They collided on the Farmers Market at Clinton and Bailey streets in Buffalo, New York, on a sultry Saturday in August. She was forty-six, and outspoken. He was twenty-one, and given to few words. They both spotted the last basket… Continue Reading
Honey, come in, come in. Set yourself down in that old rocker to the side of my bed. It’s good to see a young face around here. Help yourself to a cookie out of that tin if you’re hungry. So… Continue Reading
Kayla tried to quell her trembling as she stood at the tree house window, balancing a bulbous green water balloon on the business end of a spatula. From below, a peal of raucous laughter heralded the boys’ approach. “They’re coming!”… Continue Reading
On a bright April morning, Paul Cromartie watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo for the umpteenth time. He decided it would be the last. He canceled his Netflix account, unplugged his television, and placed it by the door. Someone would… Continue Reading
Irene often felt as if she had one foot in this world and one foot in another. This other world was a “spiritual world,” a kind of invisible cloud that surrounded everything, and she would sometimes commend herself for having… Continue Reading
Benny stood alone outside of the summoning circle that had taken him hours to make; light from the candles provided the only light in the wooded area behind his home. He had his feet firmly planted and his eyes locked… Continue Reading
Worthy’s mother has agreed to listen to her book report and give her feedback. They sit down to begin — the phone rings. Her mother picks it up. No one answers. She smiles at Worthy and shrugs her shoulders. Worthy… Continue Reading
“Grandpa, tell us the story!” Myles demanded. “Yeah! The story!” Emma added. Charlie Grafton sat with his grandkids in his empty second-storey bedroom. He eyed the younglings through thick glasses. “What story?” From the base of the ladder out in… Continue Reading
The third time I walked past the library, I noticed she was still sitting there… reading glasses pushed into her short curly hair, tray of cupcakes in front of her… alone. “Hello,” I said, sitting down on the seat closest… Continue Reading
Chester couldn’t help being a Peeping Tom. This impulse would come over him and swoosh: up into a tree he went. He had never been caught, so he never had to answer for seeing Sara Beth’s bare shoulders, or Parker… Continue Reading