary Maria Severa and Amália Rodrigues to contemporary artists such as Mariza. I was particularly captivated by the “Transparente” segment, in which African and Portuguese folk dances interwove into a compelling rhythm that lingered in my thoughts long after the credits concluded. Upon arrival in Boston,...

  *** "Rhythm of the Universe" succeeds in blending narrative, symbolism, and thematic unity to illustrate that art and science are not opposing forces but interconnected expressions of human curiosity. By using rhythm as both plot device and conceptual metaphor, the text enacts the very synthesis it describes: it is structurally precise like a well-composed score yet flexible like an improvised solo. The imagined appearance of Feynman crystallizes this vision, leaving both Jake and the reader with the sense that the universe itself moves to a pattern that invites interpretation in both numbers and notes. *** Rhythm of the Universe  By Harry Arabian Mondays were always the hardest for Jake, a 22-year-old physics major who was trying to keep up with the relentless pace of his final semester. At 10 a.m., he faced a grueling 90-minute Differential Equations lecture—a required course that felt more like a mental marathon than an academic challenge. By 1 p.m., he faced another 90...

  *** "A Sunday in Newburyport" is a quiet yet emotionally resonant story that captures the beauty of enduring love, the comfort of tradition, and the poignancy of memory. It invites readers to slow down and consider how ordinary days and simple objects can be layered with profound significance. Through the lens of one couple’s journey into an antique store, we’re reminded that the past is never entirely gone—it lives on in stories, in relationships, and in the quiet moments we choose to remember. The title situates the story in a specific place and moment: Newburyport, Massachusetts, on a tranquil Sunday. This setting, steeped in both natural and historical ambiance, immediately evokes a sense of nostalgia and calm. The antique shop and its surrounding elements (boardwalk, Merrimack River, colonial town streets) serve as a physical and emotional gateway into memory, history, and reflection. *** A Sunday in Newburyport By Harry Arabian It was a Sunday stitched together with ...

  *** “The Ridge and the Reward” is a short, reflective narrative chronicling a hike through New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The story begins with a hopeful morning forecast and descends—literally and metaphorically—into fog and disorientation. The narrator endures physical challenge and psychological doubt, only to emerge on the other side into clarity and warmth. There is no grand prize at the end—only a burrito, a small gesture of kindness, and a moment of human connection that affirms the journey's worth. *** The Ridge and the Reward By Harry Arabian The morning of May 14 had started with a promise. A patch of blue sky peeked through scattered clouds as I laced my boots at the trailhead near Indian Head. According to my Apple Watch, it was going to be a sunny day—perfect for a long trek through the White Mountains. But mountain forecasts are like mischievous spirits; they tell you one thing and hand you another. I’d learn that lesson again, the hard way. The trail began gen...

  *** "Hot Wheels in the Sky" is a beautifully layered short story that captures a fleeting, meaningful moment in a child’s life and the quiet wisdom of his elders. Through its symbols, structure, and character interactions, it offers insight into how love, rules, and memories are gently handed down through generations. It is, in essence, a reflection on how we guide the young—teaching not just what they can’t do, but what they can , and why it matters . *** Hot Wheels in the Sky By Harry Arabian It was a golden morning in Napa Valley, the kind that seemed painted by the gentle hand of a dream. The vineyards stretched out below like a quilt of greens and golds, stitched together by winding roads and shadowy lines of trees. The sky above was clear and wide, holding us gently as our hot air balloon drifted silently on the breeze. I stood near the edge of the basket, holding the hand of my five-year-old grandson, Timmy. My wife Marie, or Nene as Timmy affectionately calls her...

*** "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...

  *** “ Credit Where It’s Due ” is a sharp, economical story that captures a common workplace injustice with wit, restraint, and a strong eye for detail. It critiques superficiality and skewed recognition systems not by overt confrontation but by simply observing—and exposing—the truth with deadpan clarity. It leaves the reader with a familiar sting and a smile, and that’s the magic of good satire. *** "Credit Where It’s Due" By Harry Arabian It was one of those bone-chilling winter mornings when the sky loomed gray and the cold sank through every layer of clothing. I arrived early at the office, well before the others, the parking lot already plowed with neat lines etched in the snow. I parked close to the entrance, grateful to avoid a long, icy trek. But as I stepped out of the car, I noticed something odd. While the lot was clear, the front steps were still buried under a thick layer of snow, save for one lonely set of footprints leading to the door—probably Jerry’s. Just...

 *** “The Memorial Day Book Club” is a tender exploration of how literature can help communities mourn, remember, and connect. By anchoring grand themes of war and memory in a humble backyard setting, the story demonstrates that profound moments often arise in the quietest places—among friends, around a table, through shared words and music. *** "The Memorial Day Book Club" By: Harry Arabian Memorial Day fell on a Monday that year—May 26—and it happened to coincide with our weekly Book Club gathering. So, Marie and I decided to host it in our backyard, turning our usual circle of readers into a more festive affair. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled veggies with cilantro yogurt sauce would accompany the prose. It was our way of honoring memory through stories—both in pages and in person. Around 4 p.m., the book lovers began trickling in slowly, like the unfolding chapters of a mystery novel. First came Sandy and her husband Martin, carrying a covered dish and the easy...