Lucy took a deep breath in and held it. This time it would work. She could feel it. She hit the button on her toy wand. The pink star lit up and the wand sang its muffled, pre-recorded track. Lucy held her arms out like in the pictures and drew swirls in the air. When …
Fresh Bite: Part 2
The moonlight glowed off of Nana's white hair as she hunched in a patch of leafy greens. Her long, knobby fingers wrapped around a bundle of leaves. With a tug, the plant ripped out of the earth leaving a deep pockmark. "Macauley,” she said as she peeled back the cold, damp earth enclosing the rutabaga. …
Fresh Bite: Part 1
Tonight, the spray can clattered like a warning. The trolls had to work fast; the train would start rolling any moment. Mac ran a blue hand over the train car and got a feel for it. Smooth and sun-baked despite the night air, a solid pang to the palm. Nothing like those paint-eater concrete slabs …
Camp Dearly Departed
The skin wasn’t perfect, by any means, but it was free. The edges of the hide were tougher than they should have been and Mortimer Dixie had already identified a dozen puncture marks. The buck had met the front end of a pickup about a week ago and the driver, who had always fancied the …
Begonia
The peonies were a hand’s turn past perfection. Instead of the tight, round folds Holly had expected, the flowers flared outward like grandparent arms open for a hug. The petals had become papery as their veins dried out in the sun, and as they curled back, the canary pollen rods below were exposed. Even if …
Valentine
The bell rang brightly and Zuzu pulled her plump, red lips into a smile. The next client was right on time even with the foot of fresh snow outside. Her bridal party trailed behind her like a brood of baby ducks as they streamed into Gingersnap Bridal. This would be a fun one and she …
The Meeting
He’d shown up late but he’d shown up. At least he could tell his wife that. Dawn had yet to break and the whole town was tinted liked the brightness had been dialed back a couple notes. The meeting was in some church he’d driven by a million times. Before now, it had occupied his …
The Dog: Part Two
The overcast sky was a particularly forgettable shade of white as if a child neglected to color it in. Kelp and foam sketched the boundaries of the waters. A stretch of driftwood was shoved up at the head of the shoreline and the waves reached for it, relaxed, reached and relaxed continuously in a rolling …
The Dog: Part One
“Excuse me, ma’am? Looks like your coupon is expired.”“Well, scan it again.”The tall, too-slender cashier forced a smile as she scanned the coupon. The register buzzed angrily. “ERR, CPN EXPR” popped up in green letters. It was only to be expected. The coupon, as evident by its faded print and worn edges, was two years …
Unwelcome Interview
Roger’s coffee had cooled considerably but he hardly noticed. There were only two situations he allowed his coffee to get cold. Either he was shoulders deep working on an engine or he was having a particularly great conversation. This cup had been neglected for the second reason. “‘Ey, Roger,” said one of the three dwarves sitying at his table […]
