Maggie and I were relaxing on the couch watching television. Finally, I couldn’t contain myself any longer and made a big point of clearing my throat as a prelude to what I felt I had to say. In response, she casually glanced at me. I took it as my chance. “You know, Mags,” I said, turning to face her. “I …
Tougher Than She Looked
August 2, 2022 :: 0 comments
She was a poet. She lived alone and often caught her muse by walking the streets of the city she called home. Her friends cautioned her. “You need to watch out, Lily. The creeps are out there. Drug dealers, pimps, and a hundred different kinds of deviants. You’re no match for any of them.” Lily understood. She was a tiny …
A Bicycle Built for Two
June 4, 2022 :: 1 comment
A tandem bicycle was the last thing Liz and I bought before she left me for her personal trainer, a muscle-bound guy named Zeke. “I’m never coming back,” she told me as they drove off on his Harley. “Fine!” I yelled after her. “See if I care.” Except, I did care. I missed her a lot; for a while anyway. …
Fear of Snakes
March 19, 2022 :: 0 comments
We’d been dating for about a month when Lorrie got a bull snake as a pet and brought it over to my apartment. “Here,” she said, pushing the writhing reptile toward me. “Her name is Julie. Want to hold her?” No. Not on your life. But I liked Lorrie a lot and wanted to make a good impression, so I …
Emil’s Magic
January 22, 2022 :: 0 comments
He was standing off to the side of the city Greenway looking at the sky when he felt a tap on his shoulder. “Hey, what are you doing?” Emil turned. It was a policeman on bicycle patrol. “I’m just looking at the clouds, officer,” he said, politely. “That one over there reminds me of a bunny rabbit.” Unimpressed, the cop …
Sodium
July 3, 2021 :: 0 comments
“Hi, Wendell.” I turned my head, tracking the voice past the light blue wall with a seascape print on to the doorway. It was Jared, my dietician. “How are we doing today?” Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a jerk, but I’d been cooped up in the hospital living on their boring food for eleven days and I was sick …
Ben in the Jar
March 13, 2021 :: 0 comments
Ignoring the sudden, throbbing pain in her hip, Katie limped to the front of the class. “Kids!” She set her cane aside and motioned to get the second graders’ attention. “Look at this.” She held up a glass canning jar with a dragonfly in it and listened to their enthusiastic “Ohhs” and “Ahhs.” Jeremy, one of her more inquisitive students …