Sometimes the toads would just sit out on the lawn, a choreographed semi-circle of horror, reverberating their low growly groan around our blonde weatherboard house in a way that tickled my spine. If I had enough courage I’d shine our… Continue Reading
Bugs and spiders scatter as he tugs open the creaking, wooden bulkhead doors and peers down into the darkness. “There’s a light at the bottom of the stairs,” she tells him. “Just feel for the string and give it a… Continue Reading
Cuck0o88 said to close the lid on little Pippa. It felt a bit odd, but everyone clapped and I went for it. When Pippa first sniffed her new suitcase-turned-cushioned-bed, her tail wagged left-right-left-right, like a pendulum on meth. My lifeline,… Continue Reading
I rented the same beach house as the one we vacationed at fourteen years ago. That was the last summer for the five of us, the one before the children began disengaging from Tyler and I. The one of our… Continue Reading
A baby bit Janey’s heart and then her heart turned black. Her heart had been a live, beating thing; it had led her first to Harry and then to the white waiting room with little wooden blocks painted in primary… Continue Reading
Every night as a child, Hannah’s Oma had tucked her into bed with tales of changelings that switched with children if parents weren’t vigilant. Hannah still knew the rules to find a Wechselbalg: they can’t touch iron, can’t eat eggshells,… Continue Reading
“You were born during the summer of locusts,” Cole’s mother would explain when he asked why he was different, why he was the way he was. But it never made sense. He had no long, beefy hopper legs. No antennae.… Continue Reading
The weaverwoman clips bat wings in the forest every night. I’ve heard but never seenmyself until now, how she breaks their bones. Bat skins twirl like kites in the moon’s glow. “Leave the poor thing alone, dear.” I say. The… Continue Reading
Hey girl! We haven’t talked in forever, how have you been? Just hosted a makeover party for your Aunt Trisha. Wish you could’ve been there so we could catch up! Everyone had such a nice time. Really fixed the vibes… Continue Reading
The drizzly rain hung in the air like a fine mist, dampening the already wet muddy ground. McArthur stood in the field in his mud splattered boots and weatherproof outer layers, inspecting his crops. He reached out and touched the… Continue Reading