(1382 words) Sandy and Brandt, both futurist novelists, attended the annual conference in Amsterdam. “Things seem to be in flux,” Brandt said, “and we’ve got to go see what the future holds.” “What do you mean?” she asked “I can’t say exactly.” “You’re a writer. You’d better figure that […]
Category: Short story
A Swift Kick in the Ribs
(671 words) Jody had colored beautifully between the lines. Then he wrote “I hate school” across the top of the assignment. It seemed obvious to him that school was just as hateful to everyone else. But he’d miscalculated badly. The classroom was ‘time-between-recess’ but recess only came twice a day […]
Hunting Alone
(559 words) He walked across the shallow pond. He was a little drunk and struggled against the suction of the mud. He pinched the neck of the bird feeling the gravelly rice inside. A group dropped down and he raised the barrel straight in front of him. One slumped and […]
The Job of the Novelist
(417 words) The kid reached into the darkness and pulled the book from the closet. It was by an unknown French existentialist. It must be a translation, he thought. His confidence in it, thus, shaken he began, nevertheless, to read: “The job of a novelist,” it said, “is to show […]
No Smoking
(636 words) They should have known people weren’t really reasonable when they saw they’d buy at a joint what they could get for 1/10 the price at the grocer. Maybe they go for the motion of the bottle lifted from the shelf and poured into piled saucers and brandy glasses. […]
Lucy Dreams
(553 words) “Dad, the news is on.” “Isn’t it always? I can’t watch that.” “Why don’t you like the news?” “I don’t hate the news I just know what it is.” “I didn’t say you hated it.” “Ok I hate it.” “Why do you hate it.” “Because someone I trust […]
A Watery Eclipse
He ordered huevos rancheros and a beer for breakfast. Above the outdoor bar, a basketball game played on the TV which no one watched. He angled his barstool to face her. After inquiring further, the bartender clasped both hands and hinted at a bow. Several goldens ranging from deep red […]
21st Century Man
The truck broke down and the desert stretched for miles in all directions, as far as they could see. The two men doubted they’d be rescued after their water ran out and had decided to try and walk out the way they’d driven in. But they hadn’t driven in straight, […]
Traveling Light
There is a place in America that feels freer than the others. It’s an escape and it’s far enough away that it feels strange. The summertime Mountains of Colorado. Maybe you can get there when you still have your youth. Nothing can replace the smell of the air when you […]
Things Fall Apart
(2,192 words) “If someone ever asks you what you’ll be doing at some given time tell them, instead, where you’ll be. The details of what you’ll be doing are unimportant, and unknown. The importance of what you’ll be doing is implied. You’re living your life to its fullest. Namely, you’re […]