The sand felt warm, the way it usually was on Saturday afternoons in Seaside Heights; face down on the beach under a hot July sun that burned my back and shoulders while Jenny was getting cheese fries and Cokes from… Continue Reading
With Susan it was different. Susan and Tom lived one house away from each other, and had been born only a week apart, so they had splashed in wading pools, stroked wooly bear caterpillars, picked up toads and climbed trees… Continue Reading
District of Columbia Chief Detective Comagee trudged into his temporary NYC office on January 6th. Little Christmas to some. There was one last stocking stuffer for him to unwrap to close out the holiday season. A fresh case waiting for… Continue Reading
Soldiers hurl armfuls of books into the fire as I stare in horror. All those words highlighting the human condition diminished to ash. Heartbreaking. A soldier pauses mid-haul, eyeing me. I adjust my glasses, then scramble to my borrowed postal… Continue Reading
I hear them grunt as they nudge each other in the dark, their leg chains clanking around in weary indifference. Long after the cicadas cease their shrill mating songs and the hellish bellows of the cats retreat into the darkness,… Continue Reading
My wife Sophia swatted my hand away from her waist, her lips in a tight thin line, her brow furrowed. “We can stop pretending, now that the ship is underway,” she said. I knew she didn’t mean to hurt my… Continue Reading
Sarah had escaped the Big Smoke to spend a couple of weeks in Wales, a village by the sea. Somewhere she could be a stranger; somewhere to recenter herself and possibly — possibly! — even get wind of a companion.… Continue Reading
“Did you know Dalmatians are born without spots?” Sheri looked up from her book. “What are you talking about?” “Baby Dalmatians. They’re spotless.” “We’re not getting a dog.” “No, I know. They’re messy. I don’t mean they’re spotless spotless. I… Continue Reading
Just months ago after receiving the news, my mother held me in her arms and softly sang, “I Don’t Want to Cry Anymore.” Now, her voice chokes with pain and all the tears in the world are ours. “Remember, sanctuary… Continue Reading
I hate Mr. Omniscient. It’s 8:30 AM and Mr. Omniscient (his name is really Jason) begins yet another absurd story. “I worked in Germany for two years. The food there has no preservatives so you can eat and drink as… Continue Reading