“See you on Friday at The Jac!” Nancy yells from the back of the black cab before it rattles away down Old Dale Street, rear lights hazy through the mizzle. My raised hand falters mid-air as I take in what… Continue Reading
When I was a child my best friend was a time traveler from the year 2340. His name was Bobby but I called him “2340.” 2340 wore jeans and a windbreaker. He looked like any other kid, defined by the… Continue Reading
Lunchtime sucked when your best friend was at home sick. Sure, I could hang out with those I labeled ‘school friends,’ but then I’d be the kid who didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the group. As a… Continue Reading
From across the street, Phil watched the wind blow Stanley’s few downy, white hairs horizontal. It yanked open his union-logoed jacket and flapped the sides like the wings of a flightless bird. Stanley’s son — Bobby? Billy? Barry? Something like… Continue Reading
Violet wasn’t sure when it happened, but lately her self-confidence had dipped. Not that she ever sought to be the centre of attention, but she no longer revelled in meeting new people. Somewhere between retiring and downsizing, her confidence had… Continue Reading
My friend Tyler told me he hated Darren, the ten-year-old boy in our neighborhood with a cape. Hated that he brandished a sword made from the cardboard pole of paper towels. Hated that his sheath was a deep fanny pack… Continue Reading
For Mom and Dad. Thank you for reading to me. A Hundred Easy Lessons, and these have shaped me most. On my fifth birthday, Mom gave me an imagination. It was made up of dusty pages from old books, broadsword… Continue Reading
“Man, we were good buddies. My dad always said he was a hard worker too. He hired Jake, my dad did. He worked like a bull too. Back then I don’t think he had much of a home life so… Continue Reading
I think I’m supposed to kiss her now. She’s staring intently into my eyes, and I can feel her breathing on me, her bubblegum lip gloss coming too close, too close. I pretend to be fascinated by the water cooler… Continue Reading
“Wherever we end up, it’s gotta be better than this.” Without another word, the girl climbed into the transporter. Kaya looked on as, one by one, others climbed in and jumped away. But she wasn’t convinced. Not protesting like the… Continue Reading