By Peter Rustin After the recession, the formerly splendid Main Street could only support one jewelry shop—barely. Harry was getting ready to close early as the streetlight shadows grew long under the monochrome winter sky. Emma had already left to pick up the twins from ballet, leaving Harry to finish removing the jewelry and watches … Continue reading Closing Time
All Ears
By Peter F. Crowley “Hello, is Rudy Mucci there?” “Speaking.” “This is Albert Moonstruker. It is a pleasure to talk with you.” “Likewise,” said Rudy, an 83-year-old with paper-white hair. He glanced at the pictures of his triplet grandchildren, now 15, on a refrigerator magnet before opening the door and taking out a jug of … Continue reading All Ears
My Friend, Booger Bill
By Corey Villas Previously published in The San Antonio Review It’s usually a three-hour drive back home from Chapel Hill, but today it feels even longer. Bright rays of morning sun beam through my car door window, the heat warm on my face despite the cold November weather outside. I try to focus on the … Continue reading My Friend, Booger Bill
The Origins of Day and Night
By Mac Lee In the realm of gods, Swain, the youthful and sole offspring of Zeus, harbored a fervent desire: to bring warmth and illumination to the frigid lands below. Earth lay ensconced in perpetual chill, its skies bereft of the sun's radiance, shrouded instead by the dominion of Selene, the frosty moon goddess. Lux, … Continue reading The Origins of Day and Night
Who’s at the Door?
By Abe Margel There was someone outside her door. First she’d heard the footsteps, now someone was knocking. She was scared. Only a month earlier there’d been a home invasion just down the street from her so she wasn’t going to take chances. The knocking persisted. She pressed her age spotted hands against her ears. … Continue reading Who’s at the Door?
The Cottage
By Michael Rawlings Light flutters in the just-dusted window, shimmering on the maroon sofa and warming the plump cushions. An orange cat stretches in the heat and lies down, purring slightly. Dirt-dusted paws. Soil trickling on the windowsill. Five potted plants soaking in the sun’s rays. A whirring sound comes from the kitchen. Someone’s using … Continue reading The Cottage
Mr. Delaney and His Cat
By Madeline Rosales It was a Sunday morning and Mr. Delaney found himself late to church. Always had he religiously devoted himself to his schedule— a table so sacrosanct that when Time itself once tried to reschedule a meeting, it was only to be met with the indignant prose of a sternly worded complaint. Though … Continue reading Mr. Delaney and His Cat
Mountain mail runner, February 1859
By Moss Springmeyer Like a magnet seizing an iron filing, the California Gold Rush of 1849 dragged Jack west willy nilly. A myriad other iron filings tumbled along too, jolted loose from their pasts, a brotherhood of zest for adventure and dazzling dreams of riches. He’d chased every whisper of a gold strike for five … Continue reading Mountain mail runner, February 1859
The Scariest Things
By Adaline LaBossiere Halloween is coming This was my childhood, the chance to experiment and enjoy different styles that my parents would never let me try I always enjoyed going from house to house and there were always these houses that went all out and tried to scare you and gave you a ton of … Continue reading The Scariest Things
The Decision
By Brian Connelly “What am I doing?” he thought to himself as he peered aimlessly out of the bus window. The bus rattled its way across the dusty road, crawling across miles and miles of desert. He wondered, at times, whether the bus had taken a wrong turn and, rather than inform everyone and backtrack, … Continue reading The Decision
