james Bob Schuster had worked at Miller’s Jewelry since it opened in the seventies. At the time it opened, the strip mall was considered state-of-the art retail space. It devolved, as most have, into a jumble of judo studios, gun shops, dollar stores and other low-end retailers. Miller’s still had a large sign with a diamond … Read moreMaking the Better Man
Yuri sat at a metal desk too small for his body. His knees banged against the drawers, the lead paint failing where for decades kneecaps had met metal. To escape his desk, he had to scoot around one side. He was a large man, once considered strapping and athletic, but now droop-shouldered and fat. The … Read moreBetter Off Dog
Ronald lived alone in a cabin abutting National Forest land. He had no electricity, relied on a stream for his water and to cool his beer. His only access for supplies was an unmaintained four-wheeler trail. He used his wood stove for cooking and heat, frying bacon and biscuits on the griddle to start each … Read moreHappy to Meat You
There was no vibration at all. It was as if the train was still parked at the station. The magnets flipped on and pulled the train unimpeded by friction. It had to speed up gradually lest the g-force suck the iPhone from everyone’s hands. Lester couldn’t get out of Kyoto fast enough; even 350 miles … Read moreBored Game
Oil lamps flickered near doorways, on tables and around the bar. The damp cedar sawdust on floor had a sweet and sour quality to it as it mixed with spilled beer, spit, and manure tracking in from the street. The blubber that once insulated great sea creatures now gave a squat lamp an orange flame … Read moreLooking for Mr. Goodbones
Kent and Reynold snuggled in the bulldozer, struggling to stay warm during the North Dakota winter. They were there for work in the shale oil fields, but couldn’t find any affordable housing. Workers rotated through the fields every six months, and any apartment, trailer, spare room, shack, basement or abandoned car had a long waiting … Read moreIt’s The Little Things
An avalanche of primary-colored balls bounced vigorously along multiple chutes emptying into a non-stop stream of shipping containers. The technology of these playthings gave them a never-ending happy shine and when held were firm like a racquetball. On impact they became soft and pliable, but would quickly firm up, and be ready again for play. … Read moreEating Healthy
Golden juice was dribbling from the back of the rental truck, leaving a sticky-sweet trail for miles. Time was running out. The truck wasn’t refrigerated and the countless pineapples stuffed inside were rapidly softening and turning to juice. Frank tried to drive at night when it was cooler, and during the day park the truck … Read morePineapple Fruitcake
The ground was so hot that Ronnie’s shoes were smoking, and his leather soles as black as charcoal. Regular rubber-soled boots would have melted like a Nazi in an Indian Jones Movie. He had to keep moving and doing his modified version of the Hokey-Pokey or suffer shoe ignition and have to body roll his … Read moreMoonlight is a Burning Light
The inside of Elli’s car glimmered orange light as she lit up her cigarette, and took a long, deep pull of smoke. The engine had been running for half an hour but no heat came from the vent; just the smell of burning. She pulled her coat up around her neck and sucked again on … Read moreNews of the Wild