WINTER DEN by A. L. Ganzer
Snow blanketed the ground.… Read More “WINTER DEN by A. L. Ganzer”
Article Category: Fiction
THE NAIL TECHNICIAN by Carol Pierce
“Pick your color,” a nail technician said to the forty-something-year-old customer who had just walked into the Happy Nail Salon in New York City.… Read More “THE NAIL TECHNICIAN by Carol Pierce”
A Symphony of Sorts by Dina Sokal
I listened to the chattering of birds, a symphony of sorts, while sitting on the back porch of our farmhouse in Maryland.… Read More “A Symphony of Sorts by Dina Sokal”
Hunter Gatherer by John C. Williams
The forest is a garden if you know how to see.… Read More “Hunter Gatherer by John C. Williams”
The First Prize by David Larsen
Abel Oates tossed his crumpled corduroy jacket onto the heap of brightly-hued sweaters, scarves, and windbreakers that festooned the stiff, straight back of the godawful blue, pine chair just inside the front door of the house he shared with his patient, long-suffering wife, Lois.… Read More “The First Prize by David Larsen”
WOULDN’T HAVE MATTERED by William Cass
After the workshop ended, Gail had an hour for lunch before she had to get back to work.… Read More “WOULDN’T HAVE MATTERED by William Cass”
MISS RELIABLE by Rocio Carranza
Daniela’s world became very small with John.… Read More “MISS RELIABLE by Rocio Carranza”
HONESTY by Mark Putzi
We worked Southlawn, low-income housing for vets.… Read More “HONESTY by Mark Putzi”
WHO IS DAVID N WELLS? by Rachel Schwabauer
I
“Who did you say you were again?”… Read More “WHO IS DAVID N WELLS? by Rachel Schwabauer”
TRIBAL FLAGS by Robert McDonald
In those days, Montana’s dirt-blown towns held a special allure for urban adventurers who craved wild places.… Read More “TRIBAL FLAGS by Robert McDonald”
THE RECITAL by Carol Pierce
Feelings of nausea immediately overcame Henry when he heard Professor Seligman, Chairman of the Music Department and Master of Ceremonies, call his name.… Read More “THE RECITAL by Carol Pierce”
HAPPY by William Cass
Cindy and her husband, Paul, had finally built adequate equity in their starter home and saved enough beyond that to make a residential move up.… Read More “HAPPY by William Cass”
THE WINDOW WASHER by Matthew Downing
Jeremy
I’m terrified of heights.… Read More “THE WINDOW WASHER by Matthew Downing”
THE DICTATOR by Mark Putzi
I: The Siege.… Read More “THE DICTATOR by Mark Putzi”
THE SPRINGING POINT by Deirdre Swinden
By the time Harry hurried in to collect his ticket, Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station seemed more like the hushed halls of a high school long after the students had gone than a major railway hub.… Read More “THE SPRINGING POINT by Deirdre Swinden”
THE SHOT by John Haman
Lydia waited in an upholstered side chair as the young people stood on hard tile flooring, shifting hip to hip, clutching their paperwork.… Read More “THE SHOT by John Haman”
SASSY by Christi Krug
I opened Gan’s bathroom cupboard and ran my gaze over skinny perfume bottles, pearl pink and coral lipsticks, lotions with labels in tendrilled script, and a fat breath spray with French Kiss in red swoosh letters.… Read More “SASSY by Christi Krug”
THE BEAST OF MOORLAND MANOR by Jefferson Thomas
The Moorland Manor sat on a brown and gray hill above Cape Elijah.… Read More “THE BEAST OF MOORLAND MANOR by Jefferson Thomas”
MAY DAY! MAY DAY! by Michael Colvin
Monday, May 2, 1955
At 7:00 am my mother knocked on my door.… Read More “MAY DAY! MAY DAY! by Michael Colvin”
THE KINDNESS OF TERRIBLE PEOPLE by Stephanie Dupal
Eve waited for Riley, her niece, to arrive at the cottage for their yearly week together.… Read More “THE KINDNESS OF TERRIBLE PEOPLE by Stephanie Dupal”
ENLIGHT by Jake Camp
“You can open your eyes now, Sir.… Read More “ENLIGHT by Jake Camp”
PEST CONTROL by Amanda J. Bradley
“Fly me to the moon .… Read More “PEST CONTROL by Amanda J. Bradley”
THE VALUE OF A HANDSHAKE by Mark Putzi
After two years, we finally completed the project at the low-income housing development Southlawn.… Read More “THE VALUE OF A HANDSHAKE by Mark Putzi”
HER OWN FLESH AND BONE by Timothy Kenny
Batma’s mother was stolen, taken one cold October evening as she left the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, pushed into the back of a van and driven to Osh, four hundred miles to Kyrgyzstan’s far-flung south, where a roomful of women she did not know badgered her to marry a man she had never met.… Read More “HER OWN FLESH AND BONE by Timothy Kenny”
SECOND THOUGHTS, NEW YORK, 1999 by Michael Howerton
Richard Beller, an accountant from Madison, nearing fifty, father of three and recently estranged from his life, awoke unexpectedly, finding himself wrapped in sweat-soaked sheets in a dingy New York hotel, the radiator blasting heat into the tiny blank room despite the mild November weather, with no premonition that this day would be the last of his trip.… Read More “SECOND THOUGHTS, NEW YORK, 1999 by Michael Howerton”
FLORA by Katie Zeigler
For the third time that week, Flora’s nightgown was wet.… Read More “FLORA by Katie Zeigler”
The Elephant War by Karen Rathert
Barnum had been bamboozled—those were the reports coming out of Liverpool.… Read More “The Elephant War by Karen Rathert”
Night Owl by Jenni Dart
Mark drummed his fingers on the wooden table.… Read More “Night Owl by Jenni Dart”
A Smoke and a Story by Colton Hamshire
The fall would kill me.… Read More “A Smoke and a Story by Colton Hamshire”
Totems by Christopher Propst
My Mom and I lived in a damp, mildewy place where rain falls over 240 days a year.… Read More “Totems by Christopher Propst”
Saving Selah by Bruce Meyer
By the time Selah Palagong was born, his Moslem father had deserted his family to serve in the revolution.… Read More “Saving Selah by Bruce Meyer”
COSMIC DEBRIS by Michael Grotsky
Morrison and Dolores had decided to lay low for a while, recoup their energy while they plotted their next move.… Read More “COSMIC DEBRIS by Michael Grotsky”
FATHER HARVEY’S MIRACLE by Scott Olsson
Patrolman Mark Holtz stood and watched the crowd as the late August sunset behind the church.… Read More “FATHER HARVEY’S MIRACLE by Scott Olsson”
UNTELLING SUZIE by Julie Martis
There is my daughter.… Read More “UNTELLING SUZIE by Julie Martis”
THE POND by Mary Kate Baker
Sometimes, late at night, Todd, the two Taylors, and I would crawl through the damp grass to the edge of the pond.… Read More “THE POND by Mary Kate Baker”
DRAWING YOUTH by Katherine Nicklas
The figures appeared at around age six, etched into every surface my sister could find: foil attic insulation, stones peppering the walkway, Dad’s backyard rotisserie, and Sunday pancakes.… Read More “DRAWING YOUTH by Katherine Nicklas”
THE ASTRIGENT STYLE by Darby McDevitt
Gertie McMorris was on her knees in the treated mulch, snatching at the last of the dandelions.… Read More “THE ASTRIGENT STYLE by Darby McDevitt”
BUS 691 by Steve Loiaconi
You make a phone call to some unlisted number whispered to you in a rain-drenched dark alley, you leave a message, use the right words, and you get a call back from a man with a stone-cold voice and one of those fakes names like criminals use in movies.… Read More “BUS 691 by Steve Loiaconi”
A PICK IN TIME by Michael Marks
In the spring of 1981, Anita and I seemed happy enough with our lives.… Read More “A PICK IN TIME by Michael Marks”
DUE WEST OF NOWHERE by Keith Hellard
On a lonely stretch of road due west of nowhere the thermostat’s needle touches red.… Read More “DUE WEST OF NOWHERE by Keith Hellard”
Williams by Mark Putzi
Williams: Nellie Fitzwater and I were camping in the Gaermantine area near New Brunswick
when one morning we were awakened by a bear.… Read More “Williams by Mark Putzi”
Somewhere Under the Rainbo by Nick Locke
Rainbo Roller Rink is the largest slice of Americana in Chicago and possibly America.… Read More “Somewhere Under the Rainbo by Nick Locke”