Stories with audio recordings (when available) written and performed by voice actor and author Daniel Roueche. Click on titles to read Daniel’s stories!
- This is Lameby Daniel Rouecheby Daniel Roueche “What’s this about? I ask Shawn. “I can’t explain. Just follow me,” he says. We walk out to the alley behind my dad’s restaurant. It smells like grease and rotten vegetables and cat feces. A pleasant combination. “But why out here?” I complain. “We need privacy.” “We could literally go anywhere else.” “Will you stop? We’re already here. Deal with… Read more: This is Lame
- Take My Handby Daniel RouecheSpirit Number: 815 Gender: Male Age: 92 years old Name: Clarence “Take my hand,” I say. A tiny man named Clarence gives me the uncertain look I see every day. His eyes furrow, mouth hangs open as though he wants to say something. “Don’t try to speak yet. It takes a few minutes, but it’ll come back to you.” He stares at my… Read more: Take My Hand
- Pokieby Daniel Roueche“This is amazing!” Louis yelled as he flung his body in a messy flip through the air. His form was atrocious, but he hung in the air seemingly forever. “I feel like I can fly!” Luka replied, spinning unbelievably slow into a 1080, his form disappearing as it hit the late afternoon sunshine. They leaped toward each other, exchanged high fives, and floated… Read more: Pokie
- My Zoeyby Daniel RouecheI wrap her tiny body in my arms. A snot bubble around her nose bursts as she sneezes gently into my sleeve. I bundle her up in her sleeper and place her in her crib. She fusses when I set her down, but within a few minutes, she relaxes into a slow, rhythmic breathing. Standing over the crib, I smile. It’s been a… Read more: My Zoey
- The Pains of Successby Daniel RouecheNovember 6th My Sweet Lizzy Love, I miss you so much it hurts. And the kids, man, my heart aches not seeing their little faces smiling up at me! You’re on my mind constantly and I long for you to be with me again. This week has been one I’ll never forget. It’s felt like a year wrapped in a week, wrapped in… Read more: The Pains of Success
- The Kids from the Woodsby Daniel Roueche“Where’re your parents at?” Brendon asked the small boy standing in front of him. The boy, who couldn’t be any older than seven, looked at him like Brendon was speaking a foreign language. “You lost?” he asked. The boy remained a statue. His tiny frame barely visible through the large trees of the forest. “The name’s Brendon. I jus’ wanna help. If you… Read more: The Kids from the Woods
- To Die is a Great Adventureby Daniel RouecheI’m dead. And I don’t mean I’ve-done-something-so-horrible-my-parents-are-going-to-kill-me-dead. I mean, I’m literally dead. Like my physical body is rotting in a grave. I think. I still haven’t been able to find it, but that’s not the point. The point is, I’m not alive anymore, but I’m not going to let that stop me from living. You know? So, I’m making the best of it.… Read more: To Die is a Great Adventure
- Welcome Homeby Daniel RouecheIt had been twenty-four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. The door was that same olive green she’d hated as a little girl. The roof hung down over the red brick like a thick eyebrow. It always reminded her of the look her father gave her when he disapproved of her. Low and angry. The windows… Read more: Welcome Home
- Her Lifeby Daniel RouecheEyes glazing. Another Friday night stuck in my one-bedroom with Netflix. Fingers cramping. And scrolling through Instagram. Bored. I haven’t seen any friends in over a month. My fault, I guess. Lonely. Faces of old friends from high school smile up at me on my phone. Small children hug on them and warm their cheeks with kisses. Sad. Why isn’t that me? Even… Read more: Her Life
- The Presenceby Daniel RouecheThe creature’s hulking presence startles her. But she can’t move. She wills her legs to do something, anything, but she’s stuck. The creature snarls at her, revealing long razors overlapping into gnarly patterns over blackened gums. They seem to glisten with reddish, brown liquid and small chunks of something. Alicia’s gaping mouth gags as she imagines faces that used to belong to those… Read more: The Presence
- Cacophonyby Daniel RouecheMy eyes shoot open. But everything’s suffocatingly black. My heart thumps. My breath shallow. I throw my hands over my chest and try to control my breathing. Slowly, my heartrate drops. This darkness, this void is my world now. My vision is gone. I’ve accepted that, but it’s nearly impossible to live in this abyss. “The panic will subside when you learn to … Read more: Cacophony
- I See Everythingby Daniel Roueche“Let me know how those feel,” Dr. Crowe says. I pry my eye open, using my thumb and forefinger to keep the lids apart. With my free hand, I guide the contact onto my pupil. My eye fights to close, but I force it open as the contact brushes against the curve. I blink furiously until the lens settles. Then I repeat the… Read more: I See Everything
- Fall in Lineby Daniel RouecheChapter 1 This isn’t the experience promised by the Airbnb ad. It promised relaxation, quiet. I imagined waking up to the sun, watching the snow glide over the trees while drinking hot chocolate. I thought I’d play board games, read a book, snowshoe, maybe even pretend to be a kid again and make a snowman with my niece. But that clearly isn’t what… Read more: Fall in Line
- A Child’s Eyesby Daniel RouecheI’m surrounded by people. Big people. I know some of them. They talk and cry and laugh and tell stories about a lady I don’t know. She sounds nice. I’m in Daddy’s arms. He’s warm. I hold his face and give him a hug. He’s safe. As we walk around, it’s hard to tell what’s going on. No one seems to be doing … Read more: A Child’s Eyes
- What Did I Do?by Daniel RouecheBlank. Empty. I don’t know who I am. I don’t know where I am. It’s cold. And wet. A steady throbbing, like someone continually pounding my head with a fist, makes me flinch. I try to stand, but my legs ache as though they’ve been asleep and are coming out of hibernation. I feel nauseated. Bile races its way up through my throat. … Read more: What Did I Do?
- Alone Togetherby Daniel Roueche“What are you doing?” Smitty asks. “Quiet,” I reply. “I’m bored.” “Stop talking.” I look through the tiny cracks of light seeping through the mud-covered window. The sun peeks over the horizon, hiding like a kid from a bully. I don’t blame it. If I didn’t have to, I’d never go out. It’s safer that way. For me and for everyone else. Nothing… Read more: Alone Together
- coup d’état by Daniel RouecheIt’s late. Or early, depending on whether you’ve slept or not. Zander feels like he hasn’t slept at all. Of course, that’s an exaggeration. He’s slept at least 7 hours, fell into REM multiple times, and now lies in bed semi-conscious. His alarm will go off soon and he’ll have to get to work. This could be the start to a long day. … Read more: coup d’état
- All That’s Missing is a Pear Treeby Daniel RouecheDecember 22nd The doorbell rings, gnawing on my ears. I just need to remove that thing. It’s not like anyone comes to visit. Nor do I want them to. Ring. Who could that be? Mom and Dad? Doubtful. They’ve never come to visit. Jake? He’s too busy with his new wife to even remember his younger brother. Friends? I’d need some first. Ring. … Read more: All That’s Missing is a Pear Tree
- A Mediocre Conversationby Daniel Roueche“They call me Einstein,” Henry says. “That’s great, my boy! What a compliment,” Albert replies. “They say it when I miss a math problem or stumble over my words or forget to wear pants. It’s humiliating!” “What’s humiliating?” “When they call me Einstein. I just said that.” “Oh, I thought you were referring to the pants. Funny story, that happened to me once … Read more: A Mediocre Conversation
