Oscar drove his Rid-Rite Pest Control truck up the winding, steep driveway of the old Martindale house and ground the vehicle to a stop in the dusty circular driveway. The [...]
Horror
Theo Duga’s Cab
David had gone down on spring break to help gut houses from Katrina and ended up staying another week. The constant twanging of the demo bar still rang in his [...]
How Do You Say No to a Dying Boy?
“Son, what are you doing?”
John took the end of shotgun barrel out of his mouth. “Nothing, Dad.”
“Get up out of the snow.”
“I’m sorry. I was tired.”
“I found a good patch, [...]
The Rosebush
No, I can’t pick a better day. A storm is brewin’ outside, and there’s a storm brewin’ in me. A perfect day for what I need to say. God, woman, [...]
At the Altar of Pan
He says, “Relax, baby. You worry too much.”
He takes my hand. I’ve been dreaming of him all my life.
He says, “You’re just my kind of girl.”
He flashes me a smile [...]
To the Moment
We are not extinct. There are sixteen of us, and I’m pregnant. I only just found out.
I like to travel. Not by plane, because on long flights I get restless, [...]
Redemption Tattoo
The door rattled violently on its hinges in the haste of Paul’s exit. As every head in the restaurant turned to stare, I found myself once again having to ask [...]
How to Be a Good Citizen
My Life in 1951
by Mrs. Doris Jones
They said to write about my daily life because that’s what people of the future would be interested in. But I don’t think you’re [...]
In The Grove of Sickle Grass
“Greetings, Meljin!” Timn’s cousin hailed him with the false name as they entered the grove of sickle grass.
Timn answered, speaking loudly though Cran was now close beside him. “Hello, Ronalin.”
Timn [...]
Candy Man
Lewis hated candy.
He despised liquorice, either strand or cubed, with its chewy texture. Abhorred gumballs and sticks of chewing gum that exploded with fruit flavor through his cheeks. Couldn’t tolerate [...]
The Weight of Dew
It was lilac season when I arrived in Rivertown. The air drifting through the windows was so damp and sweet that it drenched the car with its purple velvet, glazing [...]
Catch and Release
One Sunday in April, long ago, my father set out into the Little Akron River, about twenty miles from our home in Center Run, Pennsylvania. He was alone. By his [...]
Spiderkid
All the spiders in my apartment are araneomorphs, the most common type of spider. The second most common suborder consists of mygalomorphs—hairy, often large species, such as tarantulas. Mesothelae, the [...]
What Uncle Howard Did
Uncle Howard didn’t even bother to hide the door in the cellar. I mean, how many visitors could he have had way up there in the hills, surrounded by No [...]
The Carver
Flesh parts like the petals of an exotic orchid, flourishing and blooming at the touch of his scalpel. With delicate strokes, he peels away layers; skin, muscle, and fatty tissue [...]