By Steve Carr The sound of the 5:10 train coming through town was comforting. In the morning darkness of her bedroom Mrs. Lilly sat up on the edge of her bed, pulled her robe that had been draped over her walker from the top crossbar and slipped her arms into the yellow cotton sleeves. She … Continue reading Noise
A Palia for the Mason
By Shalini Ajay Singh The observer, when he seems to himself to be observing a stone, is really, if physics is to be believed, observing the effects of the stone upon himself. ~Bertrand Russell This is a beautiful city, come, burn it with me? There’s no Appian Way, or “queen of the roads” in these … Continue reading A Palia for the Mason
Primrose
By Michal Reiben Once upon a time, in a faraway land there lived a happy family of fairies--Acorn, Lilac, and their daughter Primrose. Tragically, Lilac was devoured by a dragon which caused her light to go out. Acorn, not wishing to remain alone, remarried a beautiful, bewitching fairy named Thistle. Unbeknown to him she was … Continue reading Primrose
The Samaritan
By Sam Paget I had a three-mile journey to work. It took me through Oldbury, in the dark hours of the early morning. I used a bicycle to make the journey, to save money. On the way home, I enjoyed the fresh air on nice days, and the reasonable quiet of the roads at two … Continue reading The Samaritan
The Procession
By Anthony Ward It was the third consecutive year that Jared had sat outside the church on the Eve of St. Mark with the hope of catching a vision of the phantom congregation. The only eerie event he had experienced up until then was the spectacle of a Barn Owl that had swooped, banshee like, … Continue reading The Procession
The Bell Tower
By DC Diamondopolous Reverend Langston Penniman sat on the edge of his bed, stretching his black fingers. Everything had either twisted up on him or shrunk except his stomach. Once six-foot-five, he now plunged to six two, still tall, but not the imposing dignitary he once was standing behind the lectern in front of his … Continue reading The Bell Tower
Sliced Tomatoes
By Diane Gillespie Newly married, my husband Mike and I drove along Boskeydell Road through the hills of Southern Illinois on our way to a small farm. It was a warm summer day in 1970. Car windows open, our breaths became deeper and our bodies more relaxed as we observed the countryside, its woods and … Continue reading Sliced Tomatoes
Yellow
By Bluford Birdsong Originally published in Literary Yard Jill shuts down the treadmill after running three eight minute miles, proud of herself and thankful for a couple of hours alone. Still panting, she opens the stainless steel door of the new fridge and grabs a blue shaker bottle of branch-chain amino acids. The Tahitian Punch … Continue reading Yellow
The Wall
By Jim Woessner There was a loud, sharp crack from outside. The elderly woman sat up, sucked in her breath, and turned to the boy who was heating water on the one-burner stove. “What was that, Unuk?” she asked, using the Serbian word for “grandson.” “Not to worry, Baba,” the boy said. “Just a car. … Continue reading The Wall
What Really Happened When I Lost My Car (Regardless of What I Told My Friends)
By Dale Alexander My friend convinced me to park in the space labeled "for restaurant customers only," even though we were going to the bar next door. It was the last space available in the area. I occasionally found good things to write about on Saturday nights, so I went with it. After a few … Continue reading What Really Happened When I Lost My Car (Regardless of What I Told My Friends)
Academy of the Heart And Mind 