By Craig Dobson Fiona is sitting with her back to the window, a semi-silhouette against the village’s winding main street. The weather has been hot for days. Farm machinery blunders along the narrow lanes, great round bales balanced precariously on splayed trailers. Wisps of straw litter the hedgerows and pavements. In the warm evenings, check-shirted … Continue reading A Chip Off
The Power of Faith
By Timothy Law Grandpa sowed the winter wheat in between family visiting for Easter, even though it had been a dry and hot summer. “You’re wasting your time and your money, dad,” my father had argued. I overheard them talking in the kitchen when I got up in the night. Grandma had complained over dinner … Continue reading The Power of Faith
The Grocery Store
By Olivia Brochu I am holding two boxes of cereal, letting my three-year-old pick his favorite, while my one-year-old throws his pacifier to the ground and my five-year-old has already moved ahead to the granola bars and pop tarts. My white T-shirt is French tucked into my high waisted, light wash jeans. My unreasonably long … Continue reading The Grocery Store
Griffin’s Lecture
By Andrew Nickerson The lecture hall of Meade Academy of Magic buzzed with anticipation as students settled behind the room’s many layered desks. As the smells of various cafeteria lunch/drink specials floated all around, merging with the antiquated orders of wood and stone, everyone anxiously awaited the arrival of their special guest: Professor G. Griffin, … Continue reading Griffin’s Lecture
The Puma That She Met One Day
By Frances Gaudiano Lucy was standing at the edge of the field. It hadn’t been tilled recently and there was still stalks of growth left from previous years, dry and battered in the morning breeze. She began to walk along a narrow footpath between the weeds. After a bit, she felt a presence behind her … Continue reading The Puma That She Met One Day
Ivan and the Umbrella
By Ruby Pressman Tonight we said our goodbyes. I started crying and he started laughing. "Why are you laughing?" I asked him."Because I don't want to cry." *** We met on New Year's Eve. It was a foggy rainy day and I was feeling kind of down -- had gone to a local restaurant near … Continue reading Ivan and the Umbrella
Lucky Dog, Unlucky Dog
By Debbie Robertson Lucky Dog lived on a boulevard lined with ancient oaks that spread their wide branches to shade the walk where children played. Birds sang their songs and squirrels chattered merrily as they scrambled up trunks and made flying leaps from tree to tree. Unlucky Dog lived near a busy street in the … Continue reading Lucky Dog, Unlucky Dog
Hums of the Breeze
By Tristan Duenow Bright sun rays pierced the black of my suit. Little beads of sweat dotted my brow and a damp undershirt stuck to my back. The white fluffy clouds occasionally blessed us with shade as they moved in the gentle breeze. It was a day he would have liked very much. Mom stood … Continue reading Hums of the Breeze
I Wasn’t Drunk
By Jennifer Leigh Kiefer I wasn’t drunk. That’s the truth. I never am though, so I knew you wouldn’t realize I was faking. The half a bottle I had slowly sipped was just an excuse. Something I could blame – we both could blame. As I wandered away from the group huddled on the large … Continue reading I Wasn’t Drunk
Is She Paying Rent?
By Thomas Payne Birgit was arriving on the 8:32 flight from Chicago. Nathan had asked Jon to drive him to DIA, and asked if they could pick up Heather on the way to make it less date-like. I-25 was clear and Jon was trying to keep it under 85. Nathan lit him a cigarette. “She’s … Continue reading Is She Paying Rent?
Academy of the Heart And Mind 