By Marzia Rahman And almost canceled it, but it was nothing daunting or dreadful. Rather it was fun, just like old days—those green and gleeful days—when we were young and carefree, and I was naïve and not married. Daniel said he was working in a multinational company called Brad and Brad. He looked charming as … Continue reading A Rendezvous That I Dreaded
Southern Sweet Mint Tea
By Nancy Lou Henderson As Elsa filled the small pan with water at the sink, she looked out the kitchen window, and her mind wandered back to her childhood. (How many times had she done this same routine early in the morning of a hot summer day?) When she had filled the pan with just the … Continue reading Southern Sweet Mint Tea
The Printer
By R. Shlesinger Berlin 1814 “You don’t do anything.” Bella’s voice hissed. “I do a lot of things.” “You sit at home and stare at the street.” “That can be dangerous as well.” “You’re nothing but a printer.” She spat the accusation out. “Men have been shot for that.” “You’re nothing. Who’d want to marry … Continue reading The Printer
The Kitchen Disaster
By Tim Law It was a scene of complete and utter chaos. There was only one word for a kitchen that was the equivalent of a culinary bombsite, pandemonium. With the last blue ribbon clutched tight in her hand, Mayor Sarah Robbins starred, gob smacked, scanning the Community Centre Kitchen in utter dismay. Maybe she … Continue reading The Kitchen Disaster
The Drunken Hero
By Tejaswinee Roychowdhury Not all heroes wear capes, some are just drunk! Well, perhaps not heroes that you may have heard of, but it rings true of at least one hero in a tiny little village somewhere in Bengal. The villagers of Hulupukur had developed different theories over the years as to why Madhu, short … Continue reading The Drunken Hero
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
Base
By Jon Moray For Shane, it was one of those days, in the middle of one of those weeks, at the end of one of those months, during one of those years…and it was only May. His downward spiral of misfortune included a job demotion, a diabetes diagnosis, and constant hounding from collection agencies over … Continue reading Base
The Happiness Tale
By Tim Law Tom met Sally on a Tuesday. He was five and she three. They both lived on Long Street in a little country town near the Copper Triangle. Long Street was a hard packed dirt road that joined the town’s heart to the main highway. Locals sped along that road like startled snakes … Continue reading The Happiness Tale
What’s in a Name?
By Joan Leotta Elena slid into the chair across the table from her friend Alda at Nettie’s Coffee Emporium. “Sorry I’m late. Overseas phone call. Did you order coffee for me?” Alda laughed. “ Of course. And a pistachio muffin too. You have the same thing every week.” She pushed one a plate over to … Continue reading What’s in a Name?
The Golden Beach
By Bernadette Kloth & Steve Warren A full moon was waning and the nursing staff at St. Mary’s Hospital were all on their toes. A young nurse’s white Nike sneakers squeaked as she made a u-turn into room 444 when she heard one of her patient’s moaning. The older lady had been admitted yesterday and … Continue reading The Golden Beach
Academy of the Heart And Mind 