By John Affleck It began when I was sitting alone at the Twins-Mets game. No minder, no driver. I’d sent them off to lunch. He sat down next to me in the stands, and I mean right next to me. He recognizably walked up the stairs and down the row — did not shuffle, did … Continue reading The Value of a Sidearm Pitcher
Catechism Lesson
By John Affleck When Monsignor Sweeney visits our fifth-grade classroom, everybody gets geeked up, even more than when we’re in Sister Madeline’s English class. Usually, we get about 30 minutes notice, like an air raid, before Sweeney shows up. Our homeroom teacher, Sister Noreen, announces the visit in a formal tone — we’re lucky enough … Continue reading Catechism Lesson
Waiting in Line
By Nancy Lou Henderson A long line of people stretched ahead of Jess. The people in front of her seemed not to be moving, but she did not care because her mind was busy remembering her journey to get here. Had she done enough, and was she ready? Should she get out of the line … Continue reading Waiting in Line
The Lost King
By Mehreen Ahmed. Based on an orally told plot by Vahid Husen Sayyad Daisy was held under a dark, mystifying spell. Nestled by the cozy fires of her drawing room, she sat this evening on a rugged floor in her palace. She moped about an incident which occurred in her laboratory last night. She looked … Continue reading The Lost King
Je Suis Un Pied Noir
By Alexandra Baff 1835 I still don’t understand why we had to leave. Why would anyone want to leave the sunny, beautiful, majestic south of France? As we arrive in Algeria, into a city called Oran, I recall my tedious journey by boat. My mother and father constantly reassured me that this would be an … Continue reading Je Suis Un Pied Noir
The Observation
By John Page I open the door to my house. I call for Christine, my fiancée, to help me put away the groceries. We have been dating for about four years and decided to move in together before the wedding. She is a very funny and quirky person. She likes to ask people a lot … Continue reading The Observation
The Man Who Shot Down the Sky
By Kristen Strmel The eyes of man did not always see beyond the sky. The hands of man did not always grace the sky. There was a time, indeed, when humanity existed only on this earth. It was the place of the gods to dwell above the sky, the blue ceiling that arced above the … Continue reading The Man Who Shot Down the Sky
The Experiment
By John Page I am awake. I’m in so much pain. Where am I? This isn’t my home. I should be home. Let me out. Let me out. Let me out! It is dark. I’m suffocating in here. Why do I hurt so much. There is an odd smell. Wait, there is light. Loud sounds … Continue reading The Experiment
The Reunion
By John Page I walk through the graveyard of St. Imes. It is late at night but I prefer the dark. It makes the loss seem less real. I have not come here in a long time--the pain was too raw. I reflect on how I desperately miss her. It is not fair how she … Continue reading The Reunion
Ten Thousand Bombers
By John Page We walk into the plane. It is going to be the biggest raid of the war so far. Ten thousand mega bombers, a hundred and ninety thousand regular bombers and fifty thousand fighters are to launch themselves and the capital of the Tallern empire. This will be the culmination of years of … Continue reading Ten Thousand Bombers
Academy of the Heart And Mind 