By Jim Bates The week before breaking for the holidays in December Sue Beasley teaches a section on letter writing in her sophomore English class. She always begins this way, "Okay, show of hands. How many of you regularly write letters?" It's a loaded question because it's a rare hand that goes up, especially given … Continue reading Letter Writing
The Trial of King Bela
By Mark Kodama I. When King Bela of Hungary marched his army to the Sajo River on April 10, 1241, he knew the Mongols were near. He knew the Mongols were not warriors with whom to be trifled. He could be bear being called a coward; but he did not want to be … Continue reading The Trial of King Bela
By Faith
By Thomas Page The cave was only recognizable from the top of the hill. The way the pilgrims made it sound it should have been a lot bigger. Fire should have been scorching the rim with demons and adders hissing at you as you approach. This wasn’t the case. This made him uneasy for some … Continue reading By Faith
The Bard
By Mark Kodama I. When Nicanor the Bard returned home from the wars in Asia, he was restless. He had made a fortune many times over only to lose everything, save his life. When he left Greece, he was a penniless young man. When he returned, he was a penniless middle-aged man. So he told … Continue reading The Bard
Fiction by Alex Andy Phuong
Kate Winslet On one Labor Day afternoon, while driving down a Revolutionary Road, a simple, all-American girl named Kate Winslet was searching for something to do for her summer vacation. After driving for several hours, she saw a billboard with the headline, “TITANIC SAILS ONCE MORE!” She hesitantly resisted the urge to buy tickets for … Continue reading Fiction by Alex Andy Phuong
Autumn Leaves
By Jim Bates We waited off to the side for our order, all three of us quiet, unused to this. Sure, we'd eaten at McDonald's before but not under circumstances like these - me taking Sammy and Elise out after school because I couldn't take them back to what used to be our home. Lynn … Continue reading Autumn Leaves
Praedo Maritimus
By John Goodie “One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name.” - Sir Walter Scott It was a cold night for Arthur Forest, even in the summer. The tears welled up as he climbed into his bed. The distraught paunchy graying writer had been brooding lately on the complete … Continue reading Praedo Maritimus
Mariposa
By John Goodie Gustavo was waiting on a sign, a sign from Heaven, when the golden butterfly with bright blue eye-like markings, fluttered aloft, above his head, three times, and then landed on his shoulder. He was in Barcelona at La Boquería, a large, public fresh market, as popular with the locals as it … Continue reading Mariposa
Swant’s Service
By Jim Bates "Well, thanks for meeting with me. It was good talking to you." The realtor took out a business card and gave it to Charlie Swant who glanced at it, already having forgotten the guy's name. Then he aggressively extended his hand and Charlie reluctantly shook it, "Well...Okay then," Charlie said, not knowing … Continue reading Swant’s Service
Pride
By Inge Moore When i am seventeen, I know three things: 1) i will never get married, 2) i will never leave my best friend, and 3) i will never grow old. I am living in Toronto it is the summer i am working at Woodbine. My best friend and i share a basement … Continue reading Pride
Academy of the Heart And Mind 