|
Written by Lori Zakariyya King
|
| The man opened his eyes to the peering daylight. Typically, the sun was trapped behind the vast streaks of clouds.
The man treated himself to a sigh and then sunk back asleep. Minutes later the doorbell rang. When that went unanswered knuckles bumped his front door. The man rose to his feet and with one eyelid refusing to unstick he peeled back the fat wood. Behind the door stood an uncertain woman with chocolate eyes.
Gently he tugged her by the wrist until she was waiting outside the bathroom. The man scoured his teeth clean and snatched something from the cabinet. Then he went to her. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Neila Mezynski
|
|
Lena llama Soft white nose in air haughty disdain neck smell somethin bad always sure foot long neck. Lena with scarf round lo cut dress. Llama. Won’t let down neck for to do that soft thing it’d be easy for tears to see in eye for other might know she sad. Stay in. Bake. Safety in no number. Dug a hole for herself she did with disdain neck now don’t know how to change the doin it always. Way. Cake. Seem more quiet than usual neck down low nose on ground booby expose on bra. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Written by Amber Lucik
|
|
When you are late for work because you spent the morning burying a cat you killed accidently when you turned on your engine, do not tell your co-workers about it. These people have sick children. These people have sick parents. Some even have dead children, more have dead parents. They will not understand. Mention nothing. Make yourself a cup of coffee with no sugar, no cream. Embrace the bitterness. Log on to your computer. Reboot your day. If you are weak, you will cling to work, lose yourself in it. Be productive and replace your bad deed with a good one. You will help someone with your reports, someone will benefit. A stockholder in Los Angeles thinks of a nameless, faceless you and reminds himself, “good company, good work ethic, good returns.” Know that you have made his day. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Written by Matthew Antonio
|
|
The first child vanished on a Sunday morning and reappeared the next day at the top of the hill north of town. Her parents found the words, “Third grade teacher. Married. No children. Cardiac arrest, 54.” carved into her back. The next child vanished later that same day. When he appeared Tuesday morning he had the words, “Sporadic construction. Never Married. No children. Cirrhosis, 42,” inscribed on his back. Some debate as to the meaning of the inscriptions lingered as the weeks went on but most agreed that the children's futures had been written. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by S. Warrander
|
|
I asked her if she was from Russia. She said, "Ukraine," but I was too embarrassed to ask if that was in Russia so I just nodded. She never used abrasive cleaner, and I loved her for that. She needed to lose some weight, although I didn’t want to intercede. She always commented on my dresses and my blouses, and I know she wished she owned clothes as nice. I wanted to share the five habits of healthy living with her, but I didn’t know her well enough at the time.
- Never eat anything bigger than your head.
- Stay away from dairy.
- Drink lots of water and always add a flavor packet.
- Don’t eat the things you want the most.
- Train for a full marathon.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Written by Larry O. Dean
|
|
Tired of being neglected by her conservative suit-and-tie hubby, Julie finds herself drawn to a local yachtsman named Peter. In a Cinderella-esque twist, her wicked half-sisters are trying to take over her dead father's ranch at any cost. ~ Tired of Being Neglected ~ Larry O. Dean was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Written by Kevin Ridgeway
|
|
a Youth hostel bunk bed trio of strangers in the heart of the Tenderloin, one passive aggressive Frenchman a homeless guy with garbage bags for boots, and a ballet dancer all spoke in nervous stutters, coming and going from the loud city exploding outside in all directions |
|
Read more...
|
|
|