“They’re stealing my things, you know. Their faces are soft and smug. And they steal my things,” the old woman said. She rocked, remembering the nurses’ cool, rough hands. “You’ve seen them, Mother?” Elizabeth asked. “No, I didn’t see them,… Continue Reading
The tribe of youths began to run. Alan was their leader. He ran ahead, but not so fast that he was more than a hand’s reach in front of Ian. Ian who had to prove himself. Ian who had to… Continue Reading
Andrea’s feet didn’t touch the floor. The chair creaked beneath her as she kicked her legs in time with the song in her head. Usually, she waited in places like this with her mother who would bring books for her… Continue Reading
I’m the one who killed thirty million people. I spent eight days in the bunker to avoid the radioiodine fallout, and an additional four because I didn’t want to see what had happened to the world above me. When I… Continue Reading
His first name is Charles. He works at a bank. He’s meeting me at a restaurant in the North End called Antico Forno. We’re going to get along great. At least that’s what my friend Kathy knows. But Kathy knows… Continue Reading
Dave and I met at “The Lodge,” a big house out in the desert woods where a group of college seniors lived and threw parties that usually lasted all night. The cops showed up around two in the morning because… Continue Reading
Animal Services # Due to a rising stray population and an associated uptick in dog attacks, LA Animal Services has initiated a prevention program in coordination with the LAPD’s AI Unit. Starting on February 21st, a newly developed stray-dog targeting… Continue Reading
I repainted each detail for Milo, that first evening. I described the rock growing in my throat, the sudden sense that the supermarket was dangerously big. I described rushing back to the Honda with a jellied barrier between the biting… Continue Reading
My phone rings as I walk into my company’s lobby from the staff parking garage. Probably Dan Simmons. I’m late for our meeting because a disheveled man accosted me as I got out of my car, shouting gibberish and blocking… Continue Reading
The meeting is at 9:30 AM. A meeting scheduled for first thing is always a bad sign. Get it done, manage the fall-out, move on for the day. I’ve scheduled so many myself. I think of all the coaching I’ve… Continue Reading