This is what it does. It lands you in a new home fitted with bunk beds and barred windows and filled with stinky friends and a daily drip, so to speak, of enough chemicals to make it impossible for me to fly to those manic and dangerous heights ever again, to make it so I can never be shirtless of my own accord, to ensure that any exercise I do will be in the exercise room during exercise class. The duck never does yoga; yoga does the duck.… more
Category Archives: FICTION
The Nosebleed Bazaar
FICTION by Hank KirtonI momentarily lost my hearing due to a long exhausted yawn and missed the blast of the gunshot next door.… more
Ouroboros
FICTION by Todd Donovan WhitleyI was hiding out with Joe Dooley at his godforsaken apartment because a man, a big, big man, this Blanchard man whom I feared immensely, had a bounty out for my head.… more
Hooters
FICTION by Jeffrey M. Feingold“Lloyd,” he says, “how can you hit on girls half your age at this watered-down version of a strip club, then quit your job on principle?” I hear his words, but they don’t register. I’m already dreaming about my lunar landing, looking for a place to plant my flag. “I don’t know, it’s my happy place, know what I mean? You just can’t piss on another man’s happy place.”… more
Signs of Suffering
FICTION by AD SchweissI want to make it home sober but before I left the station tonight I made the mistake of pulling the report from that time when you called.… more
The Senior Games Pickleball Champion of Macon County
FICTION by James HannaIf we had come here a couple of centuries ago, I’d have hunted bear, chased down wolves, and maybe fought an Indian or two. But lacking the athletic challenges with which Daniel Boone was blessed, I’ve been forced to embrace the frontiersman in me by playing pickleball.… more
The Skin of It All
FICTION by Devon WellsNow in the poolhouse, with total access to the woman he craved, John pulled away, gulped back two, three mouthfuls, who was counting. “I love you, I don’t know, that’s not the point. It’s just—I’m not Des. You can’t slap a tattoo, a beard on me and, boom, I’m your husband.”… more
Think Beyond the Breakers
FICTION by Nicholas VigliettiAnother lumber-hucking workday in the yard had put a lil’ more wear on these soles. It barely covered the bills, but I had a spot in a cramped, too-many-dudes’ apartment, right on the sand; dude’s trying to become men, or men trying to remain young dudes.… more
Letting Anna Go
FICTION by Harrison KimIt was about the onesie. The onesie for the dog. And maybe about the honey on the fridge, and the whole plumber episode. I think it’s about bad brain biochemistry.… more
Black Heart
FICTION by Erik CederblomBefore, they had only seen a white-haired, old guy. Now, they see an angry man armed with an axe and are silent.… more
