MARCELA • by Carl Boon
Marcela pinched the corner of the afghan as if to fold it, lay it atop the bed, and leave the room. It was morning, which meant it was time for something. She thought a while, dumbfounded again at the misery… Continue Reading
Literary
SIMON WANTS TO BE A MAGICIAN • by Michael Conley
After lunch, the teacher asks: “Children, is it possible to make something invisible and, if so, how might you achieve that?” This, for once, interests him. His current life goal is to be a close-up conjuror at weddings. “Invisibility cloak?”… Continue Reading
LEILA • by Meagan Chandler
When Nurse asks if I want an epidural, I nod my head. Why hurt any more than I have to? I’ve dreaded this part for months. Those nights I laid awake with little feet striking my ribcage and wondering if… Continue Reading
SUPERPOWERS — OR, LIFE AND DEATH ACCORDING TO LENA • by Fabiola Werlang
While the grown-ups conferred in the hospital room, Lena filled the dim hallway with her anxious energy. She hopscotched up and down the checkered floor, avoiding the white tiles. Black tiles only. Black tiles only. Grandma alive. Lena pictured Grandma… Continue Reading
IN THE LINE OF DUTY • by Karen Uttien
The Shire of Loretto – Gavin Road Police Station10th December 2022, 9:45 AM “His English was basic but he was an excellent worker. Here from India on a temporary 482 visa. Brought to us by his brother, Arjit, who also… Continue Reading
IMMACULATE SENSATIONS • by Mahvash K.M
I was so tired. I arrived at my grandmother’s house, Z___abad, at a little past 3pm. It was a cool mid-March evening and the slight chill in the air felt soothing. I made my way up the broad walkway towards… Continue Reading
ENTOMOLOGY • by Meera Baldwin
Insects always died beneath the paisley curtains of my childhood bedroom. It never bothered me to see the dried-up bodies of ladybugs in the dust of the hardwood. Their rust-colored exoskeletons were amusing to play with, making a satisfying pop… Continue Reading
FISH STORY • by John Christopher Nelson
We’ve made our way from the station to post in La Mirada. The call comes in as a stabbing. “Head for Santa Fe Springs,” I tell Armando, typing the address into Google Maps. As is too often the case, the… Continue Reading
FORGETTING • by Henry McFarland
Tom hardly noticed the old man. Nothing was unusual about someone sitting by the side of the bike path and enjoying the bright sunshine of the late spring day. But the man raised his head and called out, “Is this… Continue Reading
KITE • by Fiona Murray
When my son was small we went on a glorious beach holiday. The weather was perfect, the sands golden and the water a shimmering blue. Everything was just the right temperature. Things were so good we bought a kite on… Continue Reading