Clarence was nearing one of the bright green plastic buoys that marked his lobster pots. The rights to lobstering in the bay had been in his family since before his grandfather’s day. Now retired, Clarence rowed out to the pots every other day or so, depending on the weather. He had lost his tolerance for … Read moreThe Puzzling Lobsterman
Pat was fingering his iPhone as he walked back to work from lunch, involved in a Twitter feud about the films of Wes Anderson. His face was squinted into a fuming pinch. He didn’t notice Charlie on the way in through the glass roundabout. Pat impatiently bumped against the glass, trying to hurry through. “Hey … Read moreRelaxation Sphere
Tony hated afternoons. All the promise of the morning had been spent and all the good TV was hours away. Something about watching TV while the sun was shining made him feel depressed. As if he should be out there, where the achievers were, finishing up whatever it is they had been doing all day–skiing, … Read moreChaos Theory
Robbie and Dane watched the kids playing soccer with a careful eye. It was fine balance between being a fan and a creep, and they wanted to stay on the good side of the equation so they could track all the games each weekend. Dane and Robbie ran a food truck and paid top dollar … Read moreDoing Well by Doing Good
Denson couldn’t put on weight. He was tall and wiry but his pie plate-sized belt buckle weighed nearly as much as he did. “My brother told me I got worms Doc,” he complained. “Maybe from the elk jerky I made last fall. It sorta tasted funny.” “How long have you been skinny?” the doctor asked. … Read moreThe Alternate Path
The obstetrician told Gladys that her baby was too large. “Based on the scans, it’s twice the normal size. This could lead to some complications,” the doctor warned. “Like what?” a nervous Gladys asked. “The baby could be diabetic, morbidly obese, or grow so rapidly that he’ll be as tall as a man by the … Read moreStuck on You
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
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