By Joan Leotta Elena slid into the chair across the table from her friend Alda at Nettie’s Coffee Emporium. “Sorry I’m late. Overseas phone call. Did you order coffee for me?” Alda laughed. “ Of course. And a pistachio muffin too. You have the same thing every week.” She pushed one a plate over to … Continue reading What’s in a Name?
The Golden Beach
By Bernadette Kloth & Steve Warren A full moon was waning and the nursing staff at St. Mary’s Hospital were all on their toes. A young nurse’s white Nike sneakers squeaked as she made a u-turn into room 444 when she heard one of her patient’s moaning. The older lady had been admitted yesterday and … Continue reading The Golden Beach
The Woman in the Water
By J. F. Salocin A blue infinity. I float there, weightless, lunar strings connected at my back, the man in the moon is my puppeteer, pushing and pulling the waves, making me dance and sway without control. The only true power I have in this void is to stay afloat, tongue tasting the nectar we … Continue reading The Woman in the Water
Strontium
By Jim Bates Sandra Mason was a studious girl who took life seriously, much to the joy of her father, Wallace, a physics teacher at the University of Minnesota. “I’m so proud of Sandy,” he said, coming down the stairs after telling his seven-year-old daughter good night. “She’s just like I used to be at … Continue reading Strontium
I Took the Plant Out for a Walk
By Mehreen Ahmed At midnight, someone was knocking on my window pane. It was a sinewy twig, wavering in the blustery winds. Knocks persisted. The window had fogged up from the recent cold waves. I walked up and stood before it. A coal spattered night, there was the twig rubbing itself on the fog. This … Continue reading I Took the Plant Out for a Walk
The Alter Ego
By Medha Godbole Singh She was standing at a crossing on the road, waiting to get to the other side. She was lightly tapping her feet, impatient. It was getting late for her on her first day at work as a Public Relations assistant. That was not her plan. The girl looked at her watch … Continue reading The Alter Ego
A Small Haul
By Ranjit Kulkarni At 9.15 pm, Sub Inspector Satya got a phone call on his landline at home. "Sir, tonight," the sneaky voice at the other end said. Sub inspector Satya looked around to ensure no one was listening. His wife was not in the room. "When?" he asked. There was a slight disturbance in … Continue reading A Small Haul
To the Path
By Damon Day “Tip-top, now, talk the talk! You must be the one they call Red!” The blonde greets her with all the pish and posh of a high-class noblewoman and the twirl of a mad one. “So, set the standard, and let us discuss our deal.” Words fail her, so Red simply shakes her … Continue reading To the Path
The Step-Mother
By Ann Christine Tabaka Madalyn did not like having to be alone with her step-mother all the time. She was irked with her father for having to travel far away from home for work so often. Her step-mother was not mean or cruel like the evil step-mother in the stories that she read, like Cinderella. … Continue reading The Step-Mother
A Tall Tower to Sleep In
By W. T. Paterson Jeremy felt like an out-of-place monster sitting in the line of cars to pick up his twelve-year-old daughter Emilia from an all-women’s coding camp. Tech giant ByteSyze hosted an eight-week summer program for young women interested in STEM careers, the final week of which happened to coincide with the one-year anniversary … Continue reading A Tall Tower to Sleep In
