Jasper Beorn, my Sphynx cat, is an ancient soul. He is also extremely intelligent. He lives with me in a small cottage house along with his brother, the rescue dog Maurice, who is, through no fault of his own, a few pickles short of a hamburger. Maurice is not the reason J comes across as … Continue reading Third Place Short Fiction Contest: Animal Plots and Schemes by Linda Imbler
Loon Call at Owl-light
By Carrie Connel-Gripp He was glad of his freedom, but the events of the past year left him brooding. Contemplating what he should do and where he should go only brought a swamping uncertainty. He could drown here just as well as somewhere else. There was nowhere he called home. He had gravitated to the … Continue reading Loon Call at Owl-light
High School Contest Second Place Winner Fiction: “Sardines”
by Aliki Dimitoglou “Dear AJ, I wish I could tell you this ends well for you.” I paused, the rain falling on the paper I was reading off of, slightly smudging the words. “You were definitely not perfect. You didn’t get straight A’s in high school, you didn’t have a huge group of … Continue reading High School Contest Second Place Winner Fiction: “Sardines”
Love At First Sight
By Dianne Moritz My mother has three hard and fast words of warning about men and dating: “Never spend the first date at a movie. Why waste two hours sitting in a dark theater, when you could be getting to know each other? Secondly, don’t be timid about ordering exactly what you want in a … Continue reading Love At First Sight
Wonder
By Kelli J Gavin I wonder if he knows. I wonder every single day. I watch him as he brushes his teeth and shaves. I watch him as he removes his wedding ring and puts lotion on his hands. I watch him as he gathers his dress shirt and tie and heads downstairs each morning … Continue reading Wonder
Death Imitating Art
By P.A. O'Neil “I never meant to hurt anyone.” The man looked down and shook his head, damp from the rain, his arms wrapped around his body as if to fend off a chill. “You have to believe me, officer.” The diminutive woman in the police raincoat nodded as she took his statement. “Yes, sir; … Continue reading Death Imitating Art
“Nanna’s Sunday Lunch”
By Karen Trappett Every Sunday of my youth was spent in Nanna’s old Queenslander at Sandgate for the ubiquitous Sunday lunch. I didn’t even know there was a beach near her house until much later, which was a shame, I could have used the escape; but as a single digit kid, I had no … Continue reading “Nanna’s Sunday Lunch”
By Amani Utembu I didn't believe in legends. Never thought I'd ever believe in any of the old stories either until a couple of days ago after we moved. There's this park, some three or four kilometers away from home that me and my friends go to hang out on weekends, or just go to … Continue reading
The Experiment
By John Page I am awake. I’m in so much pain. Where am I? This isn’t my 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 hurt. Glass breaks. I … Continue reading The Experiment
Thrice
By Thomas Page Everybody in town knew about the murders. You couldn’t walk down Washington Street without someone tapping you on the shoulder to confirm what they already knew. The Harrisons had lived in this little ordinary house on top of Rodham Hill about fifteen long steps away from their neighbors—the Tiffanys. Dan Tiffany was … Continue reading Thrice
