by Taylor Scott I think constantly, agonize over my morals, debate if they’re moral enough, and if I’m smart enough to be great. I am most myself when my skin buzzes with anxious thoughtfulness, in both meanings of the word. I probably spent an entire year, in the grand scheme of my limited lifetime, analyzing […]
Generational Reflections Read More »
by Elizabeth Hallenberg Bea reminded herself that the pact was binding. Granny couldn’t say no. They signed their names at the bottom of a contract handwritten on parchment paper. Sixteen-year-old Bea insisted on burning the edges for authenticity. Sixty-three-year-old Granny indulged her, happy she wasn’t growing up too fast.They chose poetic words, but they did
by Travis Lee You attend the funeral in civilian clothes and sit in the back. The chaplain’s up front with the family in his dress blues and no one told you to come, you just decided to do it. You think showing up will absolve you of what happened, your responsibility which tickles your
by Rachel Uon encased in an old popcorn bucket: a notebook filled with the only artistic confessions I did not mold to please the public eye; in them, a naked truth I could not face and hate to uncover now. a clump of moss, protected from natural degradation only by my persistent belief in its
by Em Haas I met you—really met you—three years ago. We had been simple acquaintances before, just two passing, pleasant ships, but you took the place beside me once and then you were suddenly close to me always. I remember I thought it wondrous you even remembered my name, even though you had your head
tu es animae dimidium meae Read More »
by Gary Beck The minute they walked into the store I knew they were cops, but not locals. Some kind of state boys come up from Cheyenne by the look of them. I started for the bathroom to avoid them, but the meaner looking one, in a blue suit that looked like he found it
by Sarah Das Gupta The ugly red scar stretched from just below his left eye to the corner of his lips. It divided his face in half. Archie had to admit that it was almost a passport, a symbol of identity. There were certainly two sides to Archie Edgar Duncan, but you shouldn’t stop there.
by Chris Dungey Zach Pence followed the older boy, Keith, down the hill out of the dead-end cul-de-sac. They turned a corner and marched toward the main street. He could see that there were more cars moving between the two traffic lights. One was a blinking yellow a couple of blocks away, the other a
by Rebecca Klassen ‘You’re an anomaly,’ the checkout girl said. I thought I’d misheard the words that hadslipped from her coral-buttered lips. Perhaps she’d said, ‘I think you’re into me,’ or‘that’s four pound seventy.’‘Sorry, what?’ I bagged my eggs, wanting her phone number, and she pointedat my firefighter shirt. ‘An anomaly. Running towards
As Good as Rodents Read More »
by T.P. Bird “There is nothing insignificantin the world. It all depends onthe point of view.”—Goethe A woman is cleaningthe inside of a glass door.At the end of her arm is a white cloth—moving in circlesagainst the pane. It‘s as if she is wavingto the world—eitherhello or goodbye. As to which—is