“That was the first one.” I point an accusatory finger at the large heart-shaped box of candy Millie holds. “I found it under the porch swing.” Millie hefts it in hands that are just as old as mine but not… Continue Reading
Kayley would cut me open if she discovered how often I betrayed her. If she learned how, after the sedatives depressed her heart rate and smoothed her brainwaves, her guardians stole me from under her arm and plugged me into… Continue Reading
There is a cute red dress in the window, on display for all to see. Sequins cover its surface like rubies, a million tiny mirrors that reflect light and make the dress glow with an almost unearthly ethereal beauty, and… Continue Reading
The leaning man — I will not use his real name in this report — suffers an unusual deformation of the ankle-foot joint. Rather than rising straight from the heel, his ankles bend sideways, causing him to list significantly to… Continue Reading
“Thanks for taking the job, Jake. Holidays and all. And more rain coming.” Handing him the keys to the empty house in the rear, before walking off. “Gonna be another wet Christmas.” Wet Christmases. He knew all about those. If… Continue Reading
More than even gifts, Abby Crosby loved wrapped-up boxes. Loved the anticipation. It was the same with Christmas Day. Having grown up in a large city, she enjoyed the small-town feeling in the air on the days leading up to… Continue Reading
“Sophie, honey, see how pretty you are in your new dress.” The daughter studies her reflection in the mirror. Her mother is smiling but she just stands there, thinking. “Isn’t it pretty? It makes you look like a princess —… Continue Reading
Tom was sitting near the artificial Christmas tree untangling lights. As Adele squeezed by, her elbow hit a glass ornament that fell and exploded, red glass spread in an imperfect circle. This was their first Christmas in the new house… Continue Reading
It’s a Sunday morning and I’m in the kitchen stirring up pancake batter, watching little brown ants march along the wall under the windowsill. I’m thinking about herding the ants onto a piece of paper, mixing them into the batter… Continue Reading
They hired some of the village men, including Waxy and me, to help dig the holes. It was hard work, mostly, but in a time when money’s tight, hard work will do. When the university men came to Barlow, the… Continue Reading