By Stephen Monaco Dawn tapped her fingers impatiently on the table, trying to tune out the chaos that reigned on the other side of the sprawling glass windows, PLAY PLACE emblazoned across them. Every scream and squeal from inside knotted her stomach tighter. Thankful to be on this side of…
by John Danahy “I wouldn’t even touch Cliff,” Chloe said, cradling the phone between her neck and shoulder, “never mind actually do it with him. Not that I’m saying I’d actually do it with anyone. But Cliff thinks he’s God’s gift, and he’s definitely not my type.” “So who is…
by Telisha Moore Leigg “LaRissa,” Wishbone whispered to me all those years ago in the less-than-economy motel where we ended up after a few months on our own. “Give the joint back; take a puff or some shit! Jesus, kid! Get off the pot or piss.” How romantic, I thought,…
by Tony Press First there were only six, and then a few more arrived before noon, but the room was far from full. Nils wasn’t shocked at the low turnout but he was disappointed and that surprised him. He had attended so many funerals in the past year, almost always…
By Michael C. Keith Television can have dire effects on the young mind. – George Gerbner In 1954, me and my best friend, Carlos Munoz, would go down to Bailey’s Appliance Store on Foster Street and stand in front of its display window and watch television. My dad said they…
by Melissa Blank You never believed in ghosts. But if ghosts are not real, how do you explain what is right before your eyes? Are you losing your mind? You blink, hard. The man who could be your father sits in the corner of the coffee shop. You watch him…
by Michael C. Keith Be a good animal, true to your animal instincts. – D.H. Lawrence The white tail buck moves its snout a millimeter beyond the oily grass line and is assailed by a torrent of unfamiliar scents. “My mother will love those cloth napkins. She’d have everything…
by Ali Znaidi Prologue Aroma of honeysuckle. —Dust particles falling through her hair. Scene Snowflakes were falling on the street. —Sappho was in her balcony experimenting w/ throwing jasmine in all directions. Epilogue A thick fog appeared. —A halo of Sapphic scents covered all the city.
by Ag Synclair let those broken things the old and discarded enjoy quiet sleep let them lie, still under an orange night split by trees where the hounds of winter bark mournful, low in this place where they left us among the slightest of bones
by Christy Bailes Inspiration has black eyes that cut colors, floating in aged wisdom so ripe others misunderstand dark for evil, when it is light, missing enormous heart pouring warm knowledge so silently, so slowly, so perfectly that only once she has gone, can I see what she left in…