The fifth of December in Lululand Saw the beautiful Marinne sitting in despair Upon the steps of Rumspiel Castle As she drank a Slurpee made Of raspberry tea. “Oh woe,” she said to no one in particular, Eyeing the gardens of viorose and dandunia. “What is wrong?” asked Groundskeeper Joe, Sitting upon the steps […]
The Santa Claus Proposition: A True Short Story
It’s funny, what you think about in the evenings. First time I stabbed a man, I was sixteen. I thought he had it coming. He didn’t die, that Hank Jenkins, but he left me alone after that. Once upon a time, Christmas saved my life. My parents are strange people, and didn’t know what Christmas […]
The WilderSoul Rendition of I See You
Ha! No, not a sea of words this morning, hiding under a vague, somewhat-unrelated and overly-long title. How about music instead? This is my friend WilderSoul’s rendition of an old poem that I wrote, back when I engaged in such frills as poetry. I am deeply humbled that someone would want to sing one of […]
Marriage Three Sixty
Dear Martha, I hope this correspondence finds you well. I know that is a terrible way to start a letter, but please show me a better way and I will use it. I found a letter, dear, in my closet, that read like this: Dear Anthony, I get weirded out when I more strongly connect […]
The Neglected Lemon Squares of Bella Sand Public School: A Burst
“Susurrus. A soft murmuring sound.” “He’s not going to get that one,” whispers Alan. “Just watch. He’s going to go with one too many s’s.” “Susurrus,” repeats Ms. Shannon. Francois Pat steps to the microphone and adjusts his cardigan. “Susurrus.” And he begins to spell. “Damn,” says Alan during the break, over coffee in the […]
Testament
Revelations 1-18: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Billy saw the new kid get on the bus and grab a seat near the front. He saw the boy sit on a bench at school, waiting […]
Things that Floated Away in the Flood
Jeb made the hole in the lid bigger with a pen so that he could drink easier. Traffic light changed. His best parking spot was taken. Doors slid open. Snack machines in the break room were almost empty. Paper said a new movie was coming out, about geek-love and nerd-culture. There were three stars under […]
Little Things: A Short Story with No Twist
Jones finished high school in three years, got a job with a financial firm that made it okay through the crisis, and had a corner office with a balcony and garden by the time he was twenty five. But I knew him long before that, when he was a tiny kid and so fast that […]
Cavegirl
I see him every day. He comes to the park and sits on a metal bench. He eats there and reads something. Behind him are trees. When he is gone, I find what he has thrown away. They are wrappers and newspapers. I take them back, and at night, I smell them. Today he is […]
Silhouetta: How to Say You’re Sorry
Silhouetta: How to Say You’re Sorry The baby stopped crying after Craig finished the front page. There was an advertisement for ladies’ underwear. When Eddy came into the room, Craig flipped to the next page and followed the words of an editorial with his finger. “I’m going to get dressed,” said Eddy. “Why? We’ve […]