By Nick Zverloff Tomato, garlic, and onion mixed into an aroma powerful as the rock music blasting from the ceiling. Neon lights illuminated the menu behind the counter. Chipotle Showdown Bowl. Tex-Mex Explosion Bowl. Endless Battle Refillable Bowl. A man stood before his restaurant, his outfit ridiculous as his menu names. He wore a jacket … Continue reading Dr. Volcano’s Chili Warzone
The Price of Fame
By Tim Law POP goes my knee as my boot connects with the ball. That pigskin goes sailing, the longest kick I’ve ever attempted. A split second later the linebacker crunches into me and we both hit the turf. I’m certain if I wasn’t wearing my armour I’d have two or three snapped ribs, even … Continue reading The Price of Fame
A Wrong Righted
By Reeve Chudd “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie the Pooh “Keeney!” Lewis Beauchamp called out to his young associate, whose office was next door to his, well within earshot. Mark Keeney, who had only three months before passed the Indiana State Bar exam, appeared. “Yes, sir?” … Continue reading A Wrong Righted
Letters to Santa
By Maryanne Chrisant My brother and I are twins. My brother, Ben, and I don’t look alike, and our demeanors can’t be more different. But we are brothers, joined from that sparkling moment of conception, used to sharing common quarters, food supply, and our mother’s attention, which, when we were growing up, was no more … Continue reading Letters to Santa
Lincoln in Court
By Fred Klein Early in his law career, Abraham Lincoln had an unusual case in the backwoods of Illinois. A certain Mr. Jake Plummer was accused of stabbing a Mr. Wilson Black to death with a knife. There were three witnesses who said they saw Mr. Plummer kill Mr. Black. No one wanted to defend Mr. Plummer, but … Continue reading Lincoln in Court
Circus Sam
By Luke Beling I moved to a new school in the eighth grade. Dad thought we needed a fresh start after mom died. It took my classmates one week to devise a nickname for me—one week of observing my zinc-painted face. "You're just missing the green hair and juggling balls, Circus Sam!" The first day … Continue reading Circus Sam
The Yellow Dress
By Denise Diehl Lake Tekapo is known for its turquoise-blue waters, mountainous backdrop, and dark sky reserve—where one can view the stars in all their glory and ponder the mysteries of the universe. Truly a fantastic tourist attraction. It also has another little-known feature—inexplicable disappearances. One that Lucy Erb would soon discover. Had she been … Continue reading The Yellow Dress
The Critic
By John Tures The writer thanks his sister and his mother, and his family as well as Sharon Marchisello and Ann Michelle Harris for the great feedback. He would also like to thank an anonymous author and his family for helping provide the inspiration for the story. The writer stood before his toughest critic, shocked … Continue reading The Critic
The Thief
By Sarah Collins Standing before the school board, my stomach was tight as if I’d recently completed 100 sit-ups. I never thought something like this would happen to me. I wasn’t the girl to find trouble. My momma raised me to be honest and kind and to never tell a lie. The act of lying … Continue reading The Thief
The Fish Store
By Erica Macri My grandfather wants fancy tail guppies: three male, two female. I get in the car with Joe, his dutiful son and my father, and before I can blink, he speeds onto the Long Island Expressway. Joe is talking about fish, positing that the females of the species have the fancy tails. I … Continue reading The Fish Store
Academy of the Heart And Mind 