Tag: literally stories

All Stories, General Fiction

Miss Hart vs. The State by Carlie Morgan

literallystories2014

This story deals with subjects that some readers may find upsetting.

 

1

I’m willing the old lady to take her seat already so the driver can go. Come on, come on, old girl, just pick a seat, any seat.

“Please take mine,” I say and stand. She smiles a paper-thin smile and eases herself onto the damp fabric. I hold onto a pole as the bus shudders onwards and we’re off again.  I take out my phone and replay the message. “Miss Hart, Tabitha is unwell again. Please come and pick her up as soon as possible.”

The way Tabby’s teacher lingers on the word “again” sends a painful throb to my stomach.

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All Stories, General Fiction

Fourth of July by Jacob Wrich

literallystories2014

The Year You Were Born:

Your mother leaned forward in an aluminum lawn chair, scrunched her toes into the grass as the hot wind blew waves through her summer dress. She took another fleshy bite of watermelon and let her eyes slide closed as she savored the cool sweetness that filled her mouth. Your dad sat at the picnic table drinking a can of beer. He cupped a match from the breeze and lit a cigarette, and when your mother leaned forward, he stole a glimpse of her swollen breasts through his exhale.

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All Stories, Fantasy, Short Fiction

The Carnassa Sea by R.C. Capasso

literallystories2014

“It’s time to go down to the surface.”

Mayli turned her face against the cabin wall. “I’m too tired.”

Tama took a breath. “I know you are. But you’ll like the surface, and it’s an easy transport.”

Mayli swiveled her head back to reveal a pale face, too thin, too creased for such a young age. “Easy?”

Of course nothing was easy for Mayli. The encroaching paralysis brought pain with every movement. But that was the point, wasn’t it?

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All Stories, General Fiction

The Shroud of Tulsa by John B. Mahaffie

literallystories2014

How all this got started was there was this guy Lee, I don’t think anybody remembers his last name. He hadn’t been in Springdale long. Quiet guy, late 20s. Decent looking. Beard, muscles, longish hair, bit of a mountain man way about him.

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All Stories, General Fiction, Short Fiction

The Familiar Journey by Bethan Dee

literallystories2014

The voices of the three funny men occupy my headphones, and I rub my new, hastily bought gloves together. On a Friday afternoon, in early December, the central train station is naturally pulsating with luggage-burdened passengers. Their conversations are upbeat, their postures eager. I find it a nice change of pace; seeing faces that aren’t marred by frustrated creases. The train times are so far unaffected, and for the time being, civility reigns supreme. We’re all going home. And it is such a wonderful feeling.

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All Stories, Historical, Short Fiction

Slipping Gears by Meagan Noel Hart

literallystories2014

1919_MolassesFlood_Boston

 

Henry watched the girl in her drop-waisted dress, heavy brown hair tied up in an even heavier bow, as she scrubbed molasses off the drive chain of the Black Beauty bicycle. She worked the delicate brushes through the tiny crevices, dunking them in saltwater — a necessary evil —  to free them of gook. Her dress was stained, and brown water dripped over her knees.

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