The clouds broke just before her car turned on Seppatin Drive. The Association had forbidden artificial light on the outer property, at the gates to the outside world. So, to the boy in the high window, the car seemed like… Continue Reading
Sissy had grown tired of going up and down the hill. Tired of looking at the green of the Appalachians. Tired of looking at Mr. Dixon across the street on his riding mower with his oh so flat and lovely… Continue Reading
“My husband says you’re the best trim painter in Griffin Construction. Steady hands, smooth strokes, no taping necessary.” “That’s right, Mrs. Griffin,” Gina said. The two women, with a generation between them, stood at the same height, 5′ 9″, had… Continue Reading
“Sure. I seen a UFO. Just t’other day.” Markus’ face lit up. He raised his clipboard and poised his pen over a fresh UFOSR-214 form to record the old woman’s testimony. “What time was it?” “Oh, right about ten o’clock.… Continue Reading
Even with my terrible eyesight, from the top of this hill I can easily spy the freeway that runs through town. The cars and trucks, like hyper-focused insects, running in parallel, zip into my view and out again. The freeway… Continue Reading
The Prince followed her into the library, just as she’d planned. She pretended not to notice. Instead, she focused her attention on the bookcase before her. She’d always loved the smell of books. She withdrew a volume titled The Rights… Continue Reading
“You’re such a moron.” I’m touching the steering wheel with just my fingertips, it’s so hot. “I’m a moron?” Randy laughs from the passenger seat. He hits the dash with his palm. “You’re my brother — what does that make… Continue Reading
Fifty years ago, Great-uncle Stanton was a successful author of supernatural horror. His heroes were always brash and unafraid when the reader would have been cowering, while the man behind the typewriter was painfully private, writing under an opaque alias… Continue Reading
That evening, my parents had a fight. It had been a particularly nasty fight about things I did not understand. We were having supper when the shouting began. Then Mom ran off in tears and Dad finished eating with us… Continue Reading
It doesn’t really matter how I died. It was stupid. I ate some hazelnut frosting at a birthday party for my coworker. Anaphylactic. Very tragic. Boom dead. What matters, though, is the stuff I left behind. After my funeral, all… Continue Reading