By Jim Bates I’ll never forget my first helium balloon. I got two of them for my second birthday. Two red ones, my favorite color. My grandpa gave them to me. “Here you go, Lonny,” he said, smiling. “Enjoy.” I did. My grandpa loved helium-filled balloons. Not those mylar ones with sayings on them like … Continue reading Helium
The Wreath
By Jim Bates The old man pulled back the curtain and peered into his front yard. It was covered with dirty snow, the stalks of forgotten annuals bent and frozen. He frowned. Should have pulled them last October. Who cared anyway? He let the curtain fall back and made his way to his worn armchair. … Continue reading The Wreath
Hydrogen
By Jim Bates I remember hearing the song by Three Dog Night, “One Is the Loneliest Number,” and thinking, Yeah, that’s me. All by myself. No one cares. Now I see that thought for what it really was, a cry in the night from a frightened six-year-old kid whose parents abandoned him to the child … Continue reading Hydrogen
Nitrogen
By Jim Bates Twenty years ago, during the spring of the 2020 lockdown, Mom announced, “We are planting a garden.” I was thirteen and my brother Jay was nine so, of course, we complained, me being the loudest, “Aw, Mom. No!” “What, you’d rather play video games?” Well, yeah, of course, but I couldn’t say … Continue reading Nitrogen
Oxygen
By Jim Bates The summer when I was eight years old a new highway began being built about a mile from our farm. My older brother Lewis and I were fascinated by the huge, noisy machines: road graders, dump trucks and bulldozers. When our chores were completed, we’d ride over to the creek, go for … Continue reading Oxygen
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
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
Signs of Spring
By Jim Bates Heard today a sign of spring, The cooing of a mourning dove, A call of memories to bring, A song of gentle love. This bright and sunny springtime day, Soft warm breezes blowing, Peaceful time spent in the garden patch, Planting seeds and happily hoeing. A sense of patience is in the … Continue reading Signs of Spring
The Dance
By Jim Bates Mom's eyes are dim with memory faded, Words come hard and the spirit is flagging. Then, one day, It is as if a song begins, And through the deep recesses of forgetfulness, There emerges a kind of light, And renewed energy. Conversation begins. Words once forgotten form. She smiles as she remembers … Continue reading The Dance
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
Academy of the Heart And Mind 