One by one they’d disappeared. Whether it was distance or death, people had been whisked out of Karl’s life faster than he’d been able to replace them. He’d noticed the phenomenon happening in his 40s – a person would pop into his head and he’d realize he hadn’t spoken to them for them for a … Continue reading "Saved"

  Don urgently went over the song structure one last time – main part four times instrumental, four with vocals, bridge, main two times, bridge, chorus, main four times, chorus, new part in D, bridge, outro – but all Abe could think about was how he’d never noticed that Don sounded a lot like that … Continue reading "Stomp"

In my favorite picture of my mom, she’s painting the walls of the apartment on Hemlock Ave. We moved a lot back then, Hemlock being one of seven different places we lived between third grade and my senior year. This was back when you could knock on a door and talk to a landlord instead … Continue reading "Paint"

Agnes was still peeved about the comment, though she couldn’t put her finger on exactly why. Phil had said it loudly to everyone within earshot, not to her in particular, but there was a glint of mischief in his eyes when he glanced her way. She’d seen the same expression in a student a few … Continue reading "Sausage"

If Winterset were to be buried Pompeii-style, every life stopped mid-moment and preserved for scientists to uncover and assess, future archeologists might expect the sheer bulk of the materials affixed to the Lawson’s family fridge to form an accurate snapshot of daily life in 21st century Iowa. They would attempt to piece together the ephemera as … Continue reading "Twins"

Business:  Pike Place Fish Company, Seattle Washington Reviewer:  Victor A., Hillsboro, OR Rating:      * * * * * Tell Readers More: Some things aren’t what they’re made out to be – and Pike Place is one of them. If you watch one of those Pike Place propaganda pieces on the Travel Channel or Food Network, you’ll think … Continue reading "One Star"

Trey I’m going to keep sitting here until someone says I can’t. Call it trespassing if you want, but that’s not how I see it. I’m reclaiming what’s mine, what’s everyone’s, and if some bastard comes down here to give me shit, I’m gonna let ‘em know I’m not budging. Seriously, ever think about the … Continue reading "Owned"

Amy’s Fodor’s Travel New Orleans guide was blooming with colorful sticky-notes and bookmarks, each tab color-coordinated to various highlighted lines on the 9pt font, single-spaced, legal-sized pages of her intended itinerary. When Amy showed the completed agenda to her mother, her mom glanced at the dense, rainbow-striped text and said, “Wow, I’m exhausted just looking … Continue reading "Easy"

Astrid bought the Voigtlander at Ms. Fischer’s yard sale the summer after Mr. Fischer’s funeral. All winter, Ms. Fischer – she had never invited anyone to call her by first name – had kept the home exactly as it had been when her husband departed, and as old as she was, neighbors expected she’d keep … Continue reading "Portrait"

It was only a matter of time before they turned on each other, and 40 minutes into the search, that time had come. This was their third day at the no-frills cabin they’d rented through a classified ads in Sports Afield. “Outfitted for the real outdoorsman”, the description promised, which they learned on arrival meant it … Continue reading "The Key"