Thomas Ray

Tom Ray's stories have been published in numerous online journals and in the print anthology "Unbroken Circle: Stories of Cultural Diversity in the South." A native of Knoxville, he graduated from the University of Tennessee. After active duty in the U. S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam, he entered U. S. government service as a civilian. He retired after thirty-five years and currently lives in Knoxville.

The English Teacher in the Trailer

Paul McNary sat in a booth at Jamie Burgers talking to the manager Brenda Carter. He stopped by to see her every weekday after he got off work. At that time of day, after the lunch crowd and before the supper crowd, they usually had the dining area to themselves. This particular day she had brought up the subject of them breaking it off because Brenda’s daughter disapproved of him. Brenda did this once or twice a month, and he would have to cajole her out of the idea.