After he hit Len’s ancient used car, the drunk in the pickup truck offered seventy-five dollars and a gun for the damage done. He said, “Okay now, no need for police,” and though there was a left headlight to replace,… Continue Reading
His headphones were on when it happened. Which matters because it couldn’t have been the sound of the boy’s voice that aggravated him like he told the officer. It wasn’t premeditated, he told the judge, he didn’t even know the… Continue Reading
Westwood Elementary student arrested with gun at school. No injuries. Phones ding and buzz mid-meeting with the news alert. Sharp breaths and low groans ricochet around the table. Everyone turns to me. Westwood is my son Kiel’s school. Naturally, I… Continue Reading
“Does it always rain this much around here?” Jack whined. “Not all the time,” the old-timer said from his rocking chair under the porch. “Usually just when Yankees come to visit. Don’t think God likes Yankees.” “Well, I don’t like… Continue Reading
My world is a gun pressed against my forehead. The pressure is committed, lethal. My reality is details: Nickel plated precision cocooned by knuckles tattooed with H A T E. A bare arm with ropey muscles writhing under tattoos and… Continue Reading
Four is the number of gunmen who enter the library where she’s taken her son for story time. Four is the age of her son, who will soon be five, if he lives through this day. Four is the number… Continue Reading
The door chimed and Carl watched a gunman walk in and turn the OPEN sign to CLOSED. He moved towards the countertop, wielding his .38, and said, “I wanna know what you live for.” That sent Carl’s heart off to… Continue Reading
What enormities can occur in a tiny moment. Catastrophes or miracles, irrevocable in either case. Lives lost or saved, depending on uninformed decisions made in the blink of an eye. To make the wrong choice could bring unendurable consequences. Benghazi… Continue Reading
The lawman tapped his steel-toed boot lightly against the door. It swung open, revealing two couches facing one another. The room itself was modestly clean besides a few beer bottles lying neatly in a pile in the corner of the… Continue Reading
I brought my father’s picture with me so I’d recognize him. The photo showed him with both arms draped around my mom’s shoulders as if he were protecting her from some unseen foe. I guess that’s what my high school… Continue Reading