Shivering and frightened, he huddled in the center of the crypt, as far from the sound of the rats as possible. Would someone discover him years from now, the only skeleton not encased in a coffin? Although terrified, he was reluctant to do what they demanded, uncertain if it would save him. They had lied … Continue reading
The Dream
According to my father, my grandmother was an alarmist. My mother, in turn, dismisses my father as a wishful thinker—a dreamer—as “it couldn’t happen here.” Until recently, I whistled along with my father, but no longer. Since my colleagues and I were ushered out of our meeting, deprived of our phones and belts and housed … Continue reading
The Third Option
She and Rita hadn’t been in touch for at least six months. Always one thing or another: new brakes for the car, babysitting the grandchild, blood pressure requiring attention and, most annoying, the condo scaffolding under blue netting driving her out of the building. Similar trivial events had kept her away from her usual social … Continue reading
Funeral Chat
In response to Fred’s question, “What’ll I say at your funeral?” Chunker, who was slumped over a pint of the cheapest, jerked up and asked, “Am I dying?” “After today’s fiasco, I want to plan ahead,” Fred said. “As your best friend, I’ll be a speaker at your gig.” “Don’t call it a gig, that … Continue reading
Camp Intruder
Diane bolts up in bed, awakened by the sound of the cabin door creaking open. Twisting to free herself from her tangled sleeping bag, she listens, heart thumping, to hesitant footsteps on the other side of the flimsy wall. As close as a touch, she hears feet shuffling across the small adjoining room and chokes back … Continue reading
The bay
My mission may be futile. Perhaps I imagined the sighting. But the poignant call and the loon’s hesitant plunge persuaded me that I had, after all these years, found my grandmother. And this time I will not be diverted. This time I will honor my promise. It was by chance that I came to this … Continue reading
The Fine Print
Being of sound mind, I never believe ads. And although I never read the fine print, I always tick off ‘agreed’. As a result, I am now confined to a basement room watching foreign feet pass by the window. Recently, having reached the age when I couldn’t count on many more decades of life, I … Continue reading
The Brown Dress
Although she’d stuffed it to the back of the cupboard, every so often a small patch of the brown dress peaked out. But, unlike her regular well-worn clothes, the brown dress never enjoyed the light of day. Ten years earlier she had tried the dress on in order to show her mother that her gift … Continue reading
The Bird According to Jack
Jack-Be-Nimble—seventeen, energetic, restless—stretched back on the grassy bank, his feet dangling in the brook. The cool white water bubbled past, tugging his toes and ticking his arches. Eyes closed, he savored the sound of the water gurgling and the murmur of the wind in the leaves. He studied the soft grey clouds floating across the … Continue reading
Jeremy Irons
“Jeremy Irons,” a voice squealed. I looked up to see a woman, a few years younger than me, face aglow, her long black coat flapping open, gripping a tenuously burdened tray. “Mind if I join you?” she said indicating the other tables at the small diner were all occupied. What could I say? Unable to … Continue reading