THE LEXICON OF SALTWATER • by Paul Shaw Smith
I used to live in this town. Alone, in a house just over the dunes. Today is the day, and I have made my annual pilgrimage back to the beach. I lie back and close my eyes. My body on… Continue Reading
MAGICIAN’S PET • by Michelle Hoeckel-Neal
As a tadpole, I spent my days lounging atop the spongey remains of yesterday’s dinner or soaking in the gurgling, acrid pool I called home. I whipped my tongue at falling bits of meat and beans. When bored, I practiced… Continue Reading
GAINS • by Stephen Mirabito
The dog days of post-college unemployment had to come to an end eventually. Spencer hadn’t cleaned his apartment in weeks so it smelled like sour milk and marijuana. His father arrived in an Armani suit and spent an hour lecturing… Continue Reading
BUTT-DIAL WHILE OUT SHOPPING • by Lynn Kozlowski
The old man’s first call from his wife was about which exact brand of peanut butter she should be getting since they no longer carried his brand. Her second call was about 10 minutes later. His ‘Hello’ got no response.… Continue Reading
ALL OUT OF HAPPINESS • by Debbie Sschroff
“I’m sorry,” said the clerk looking down on me with a sympathetic look on her face, “but we’re all out of Joy. Could I interest you in a box of Cheerfulness?” I looked at the shelf and saw the gaping… Continue Reading
MURMURINGS • by Vipul Lunia
Sarika lay unconscious in the driver seat. Clad in her blue silk saree complemented by a green blouse, a pearl necklace, and a Titan watch, she had been driving to the orphanage to adopt a baby brother for me. I… Continue Reading
THE TRASH CONTRACTOR • by Ethan Campbell
“You’re the guy admin was so excited about? Well, you don’t look like much to me.” The old man’s chuckle was rusted metal hinges. Neil had hardly entered the room before being insulted. His older colleague, Stefano, appeared out of… Continue Reading
GRACE • by Michael Downing
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
FULL ORGAN • by Walter Lawn
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
THREE OF A KIND • by Scott MacLeod
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