THE ONYX BUFFALO • by Dylan L. Henderson
In 1974, when I was six and my brother, Alex, ten, we lived in a house on the edge of town; the land behind us belonging to a state park, which ran along the Sageeyah River for about a mile… Continue Reading
toys
THE DUPLICATION PARADOX • by David M. Chevalier
With a grunt of annoyance, Devon closed the browser tab that had been displaying the rare Star Wars collectibles forum. He didn’t want to see any more fawning posts talking about damn Barry Connor’s “rare and amazing” collection. And after… Continue Reading
EIGHT BALL • by F.C. Shultz
“Should I keep being nice to Brandon, even though he keeps messing with me?” Nick said as he began to shake the ball. He forgot to breathe. The bubbles began to clear. SIGNS POINT TO YES “Fine. I’ll be nice… Continue Reading
ME WANT TO PLAY • by Patrick Perkins
It was the only toy her daughter had wanted for her birthday, but Erica had been reluctant to buy it. Because Furbies gave her the creeps. Erica lifted the cardboard box to get a closer look at the Furby. It… Continue Reading
MAGIC 8-BALL • by Rollin T. Gentry
“David Jones, Software Engineer,” read the placard outside his cubical. He’d only been away for five minutes: a bathroom break and a quick trip by the vending machines. Sipping his Diet StimRev, Dave realized immediately that something was wrong. His… Continue Reading
FAVORITE • by Nicole C. Ford
I was her favorite. I knew I was because she played with me all the time. The blocks made roads for me. The dolls rode in me. The crayons and papers made props to decorate my roads. The books made… Continue Reading
LINDRA BRYNDA • by Cherish Gallaher
Kayley would cut me open if she discovered how often I betrayed her. If she learned how, after the sedatives depressed her heart rate and smoothed her brainwaves, her guardians stole me from under her arm and plugged me into… Continue Reading
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND BOYS • by Nicholas Ozment
I sat across the table from Les. We regarded each other with solemn expressions, each putting on our best poker face. Desperation had brought me here. I was hard-up for cash, willing to part with one of my rarest and… Continue Reading