By Adam Ostaszewski The gentle hum of turbines lulled the passengers of the CW-48 space lift to sleep. One of them, Robert Smart, struggled with fatigue. He spent the first part of the journey to the Finesia space station studying the report prepared by the investigators. Torn from his comfortable bed at half past five, … Continue reading Reflection
The Last Day I Saw Mother
By Chinelo Synclaire The journey home felt insufferably long. I sat by the window inside the bus examining the landscape and the buildings, trying hard to suppress my anger each time the driver stopped to pick a new passenger. My school bag sat huddled between my legs and inside it was the A4 paper that … Continue reading The Last Day I Saw Mother
Table Talk
By Ed Walsh It was after his wife was killed that my father's brother visited us. I was thirteen at the time and from what I understood she was driving their car when she came off a straight stretch of road out in the sticks and hit a telegraph pole. There was nobody else in … Continue reading Table Talk
Dead Poets Society: An Epilogue Interpretation
By Andrew Nickerson Following the termination of John Keating, his alma mater continued to be rocked by the scandalous death of Neil Perry, as well as the rampant accusations of his dad. It took the better part of a year for the anguish to cool, but there was no question the lives of those involved … Continue reading Dead Poets Society: An Epilogue Interpretation
The Encounter
By Richard Edde The sun on my face was warm, gentle and the fall colors of the aspen trees and willows spectacular. I was fishing the Upper Gallatin River just outside Yellowstone Park when I rounded a bend and saw her. She had pulled a nice rainbow from a dark pool and he was doing extraordinary acrobatic … Continue reading The Encounter
Don’t Mind The Paparazzi
By Frank Vallorosi Previously published in The Whiskey Blot Johnny sat at the kitchen table, his right leg moving up and down as if someone had just dropped hot wax on it. He was an edgy person, a trait made more noticeable by his dark, darting eyes. He spotted his mother passing into the kitchen. … Continue reading Don’t Mind The Paparazzi
The Whip and the Open Hand
By Calla Gold Diary – Monday July 28th 2012 Tallulah Doyle almost fourteen Yesterday Dave said, “A kind heart is better than a heavy hand in dealing with horses.” That’s good, because I got nothing on in the strength department these days. *** Dave’s brows rose above squinting eyes when Tallie greeted him. The spinning … Continue reading The Whip and the Open Hand
The Path
By Jeffrey Campbell Brian Carraway stared at the gas pump’s display as the numbers surged higher. He patted his left front pants pocket to make sure his checkbook was still there. He’d hoped he wasn’t going to need to travel anytime soon, but things had changed. He looked up at the sky. It was still … Continue reading The Path
The Door
By Cecilia Valetti Steve walked along the long corridor that led to Father Brian's parlor. He knew every corner, every floor tile of that corridor. How many times he had gone to talk to Brian while he was living in that orphanage. And then, when he had gone to the police academy, how many times … Continue reading The Door
The Shadchan
By William Hogg It was a day at the end of summer but for Wilmington, North Carolina, a gift. Almost noon and the temperature was not yet seventy. Alan was sitting on a concrete bench, breathing slowly, relaxed, and at peace. He glanced over at his nine-year-old grandson, Tommy, who was sitting at the other … Continue reading The Shadchan
Academy of the Heart And Mind 