james The truck carrying Jeff hit a corner too fast, causing his would-be coffin to slam against the side of the pickup bed. The impact woke him. He was in the dark, inside what felt like a cardboard box and rattling around like loose change in a cement mixer. The truck left the pavement and turned … Read moreA Mother’s Love
“Are you sick?” the boy asked Robert. “I had an accident, so now I live in a wheelchair,” Robert replied. “Why?” the boy asked. Robert had spent years pondering that very question. Why was his neck snapped at the age of twelve? Why had his mother escaped the accident with only a broken wrist? Why … Read moreBack to Normal
Ned and Barry looked out over Ned’s backyard as the Fall leaves gradually twirled to the ground. “Why are robots replacing humans?” Ned asked. “Because they don’t get tired or sick, they don’t have kids or spouses, they don’t need insurance … the list goes on and on,” Barry replied. “So, if you could make … Read moreWhy Did The Man Cross the Line?
Roger was having a difficult time keeping the sweat out of his eyes. The helmet he wore to give his drone commands blew cool air across his scalp but it wasn’t enough. He worried the sweat would short something and the mission would fail like so many others. “Focus,” he told himself. “Be the bee.” … Read moreTo Bee Or Not To Bee
Finster Drummand was nodding off. He was on stage, awaiting the cue for his line. The so-called star of the show Edelle Priceworthy was droning on as she had for three hundred consecutive nights. A pretty face and ample bosom could unfortunately go far in this world. Finster had been in the theatre most of … Read moreA Trick of the Limelight
The name Everlasting Coals was emblazoned on Denton’s fleet of service vans. The vans were wrapped in vinyl decals portraying hot embers in a fireplace. The vans looked like they were made of molten metal, but were supposed to represent a cozy hearth. Denton’s company installed and repaired fireplaces, and the name was consistent with … Read moreWild Things and a Pure Heart
The cow calmly chewed its cud as Morris removed the window from its stomach. The cow lived with many others in a university research lab where new and better food supplements for cattle were developed. This was cow thirty-seven, and like all the other cows she had a portal installed on her side connecting one … Read moreSpecial Ingredients
The marbles had been stolen. Despite questioning from his teacher that implied he had misplaced the marbles Jimmy held his ground. He was the victim of a crime. He had won the marbles fair and square, and somebody had swiped them from the coat closet and he was sure it was Peter. Because Peter was … Read moreFake It Until You Make It Off The Playground
Tony pushed back against the headrest, the dry leather upholstery creaking slightly from the pressure. He’d been driving for hours and was restless. He’d rolled the window up and down, talked to himself, fiddled with the radio but the stations quickly fuzzed into static. He thought of stopping to stretch his legs but didn’t want … Read moreThe New You
Sarah wanted her son to be called Jonathan or John, but never Johnny. She reinforced the idea often, correcting anyone who tried to emasculate her pending baby boy. When asked why this was so important to her, she would say that she was raising a man, not a child. Little did she know that she … Read moreThe Ungrateful Child