Until my sister decided to become a mother, our lives had been mirror images with five-second delays. I was the first to lose a tooth. She was the first to lose her virginity. In elementary school, we both had abdominal… Continue Reading
Molly likes the taste of poison. Rattlesnakes, black widows, ricin, the deadly glands of big-eyed greys the government says don’t exist. It’s amazing what you can buy on the dark web. We even came across a guy selling water from… Continue Reading
I went to the Chevron, and you must forgive my reasons, but there I went. This was a time when my beard was big and full and free as a bear frolicking through a campsite. There was a line. And… Continue Reading
Mile 1: Cold morning in the mountains, the trail cushioned and redolent with decaying leaves. My heart’s racing with anticipation, hands jittery — but feeling good. I’m doing this, doing this. Wish I could squeeze Brad’s hand, drink encouragement from… Continue Reading
Ma hadn’t always been fat. Once upon a time, she’d been a slinky thing who loaded men with bourbon so’s to woo them into her womb, secretly sucking up their seed with a precisely-inserted sponge. She had baby after baby… Continue Reading
Evening sunlight leaks through curtains and blankets the floor in soft, gold light. It flows across Buddy’s fluffy blonde fur, granting him the warm summer naps he loves so much. Minutes pass and hints of purple and orange take the… Continue Reading
I watched Jerry in silent awe, amazed by the quickness of his fingers across the keys. Back straight, elbows relaxed at his sides, he made what he did look effortless. He was the master, though — there was no denying… Continue Reading
Now for the eyes. They are last and most important. I make portraits, not from life but from my mind, remembrances, faces seen in passing which I bring to the canvas with paint. Once I add the eyes the image… Continue Reading
Daphne Mills, the sexton at St. Elijah’s Church, parked her white Ford van in front of the lych-gate. She opened the rear doors of the vehicle and manoeuvred a wheelbarrow out the back. Inside it she placed large swatches of… Continue Reading
OFFICIAL 9-1-1 TRANSCRIPT: OCTOBER 08, 1984 Dispatcher: 9-1-1. What’s your emergency? Caller: Lord… help… you gotta help. Dispatcher: Sir, please calm down. I need — Caller: She’s… I don’t know what. She was… she was down there. I put her… Continue Reading