Hint Fiction by Charlie Hanline

1 min read

Charlie Hanline received his bachelor’s degree in 1972 from Findlay University in Ohio, majoring in Political Science. He was employed at the Pueblo County Department of Social Services for over twenty-five years before he quit to write fulltime. Luckily, he received a pension from work and has a mostly understanding wife. His novel entry, Sarafina, placed second in the 2010 Pikes Peak Writers Contest mainstream category.  His short story “Eminent Extortion” placed second in the 2008 Paul Gillette Writing Contest. Another short story, “Snakes, and Other Friends” placed third in the 2010 Pikes Peak Writers Contest.

The Chair

Functionally, it’s exactly the same chair as the one in the other corner; however, nobody uses this one. It’s strange how something as insignificant as a chair could have that affect on us. My son, my daughters, my grandchildren, even I have avoided it for the last two months since my father’s funeral.
Today, I have no choice. All the other seats are taken. I sigh as I laze into it and in an instant the mythical patriarchal torch passes from father to son by the simplest of acts—sitting.