Story produced for the 2015 Transom Story Workshop on Catalina Island by Miles Yim

William Flickinger, Harbor Patrolman

Only at a firing range can the sound of a gunshot fade into the background. Inside, all kinds of guns are loaded, cocked, aimed, and discharged by enthusiasts who want to safely practice their hobby. Though Alexander Fatykhov enjoys shooting on the range, for him it’s more about spending an afternoon with Dad. 

Produced for SoundsLA at KCRW

Shooting Range with Dad

In the minor leagues, every at bat is a pressure-filled referendum on your career. Kyle Garlick plays for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, High-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He knows the stakes. That’s why, hours before each game, he takes batting practice with the team, attempting to perfect a skill that will never be perfect. Accepting that is part of baseball, just as it’s part of life. 

Produced for SoundsLA at KCRW

Major League Dreams

To bowl a strike, dead aim isn’t enough. You need to throw the ball with speed, with gumption, with forceful intent. Only then will you hear that sound, the pure exclamation of contact that draws an “X” on the scorecard. For Paul Harley, it’s that high from a strike, and the rapport among his fellow retirees, which keeps him coming back to the alley week after week. 

Produced for SoundsLA at KCRW

Bowling Strikes

Patricia Kellogg is constantly making connections with abandoned animals. As supervisor for the West LA Animal Shelter, it’s her job. She understands the cost of that connection, the necessary balance between getting close but not too close. Her newest charge is Rico, a tiny Chihuahua with a big attitude and a biting problem. He reminds Pat of another Chihuahua, years ago, that left her with a broken heart. 

Produced for SoundsLA at KCRW

Two Chihuahuas

Team Mystic: Psychic Chasms (2016 Radio Race)

So much of blacksmithing is transformation. A tool that served one purpose can be shaped for another. At Adam’s Forge, Aram Nigoghosian understands how to move metal, to pound new definitions into an old idea. Take his signature piece, a pristine knife molded from a discarded railroad spike. Aram transforms his spikes just as his own life was transformed years ago: Through hammer and anvil. 