The thirty-four days of my mother and father’s divorce felt like thirty-four excruciating weeks. It felt even longer on weekends, depending on what sort of breakfasts I shared with my mother at the dining table, all alone in utter, galling silence. One of her chief concerns at the beginning was my curriculum, then came my appetite. “Are you okay, son?” she would ask from time to time. I proved to be a lot tougher than she had realized. Meanwhile, the ten-pound weight loss she had suffered thus far to her own detriment appeared in full display from her cheekbones to her stomach. She would water the indoor snake plants several times on her days off if I failed to remind her not to repeat this process. I had to deal with the most critical ingredients missing from her once-palatable recipes.
Continue reading “Full Circle by Soidenet Gue”Costco Saturday by Tobi Pledger
My stomach growls like a badger as I park my silver Rav4 and walk toward the entrance. As a distraction from the rumbling, I consider the questions I always have when I come here. What is the deal with that iconic red bark mulch? Is it pine mulch that’s been dyed, or is it made from California redwood trees? And, why did Costco planners put the cart corral for incoming shoppers next to the exit door? The cross traffic is a serious problem.
Continue reading “Costco Saturday by Tobi Pledger”Still Speaking by Christopher Ananias
I sit among the dandelions by a black glimmering tombstone. It shines bright and final—never a dull moment. A picture of an old woman glares at me—her trespasser. The sprig of fresh lilacs in the bronze vase speaks of a loved one. A dog stands on the road staring at me.
Continue reading “Still Speaking by Christopher Ananias”Literally Reruns – Marco Etheridge
Marco Etheridge (and, now, his son Liam) has a wonderfully twisted POV in his writing. He also knows how to twerk an Edito’s nose, so to speak. You can deride any sort of premise in front of him and we will find a way to turn it into a winner.
Continue reading “Literally Reruns – Marco Etheridge”Week 546 -Motorhomes, Fandabbydozzy And Eldorado Has It’s Place.
Hello there folks!
Here we are at Week 546. The year is fair flying in!
I’m trying something that I’ve not done before and I hope it works. You see, fingers crossed, this posting will have four clips on it!!
Continue reading “Week 546 -Motorhomes, Fandabbydozzy And Eldorado Has It’s Place.”The Sound of the Spare Key by Zenith Knox
I park Nate’s Mustang convertible on the darkest stretch of the bridge, far from the street lamps, where the wind hums an eerie tune through the rails and the thrashing current of the river drowns out any voice of reason. My cell phone shrieks and pierces the competing noises of the night. It’s him. I answer.
“Esther! Where the hell’s my car?”
Continue reading “The Sound of the Spare Key by Zenith Knox”Literary Imitations and Good Mental Health by Michael Bloor
It’s an April Sunday afternoon, the long, wet, cold winter has not yet relented. Alan sits staring at the blank email on his laptop. He’s meant to be sending a newsy update message to his brother in New Zealand. The rain splatters against the window. His brother was wanting him to come to New Zealand on holiday. Apparently, there’s a beach on the Coromandel peninsula where a hot water spring bubbles up through the sand: you could dig yourself your own hot tub, and sit there watching the tide roll in…
No fuckin’ chance of the Coromandel peninsula this year, bro.
Continue reading “Literary Imitations and Good Mental Health by Michael Bloor”The House Guest by Edward Ahern
It was a backyard party with an announcement. Bev’s promotion had been long coming and George Filmore had broadcast invited her coworkers and as many neighbors as he could get hold of. The two groups, unknown to each other and with little in common other than Bev, exchanged oil and water chit chat, slithering off each other without really blending.
Continue reading “The House Guest by Edward Ahern”The Milkboy and The Vampire by Michael Shawyer
“You’re too young to be gallivanting around looking for a job.”
“I’m nearly fourteen,” James puffed his chest out. “And jolly reliable.”
“Who says?”
“My sister.” He switched to a well-spoken accent, “One should always consider James for tasks of this nature. He is excellent and jolly reliable.”
Continue reading “The Milkboy and The Vampire by Michael Shawyer”Here to Serve by Michael Smith
“Welcome”, chimed that cheerful and, to be honest, in recent weeks, increasingly irritating voice.
I took a deep breath, what did I really want?
“I can sense you are undecided. Allow me to run through some of the options you have enjoyed in recent visits.”
Continue reading “Here to Serve by Michael Smith”