By Gal Podjarny Previously Published in Cafe Lit Magazine Nothing like an afternoon light to soften childhood memories. Last week, I opened a pomegranate. I decrowned it, made two circular cuts all around, and opened it into quarters. The red seeds huddling sent me to the past. Here I am, a scrawny kid, wavy brown … Continue reading Pomegranate
Funny Bone
By Reeve Chudd “Ow!” I screamed as my longtime internist, Dr. Art McLean, gently touched the large purple and brown bruise on my right side. “I told you it was tender, Art!”. “Yeah, OK, Ben, but we’ve gotta get an X-ray to see whether something’s broken or fractured in there. How did you get this?” … Continue reading Funny Bone
Grandmother’s Visit
By Michael Theroux It was late, already dark, so I was quite surprised to see my grandmother so primly dressed. Slim and pretty in her two-tone yellow frock, hair all permed, her eyes sparkled as she told me she wanted to get a good start, as she had a long way to go. Nana rose … Continue reading Grandmother’s Visit
The Tomato Song
By S.E. Slaughter I blinked, realizing I’d been watering the same tomato plant for the last five minutes. I released the handle on the hose and the force of the water stopping made my hand jolt. The tomato drooped and water puddled around the bottom. A ripple of panic rolled through me. My eyes drifted … Continue reading The Tomato Song
The Tale of Sam Cain
By H.L. Dowless Once there was a man named Sam Cain. Sam was born in Burlington, on the south bayou. He had been raised to hunt alligators for hides and to forage from the countryside. He once went on long camping trips far back up in the bayou, searching for gators, deer, fish and beaver. … Continue reading The Tale of Sam Cain
Fish-Dream
By Sam Zarenmark Twinkling lights, wailing winds: the hour before sunrise was alive with a muted, nervous energy that made the herring churn the black water and the dry grass rustle angrily. A party walked slowly along the edge of the beach, zigzagging lazily along the hazy border where brown foam obscured the sand; they … Continue reading Fish-Dream
Not Emily
By Gaby Holly Emily sat in her office, reading the resume on the laptop, about to send an email to schedule a phone interview, when she read the name again. The cup of coffee she held in her left hand froze in the air between her the top of her desk and her mouth. The … Continue reading Not Emily
Pixie Dust: The Magic Weight Loss Ingredient?
By Kathleen S. Zoll A scientific debate was recently introduced in my best friend’s home, when her son and I discussed the various fae and their historic role versus their representation in various games and movies. While Taylor and I were quite serious in our conversation, Christine asked, “So here’s what I want to know. … Continue reading Pixie Dust: The Magic Weight Loss Ingredient?
The Path Well Traveled
By Alexandra Tbare Her name was Elinor. She had done life exactly right. She had been married, had children, divorced, and remarried. A life is not exactly right unless there is at least one divorce. Her children were from her first marriage, and they felt Elinor had grown selfish after the divorce, but Elinor had … Continue reading The Path Well Traveled
Salt and Iron
By Adelaide Miller The beach is cold. Sand beats at your clothes in the breeze. Cloud cover washes the world in duller hues. Not even the sun peers out from behind the fog. In the distance, the lighthouse teeters on the edge of a rocky plunge. You wonder how it doesn’t falter. What it would … Continue reading Salt and Iron
Academy of the Heart And Mind 