By Joan Mach Ladies and gentlemen, on your left you see the Joan Mach Clothing Wilderness. For your own safety, please keep your hands and heads inside the vehicle at all times. This wilderness was formed when the clothing rod in Joan’s spacious walk-in closet broke while she was on vacation. When she returned, the … Continue reading A Safari Through My Closet
Chain-smoker in Blue Jeans
By Mason Yates For Korbin Ratner, the rural Illinois town Oakdale Ferry could not end its day unless the cotton candy sky melted blue and pink together, or his girlfriend, Tiffany Earman, drove him to the small mom and pop gas station uptown, where he worked overnight as a cashier. On this particular evening, both … Continue reading Chain-smoker in Blue Jeans
Lefty
By Judy Lunsford The tumors are in there taunting me. They keep me from being in control. The surgeon is confident that he can drain the cysts. He is also confident that once he drains the cysts that I should get my life back. He is going to be drilling holes in my head. I’ve … Continue reading Lefty
Steps Away from Pragmatism
By Thaddeus Lee There’s a place where all of us go. It’s not far from here. Simply a few steps from the corner store and a block or so from Times Square, and you’ll be there with us. A place to be free. A lush landscape of green hills overlapping each other until they meet … Continue reading Steps Away from Pragmatism
Leeches
By Jim Bates It was a hot August dawn. We were on the city dock, dangling our feet above the water. The sun was rising orange above the trees. The lake stretched out in front of us, waves rippling with a few ducks floating nearby. I hardly noticed any of it. Davy had driven us … Continue reading Leeches
Shahtoosh
By Reena Kapoor Originally published in Literary Yard This is the third time in three months that she’s called. I hesitate. I want to help. Gosh, I’d love to help. What an example, a woman like her could set! Especially in our community, our well placed diaspora, our model minority. But I’ve been in this … Continue reading Shahtoosh
LifeMart
By Susan Cleveland "Welcome to LifeMart. How can I help you?" Maggie inquired. Her first customer was a young man in his late teens. His blonde hair, clear complexion, and strong build emanated the look of good health. He approached her with a sheepish grin and eyes full of hope. "This will probably sound strange, … Continue reading LifeMart
Governor’s Park
By Peace Nkeiruka Maduako A moth was knocking itself against the glass window, determined to get outside. Olive was awake looking up to the ceiling boards, wondering how Obi would look like after three years of being away. Memories flooded back like it was only yesterday. Their love used to be like a flower opening … Continue reading Governor’s Park
Blue Ulysses
By Tim Law Molly watched on from the front porch of her family’s beach house as her older brother Marcus chased a beautiful blue Ulysses butterfly. With each fruitless leap and swipe that Marcus made with his bug catching net, Molly’s smile grew all the broader. “You’ll never catch it!” Molly laughed. “That butterfly is … Continue reading Blue Ulysses
Write Me A Letter
By Rachel Zweig Zev Wolf grabbed onto stacked boxes to steady himself from falling in the grocery store. The old man pointed at a tall woman with three young children in the dairy aisle. “Lady!” he rasped. The woman turned to see if he had spoken to her or the other customers who quickly walked … Continue reading Write Me A Letter
Academy of the Heart And Mind 