By Jim Bates The head of Parks and Recreation, Fred Nicoletti, extended his hat. “Good luck, kid, he winked. “You’re going to need it.” Nothing like a little intimidation to add to my already jangling nerves. I was standing on the north beach of Lake Harriet, getting ready for my final test. I’d passed the … Continue reading Zinc
Cobalt
By Jim Bates During the first month of lockdown, Courtney, my wife, and I had a family meeting with our three kids. She did the talking. “Okay, the school is setting up for distance learning so that’s what we’ll do. Your father and I have organized our schedules so he will be here on Monday, … Continue reading Cobalt
Strontium
By Jim Bates Sandra Mason was a studious girl who took life seriously, much to the joy of her father, Wallace, a physics teacher at the University of Minnesota. “I’m so proud of Sandy,” he said, coming down the stairs after telling his seven-year-old daughter good night. “She’s just like I used to be at … Continue reading Strontium
Your Life
By Jim Bates You live your entire life. You are born and you grow. You go to school. You learn. You make friends and fall in love for the first time. Your heart is broken. You learn to deal with pain. You walk in the woods and learn to stop and feel what Nature … Continue reading Your Life
Three Haiku
By James Bates Butterfly Delight Purple Coneflower Monarch butterfly alights Double delightful. Sunlight Dancing Morning dew sparkles Tiny droplets glistening Sunlight dances wildly. Thirst Springtime misting rain Tender garden shoots reaching Thirstily drinking. Jim lives in a small town twenty miles west of Minneapolis, Minnesota. His stories have appeared online in CafeLit, The … Continue reading Three Haiku
Springtime Countryside
By James Bates Out in the rolling countryside Enjoying the first signs of spring Stopped for a while by a farmer's field And listened to a bluebird sing. His song was oh so cheerful As it echoed through the trees Carried across the fertile land On a gentle, drifting breeze. The world was awakening … Continue reading Springtime Countryside
The Dance
By James Bates One day…not much is there. Mom's eyes are dim with memory faded, Words come hard and the spirit is flagging. Then, it is as if a song begins, And through the deep recesses of forgetfulness, There emerges a kind of light, Renewed energy and a plan. Conversation begins. Words once forgotten … Continue reading The Dance
Winter Sun
By James Bates The boy loved the icy winter, And playing in the snow, Sledding and building snowmen, Snowballs for him to throw. One day he awoke quite ill, Confined there to his bed, His best friend Bob came to visit, And panicked he'd soon be dead. "No," the father calmed him, "not my … Continue reading Winter Sun
Pancakes
By James Bates Auntie Gertie spent more time that summer teaching me how to make pancakes than was probably necessary but I was just a ten year old kid who'd rather have been playing baseball or video games than fooling around in the kitchen learning to cook; that didn't matter to Auntie. She had a … Continue reading Pancakes
Academy of the Heart And Mind 