Clint preferred showing over telling, the width of his shoulders, the location of his feet. He invited the clients to watch him, to learn from his form, his steady, even reps, balanced sets that worked each muscle group. Clint was a specimen of physical human potential. We all had something to learn.… more
Category Archives: FICTION
The 99 Days of Hell
FICTION by Stuart M. RossThe couple said, “it will get better.” They said, “let’s do that tomorrow.” They said, “we got through today and it could’ve been worse.” They said, “God willing,” and they said, “from your mouth to God’s ears.” The husband said, “that’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul,” and death rattled inside him.… more
Stacking Napkins
FICTION by Maya JohnsonWorking somewhere as temporary and replaceable as a fast food restaurant, you can pick a new identity and try it on for a season. I become obedient, quiet. It’s easier that way.… more
The Last King of the Skinheads
FICTION by Adam J. Galanski-De LeónThey drank to the good times, and then drank the good times away. It wasn’t two years in until she stabbed him in the gut in the middle of the night after catching him messaging multiple other girls on his burner phone.… more
PRACTICE
FICTION by Jack SullivanMonday night, judo class. Ishaan is on top of me, struggling with his grip. Though sensei Frank just demonstrated the choke for us, slowly, thoroughly, Ishaan’s already forgotten the hand work. His thin fingers grasp and re-grasp on my lapels, his knuckles grazing my face.… more
License to Carry
FICTION by Anthony GedellShe could have stopped having a drink if she cared. If anyone cared. But she didn’t see much point in caring and neither did anyone else. When Attica was young, she wondered why it seemed as though nobody cared if she was around. Then she didn’t much care about being around.… more
Bible Study
FICTION by Garret MillerMen like James don’t know softness, don’t know a whole lot other than work. They still look for God, though. Even after hours on the floor at Honda, they crawl towards church fronts, hungry and tired and missing their wives and brothers and sisters and cousins and mothers. The gods they know during the day are not gentle like the one they are here looking for. … more
TWO STORIES
FICTION by Ani KingSisyphus waits for his cowboy boyfriend to call and tell him he’s fucked up, he’s real sorry, he’s on his way. He didn’t mean to send Sisyphus away again, he won’t do it again. Sisyphus is always waiting for the phone to ring, but he always has to be the one to call. Sisyphus always calls.… more
The Rattler
FICTION by Christopher StevensonMom said the Lord blessed me with a gift that would make people who loved me happy and people who mistreated me dead. … more
Dragon Teeth
FICTION by Sacha BissonnetteI told him the luckiest, bravest kids get dragon teeth instead of normal, adult teeth. I told him that dragons have big hearts like his, that need extra protecting. That’s why their teeth are sharper and stronger and longer than human teeth. Usually, a dragon about his age just needs to show his new teeth, and the threat will run away terrified. But if that doesn’t work, you need to bite. You need to bite down hard.… more
