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
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?
Howard closed the front door behind him and headed to the bedroom. He slipped off his loafers and slacks, and hung the carefully folded pants on a varnished hanger. Still donning his black socks, he padded to the kitchen to mix a vodka and tonic: two ice cubes, a jigger and a half of vodka, … Read moreSubstitute Violence
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
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
“The humours of the body cannot withstand such elevations. Think of the tawny men of the Andes who have been raised in the clouds. They are slow-witted, with arms and legs like tree trunks and the brain of orangutans. They are born to it and their humours have had time to shift accordingly. But a … Read moreHumour Test
Written on 3/17/2011 “Dad, can I have a gun?” asked Thad. “Why do you need a gun?” Thad’s dad didn’t look away from his computer screen. “I need to kill somebody at school.” This got his dad’s attention. He turned around in his chair to face his eight-year-old son. “Why would you want to kill … Read moreGun Play