Orville clung to his mother’s pelt; a wobbly passenger new to the world. Through squinty eyes he observed his mother’s steady progress as she went from termite mound, to rotted tree, to jakalberry grove. He considered her whip-like tongue collecting insects and fruit at a mad pace while she remained serene. Several times a day … Read moreBaited Breath
Skuen and his younger brother Kadir stood near the end of a hundred-foot-long wall of peat blocks. With L-shaped spades, they cut out neat bricks of peat, looking like rich chocolate cake, and stacked them to dry in the wind. They worked the bogs year-round, with little change to their day other than the amount … Read moreChocolate Cake
“How’s his mood tonight?” The sword swallower asked, nervously fiddling with his knives and blades. “Does it matter? Do your act, get the hell off the stage, and be grateful,” the juggler lamented. “It beats digging potatoes out in the snow.” “How’s the Fool doing? Many laughs?” the swallower asked. “I hear laughing, but it … Read moreYour Leg Should be Breaking
Andrew wiped off his hooves, considering himself in the floor-length, bathroom mirror. “Perhaps some antlers, for balance. Reindeer could work.” Andrew implanted horse hoof stem cells where his feet had been. Some replaced fingernails with talons, others chose bear fur head-to-toe. Alligator skin for some, fly eyes for a few, many chose prehensile tails or … Read moreProgress in a Fashion
A pale, weedy man with a severe hunch and baggy clothes stood in the lobby of a trendy restaurant, speaking to a chef festooned with tattoos. “No, it’s not salt water taffy.” “Then why make it in the ocean?” “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. This is something new, a delicacy, a very rare … Read moreThe Better Man
Silver mesh covered Donna’s head like a beekeeper’s hat. She wore as much copper jewelry on her ears, neck, nose, wrists, fingers, toes and ankles as she could carry. Some of the newer pieces left ugly green rings on her skin, but she hoped it meant that copper was leaching into her body. She had … Read moreFairies Tale
All the waters were overflowing, Because of all the rain, Rivers swelled and jumped their banks, The dam—broken from the strain. The townsfolk gathered bundles, As the waters rose and rose, People headed for the higher ground, To escape the deadly flows. But as they hauled possessions, Up the ever-steeper land, If the rain kept … Read moreThe Savior’s Secret Sauce
Stories of loose tigers hiding in the Boise foothills had been circulating for decades. Much like the legend of Forrest Fenn’s mystery gold hidden somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, the story captured the public’s attention and slightly improved the economy of any burned-out mill and mining town in the region. Catering to modern gold-rushers, one-pump … Read moreTigers of the Valley
As a hairstylist, Ellen spent her days on her feet. The more hours, the better. Having downtime between clients meant she was losing money. She paid rent on a fifty square foot workstation in a prestigious salon. Years of standing in place, a sedentary after-work lifestyle, and habit of buying breakfast or lunch at nearby … Read moreSlightly High
As Punter arrived for his shift, he saw his floor boss outside muttering to himself and smoking more aggressively than usual. “What’s up boss?” “That idiot upstairs. He doesn’t know molasses from his asshole.” Although haunted by the image his boss had conjured, Punter understood he was lamenting Augustus Zuckerstiefel Junior, the current president of … Read moreSweet Affliction