By Earl Smith II As it happened Raccoon was foraging along the eastern bank of Brook That Wanders Through the Western Woods. The air was crisp this late fall day and the trees along both banks had already dropped some of their leaves, many of them onto the surface of Brook, only to be dutifully … Continue reading Learning Like
A Thousand Years
By Peace Nkeiruka Maduako "A Thousand Years" has been previously first published in a Sweetycat press anthology "Stories And Poems In The Song Of Life" by Steve Lester Carr. The melody rose to the ceiling, resounding as everyone keyed their best voices into the song. Mr. Peter smiled satisfactorily, "You all sounded almost perfect this … Continue reading A Thousand Years
A Safari Through My Closet
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
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
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
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
End of the World Sale
By Mitchell Waldman That's what the sign says: END OF THE WORLD SALE. Right on the front door of this little variety shop called "Nick's and Knacks," squeezed between a laundromat and a pharmacy on the strip at the edge of the continent, in Cocoa Beach. Jack and Dana walk in, thinking it’s a joke. … Continue reading End of the World Sale
Dante’s Circles
By Marc Carver It scares me how much life goes around and around in a circle. You live it once then years later the exact same thing happens again. And you react to it in exactly the same way. It is almost as if you are powerless against yourself. Who you are never goes away. … Continue reading Dante’s Circles
Academy of the Heart And Mind 