The brass cannon squatted on the balcony above my front porch. The previous day my nephews had dragged it in from the garden and lugged it up the inside stairwell with only minor damage to the door facings. At that… Continue Reading
I won my almost-husband in a game of poker. Deep in the game, Maria had already lost her watch, all her rings, and the diamond-studded nipple clamps she wore beneath her sweater. Her gold tooth we didn’t want, so she… Continue Reading
Anna disappeared on her ninth birthday. She excused herself from her party with a polite goodbye, went up to her room, and never returned. For a time, no one noticed her absence amid the chaos of clowns, piñatas, and dozens… Continue Reading
The big pink bunny wandered through the park, carrying a bright basket full of chocolate Easter eggs. Everywhere the bunny went, a crowd of excited children and camera-wielding parents followed. The bunny would crouch down and let the children choose… Continue Reading
Harold expected the lizard to scurry into the ground cover, but then — one hand on a knee to support himself — he knelt and lifted the limp body by the tail. “Damned cats.” He scowled at his neighbor’s house.… Continue Reading
Ben shows up at Haley’s place after dinner one night. He knocks on the door, and she opens it, cautiously, leaving the security chain in place. One of her blue eyes appears in the crack. “Oh… Ben?” “Surprised?” “Well…” She… Continue Reading
Robert Murdoch stood awkwardly at attention in the manager’s office of Predator Pensions. Robert’s boss, Mr Penrose, had not offered him a seat, which he viewed as a bad omen. As for Mr Penrose, he was standing with his back… Continue Reading
The doctor says that water will cause the infection to bloom, and he scrawls something on a blue prescription pad, which he gives to my mother. I’ll need to take two pills a day and stay dry. My mother folds… Continue Reading
Some people swore that the house was haunted. Because of this, the children were afraid. Their father requested a haul-away dumpster, bringing his sledgehammer and pry bar, gloves and safety goggles. With these tools and free weekend hours, he aimed… Continue Reading
“Can you tell? Wings, or horns?” The doctor held her chart, but didn’t answer. Sven rolled his eyes. Easy question, like every three months. Would he grow the wings this cycle or the horns? Why did she hesitate? “Sir, something… Continue Reading