Maria stood in the driveway of her tiny home, a sturdy, red-handled broom in hand. A storm had passed through. Brown spotted leaves, pine needles, the lost blooms of pink impatiens and assorted scatterlings were before her in random piles,… Continue Reading
March 1, 1953. Everybody loves Lucy. My wife Betty loves Stalin. Now she’s lining us all up, my sister Sylvia, Uncle Fritz and me for a family picture. She’s taken them so painstakingly, to keep as a record, she said,… Continue Reading
The overcoat immediately draws your attention. It is bright green like a tropical parrot. The coat extends from the soles of Ella Blunstein’s shoes to the hull of her prickly chin, topped by a faux mink collar. She wears a… Continue Reading
They call me The Sentient Sword, but I prefer Bill. I was forged in the Fires of Timmy the Shimmy Smith. They call him that because his swords are always a little wobbly. I am no exception. However, I’m proud… Continue Reading
From: MillieTo: All StaffDate: 07/02/20, 11:32Subject: Secret Valentine’sHello everyone!After the success of Secret Santa (thanks for my box of scrumptious chocolates!), I’ve decided to launch a Secret Valentine. It’s just for fun. Names out of a hat. Come by my… Continue Reading
On her first Valentine’s Day, Jasmine Shaw takes in a breath and lets out a single sound — a squeak, according her mother; a quack, according to her father — in the brightness of the delivery room. Already, she has… Continue Reading
The Internet says that scientists finally found dark matter, the invisible stuff they say takes up 75 percent of the universe. The Internet says they found it in Minnesota. Maybe that means 75 percent of everything is in Minnesota, thought… Continue Reading
The line for the fear merchants stretched three blocks. Juana’s hand sweated in Nick’s as they inched forward. She’d sold fear once, the night she crossed the border. It wasn’t courage like the No Fear Association claimed. It was a… Continue Reading
Back then, I imagined my postman was Arnold Schwarzenegger, and he’d have a massive coronary and die under the weight of all my Valentine’s cards. Why Arnie had to die was best left for the pioneering Austrian therapist I’ve still… Continue Reading
Reynard limped along the leafy path, his wounded hind leg folded up. This was a part of the forest he traveled rarely, but from the splashing up ahead he knew his destination was near. Pressing through a flowery thicket, he… Continue Reading