The seventeen stories in this book were written to surprise and entertain my friends in Zoom calls during the pandemic of 2020/21. Some are humorous and will have you laughing out loud, and some are terrifying and you'll be hiding under a blanket. Some are sad, and others are heartwarming. The one thing they are not, is boring. They will keep you engaged and wondering what’s going to happen next. These stories will take you to unexpected places and introduce you to interesting people. Even though they were written during the pandemic, they are not stories about the pandemic. They were written as entertaining and thought-provoking escapes for my friends. I hope you enjoy "Ned Wakes Up" as much as I enjoyed writing it. – John