By rani Jayakumar “Eduardo, close the door.” The assistant shut the heavy gray door with a nearly silent click behind Arturo, who shuffled in with a slump. The dentist, or as Arturo called him in his head, “El Doctor,” motioned to him to sit on the brown reclining chair. The room smelled of fresh paint … Continue reading The Loud Inside
The Magician
By Geoff Marshall Mr. Li intercepted Halo at the front desk of the Avalon lobby. He seemed preoccupied as he hooked his arm around Halo’s and dragged them back through the door. Halo heard a voice as the door swung closed. Leona calling for the old man. For real. She sprinted across the lobby floor, … Continue reading The Magician
Clam
By Miss Kay CLAM. From his bent position it was hard to make out his face. He seemed unfazed by the happenings around him. The town centre was abuzz. Honking cars, traffic slowly building. The park close by engulfed in activity. It was Saturday and the town’s people descended upon the park to flex their … Continue reading Clam
Soap Bubbles
By Jim Bates My daughter hands me the soapy wand and says, "Here, Mom, your turn." I take it from her and dip it in the solution before whipping it through the air. Allie watches mesmerized as the bubbles form and begin to float away. Then she's all motion as she bolts from my side, … Continue reading Soap Bubbles
Truth Box
By Aanika Gajendragad They say you cause drama the most when you’re between the ages 11 to 16. We refused to believe that then, but it is true. I used to stay in a boarding school, and God, now that I think of it, I did have a lot of people I disliked. We had … Continue reading Truth Box
Thunder and Lighting
By Ann Christine Tabaka Thunder echoed through the night, as lightning streaked the sky, illuminating the heavens. The rain fell so hard that the sound of it kept Valerie awake. She pulled the covers over her head to block out the bright flashes and sound. Curling up, she hugged the pillow tightly. She remembered hugging … Continue reading Thunder and Lighting
The Old House
By Gretchen Keefer A sound startled the old house awake from its long slumber. A familiar sound, but he couldn’t quite place it. It was not like the steady stream of cars on the highway that consistently lulled him to sleep. Thinking about the sound, he realized there was indeed a vehicle involved, but it … Continue reading The Old House
Mia’s Tree
By William Kitcher A sapling sprouted between the asphalt of the driveway and a wooden beam that was the border of a flower garden left to grow wild. The only person who noticed it was Mia, who was four years old. Naturally, she didn’t know much about trees – not many people do – but … Continue reading Mia’s Tree
Little Dom’s
By Niles Reddick Christina and I got engaged at Griffith Observatory overlooking Los Angeles at sunset. We had done most pre-marriage necessities--met each other’s dysfunctional families, shared about previous relationships, and agreed on future goals. We paid the fee to park, walked to the edge of the cliff nearest the Hollywood sign, and stood breathing … Continue reading Little Dom’s
For Harmony
By A.L.F. Fagan My nursing shift at the hospital was finally ending. I’d lost track of time, and my boss, Karen Baker, had to inform me that it was almost time to go home. “Frank,” she says, “Tina just arrived to take over for you. Once you and her have completed the change-of-shift, you can … Continue reading For Harmony
