By Griffith Pound “Why not stop in Trnava?” suggests Juraj. “Where the hell is Tranava?” asks Kyle. “Trnava,” corrects Juraj. “It’s where my aunt and uncle live. You can stay with them for as long as you like, yes?” Kyle holds the socks he was about to place in his suitcase and looks at Juraj … Continue reading Trnava
Cezanne Road
By Bernard Martoia Although the twenty-seat transit bus was adapted to the narrow and winding Cezanne Road, an oppressive silence smothered small talk inside the cabin after crossing the town’s limit. Every passenger could not help but monitor the bus’s progression above the ravines. Regardless of the danger requiring his undivided attention, the bus driver … Continue reading Cezanne Road
Hissy Fit
By Glen Donaldson Sssssssssssssssssssss. Lenny Harris knew that sound like he recognised the sound of his own daughter’s voice. Air escaping from the front tire of a bicycle was never a good thing. Especially never good when you were here, where he was. A funny feeling was already beginning to creep up his leg. Lenny, … Continue reading Hissy Fit
Don’t Feed the Ghosts
By Bryan Thomas Woods In the parking lot of the Saint Labre Cemetery, Officer Carter stood underneath the only working streetlight. He scribbled into a notepad as the pages flailed in the winter winds. “Can I see some ID?” Officer Carter asked. He shined his flashlight on a man sitting in the darkness. “Don’t have … Continue reading Don’t Feed the Ghosts
Thieves by Day
By Loretta Biggs Being robbed in Rio is as common as a Brazil Nut allergy. Vanessa has been robbed three times, and she is only twenty-four. The first time, at eleven years old, some barefoot child with a rock made her remove her classy Nikes and custom-made clothes and left her crying on the street … Continue reading Thieves by Day
A Minute
5/06/2018 10:32 AM. Manzanita Beach, Oregon. Amy Cleron. Somedays I wish I could get away from this stupid town. I kick at the sand. The tide is coming in. All is gray. I'm glad I live on the Pacific and not the Atlantic though. I should kick off my shoes and put my feet in … Continue reading A Minute
Writers I Have Known
By Michael Barrington As a shy fifteen-year-old schoolboy, I was often the unfortunate victim of having to stand before the class and read my short stories out loud. At that time I was living in a boys only boarding school in the Lake District- not the fun loving Hogwart’s School of Harry Potter- where the … Continue reading Writers I Have Known
The Landing Day
By J. P. Rizo Richard Cadmen, professor of Holistoric Reconstruction, Third Year, guided his class through the sandy trail leading to the beach. Now and then he had to stop, annoyed, to reprehend the lingerers who were picking little shell pieces. “Focus, gentlemen. We are not on a beach day with grandma. Henry, where the … Continue reading The Landing Day
Writers Block
By Pat Spencer As a life-long author of both fiction and nonfiction, I would never admit to suffering from writer’s block. But it’s fair to say I’m stymied. It’s not that my words are cumbersome or clumsy, falling short of what my story deserves. It is that I simply have no words. I sit so … Continue reading Writers Block
I Remember You
By Gretchen Keefer Officer Hayes watched the young man as Officer Krall relayed the news. He was just a kid, really, this boy who had so confidently invited the officers in out of the August heat and admitted there was no one else at home. Hayes saw disbelief, comprehension and grief cross the youth’s face … Continue reading I Remember You
Academy of the Heart And Mind 