“Beware of the Ides of March,” Madame Hannah said, picking up the tarot card with its stormy-looking tower. The woman tapped her long black fingernails on the card. Bree wondered how the woman was able to shuffle with nails that… Continue Reading
40th reunion. 40. How did she get so old so fast? She was popular and had plans. A “most likely to…” type. Succeed. Be on TV. Own a beach house in La Jolla. She did none of that and didn’t… Continue Reading
My prehistoric grandmother, exemplar of Generation W (W for Waste), shamelessly threw away new, unopened packets of Tico’s Tacos “sizzlin’ hot” salsa. Decades later I’m haggling with squatters to excavate Tico’s Tacos “sizzlin’ hot” salsa packets from garbage dumps. I… Continue Reading
The old man lived in a big green house on a shady green street in a nice green neighborhood. Dave was shown through the house to the backyard, Dave lugging the heavy duffle with its strap digging into his shoulder.… Continue Reading
Jenna Driscoll, navigator on the Titania, was in her quarters when a tone alerted her to visitors. She activated a screen and saw two Bobs standing there, looking troubled. One was William Norman, who had once asked her out. Jenna… Continue Reading
First day of a new spring still dawns gray and drear, dampness lingering in the chill morning air, and this will persist, forecasters say, for several more. But then the sun, at last comes sun, yellow gold morning and evening,… Continue Reading
Tokyo lay far below, smothered in a century-old, neon-streaked smog. A constant wail rose into Asami’s room from somewhere in the haze, sharp and setting her on edge. But above, a thousand shooting stars blazed orange-yellow trails across the navy… Continue Reading
The lithe woman in a flowery muslin dress attacks her Olympia typewriter on her timeworn desk. Near an open window, a Fendt tractor rattles. The engine’s tack tack tack travels into the county office on a hot breeze. Dark eyes… Continue Reading
He pulled into the Chevron station in Orlando, looked left and noticed Clint Eastwood pumping gas into his Ford F-150 while Marilyn Monroe, perched in the passenger seat, applied lipstick via the rearview mirror. Moments later Elston pushed a shopping… Continue Reading
As his Personal Area Network handshook with his office, a message flashed in Johnson’s contacs: “Updates available for Norman’s Anti-Virus. Please left-blink to download.” He quickly shut his left eye twice, and an hourglass icon formed in the corner of… Continue Reading