Know your audience. Play Willie. Play Hank Williams. Play Patsy Cline. Play Springsteen and hum along. Cry into your drink. Try to feel happy. Talk to the bartender. Try not to look at yourself in the mirror behind the bar. Drink until you can’t feel the pain in your lower back. Drink until your cash is gone. Bring just enough cash so that you stay long enough, but not too long so people think you have a problem. Don’t get kicked out. I love you.… more
Writer: Colin Brightwell
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
FICTION by Colin BrightwellShe doesn’t know what it’s like when those trains go by at night. The railroad tracks behind my trailer, carrying freight eastbound to St. Louis, or west to Los Angeles. Better places far away from here. She doesn’t understand how loud it gets when that train passes and that whistle blows and I can’t hardly… more
Bringing it all Back Home
FICTION by Colin Brightwell“I’ll take the I Love You Today,” I say. I take out a crumbled five dollar bill and hand it to her.… more
