Latest Stories
Most recently published stories on Vocal.
Away from the Crowds in Wyoming
Devils Tower is the first declared National Monument in the US. It is not really known how this formed into such a unique shape. Legend has it that two girls were playing, and along came giant bears. They tried to run away from the bears and climbed to the top of a rock, praying to be saved. Then the rock rose high up into the air, and the girls were saved while the bears left their claw marks on the side of the mountain trying to climb it but failing. The Devils Tower received the honor of becoming the first National Monument in 1906, 13 years after the first recorded climb of the mountain by William Rogers and W.L. Ripley in 1893.
By Rasma Raisters24 days ago in Wander
"Magpie" Magness. Content Warning.
“The Magnesses Don’t Divorce,” that’s what Michael Magness told his friends when asked about why he hadn’t divorced his wife, Beth, after complaining about the marriage. Michael had been firm about this “no divorce” issue. It could be assumed he was thinking about the children.
By Cassie Moore24 days ago in Criminal
Dr. Seuss Wrote Children's Books But He Had No Children
If I asked you who Theodor Seuss Geisel was, you would probably shake your head in dismay. However, if I told you I was referring to Dr. Seuss, you would say, "Oh, yes, my children have books written by Dr. Seuss."
By Margaret Minnicks24 days ago in Fiction
SpongeBob Review
The episode “Neptune’s Spatula” bursts onto the screen like a flamboyant fireworks display, dazzling viewers with its vivid sea‑blue palette and an abundance of nautical puns that echo through every kelp‑swaying frame. From the opening shot of King Neptune’s glittering palace, where coral chandeliers cast a regal shimmer over the marble‑like sea‑floor, the production design feels both opulent and whimsically underwater, a perfect backdrop for the high‑stakes culinary showdown that follows. The writers cleverly weave classic SpongeBob slapstick with a surprisingly earnest quest for validation, allowing the audience to feel the palpable tension as SpongeBob, ever the optimistic fry‑cook, is summoned to prove his worthiness before the ocean’s most powerful monarch. The pacing is brisk yet deliberate, each scene transitioning with the smooth fluidity of a well‑timed spatula flip, and the musical score—an orchestral blend of brass and bubble‑pop motifs—underscores the drama without ever drowning out the characters’ exuberant dialogue.
By Forest Green24 days ago in Geeks
SpongeBob Review
In “Fools in April,” the writers of SpongeBob SquarePants turn the often‑cheerful chaos of the holiday into a satirical commentary on the thin line between harmless fun and malicious mischief, and they do it through Squidward’s simmering exasperation with SpongeBob’s relentless enthusiasm for April Fools’ Day. From the opening shot of the Krusty Krab, where a brightly‑colored banner flutters above a crowd of eager sea‑creatures, the episode establishes a festive atmosphere that is deliberately at odds with Squidward’s drab, muted palette—a visual cue that his patience has reached a breaking point. The narration, peppered with a jaunty ukulele riff, underscores how SpongeBob’s giddy anticipation spreads like an infectious tide, while Squidward, perched behind the register with a furrowed brow and a sigh that seems to echo through the ocean floor, begins to plot a prank that feels more vengeful than playful. This juxtaposition sets the tone for a story that explores not only the absurdity of pranks but also the psychological toll they can exact on both the prankster and the target.
By Forest Green24 days ago in Geeks
Unto The Child
I never knew what to say, so eventually I stopped saying anything. People accepted my silence so easily, as if they had forgotten they had ever heard my voice. Since I could reply, there was no need to hear the endless voices around me. I shut them out and met conversation and connection with silence and vacant stares. It didn’t take long for people to accept that, too. I was alone in the world, like a moving art piece. People saw me and moved along, recognizing I was not one of them. Understand without knowing that I couldn’t contribute on any level to the lives they were leading.
By Leah Suzanne Dewey24 days ago in Fiction
The Nana Adventures: A Trip to the Dentist
Nana believed that even the smallest errands could become brave adventures. So when nine-year-old Eli learned he had a dentist appointment on Thursday afternoon, she clapped her hands softly and said, "Well then, Commander Eli, looks like it's time for Operation Sparkle Smile."
By Tabatha Nabors24 days ago in Fiction
