By Mike Paterson-Jones The letter that came in the post was intriguing. The envelope was pale green and was addressed in the most beautiful handwriting. Inside was an invitation to dinner with Robert de Morgan on a date two weeks hence at ‘Rogues Manor’. We had only just bought the farm in the Eastern Mountains … Continue reading The Aspidistra and The Mock Turtle Soup
Academy Classics: O Tannenbaum
By Thomas Page The tree sort of slumped over. Ornaments scattered all over the ground. On the way down, the tree took out several pictures on the mantle. The ground was covered in broken glass, clay, and porcelain. Their dog, Sparkles, was trying to eat the remains of a surfing Santa. “Well, I’ll get some … Continue reading Academy Classics: O Tannenbaum
The Women of the Sea
By Samantha Sampson There have been rumors about the Women of the Sea for as long as I can remember. Rumors that spoke of women passengers aboard sea vessels being drowned. Drowned by sailors who believed having a woman aboard their ship was bad luck. Women who only wanted to sail, to explore the vast … Continue reading The Women of the Sea
The Rains
By Ruscena Wiederholt Kate woke to a strange sensation. Light, streaming through the blinds, cast intricate patterns on her bedspread. Something had disturbed her slumber, but she wasn't sure what, a car honking? She stirred, and lodged underneath her sternum there it was, the feeling that something had changed, profoundly and inextricably. But what? Her cat, … Continue reading The Rains
The Baker
By Zenstateofmind Jewel despised the free lunch. She’d rather starve than beg for cakes. It took her aging nights and sweating feet, to own a bakery. She was told plenty of times “you’re too ambitious for a woman.” And her answer always remains “I can’t live in the shells and shadows some women I know, live … Continue reading The Baker
The Birds and the Bees
By Dan Brook Bob technically lived alone, but that was not at all how he felt about it. Besides Bob’s two pet rabbits, whom he called Donald and Watson, Bob had a thriving garden in his backyard in Sequim — which rhymes with Swim — a little blue hole of sunny Mediterranean microclimate in Washington … Continue reading The Birds and the Bees
The Barbeque with Obama and Justin
By Leslie Knibbs Ottawa, Canada. November 22, 2019 I don't usually barbeque at this time of the year...it's been below thirty for the last ten days in a row and the winds are coming out of the northeast slamming into the house at 60 km an hour. It's cold outside. And kind of drafty in the house. … Continue reading The Barbeque with Obama and Justin
Desert Wind
By Jim Bates Dave was grateful for the final emotional push as he clamored up and over the edge of Lizard Peak onto the top, a large flat area. "Thanks, man," he said to Lyle, his life companion for the last forty years. He was nearly out of breath."I needed that." Lyle was also his … Continue reading Desert Wind
The Forbidden Home of the Ancestors
By Marzia Rahman Of all the people in the world, I least expected my brother to knock at my door. That too in the early hours of dawn. Why do I like dawn so much? I often ask myself. Is it because of the serenity? Or the quietness? The world has yet to wake up; … Continue reading The Forbidden Home of the Ancestors
Snake-Cell Dreams
By Sandeep Kumar Mishra In his dreams, Rajan searches for the ghosts. He hunts for them, tracing their footsteps in the dirt. He is back in his hometown— he knows these roads. The moonlight shivers on his skin. The crooked streets rattle around him. His heart burns in his chest. Baba, mama. Where are you? … Continue reading Snake-Cell Dreams
Academy of the Heart And Mind 