Driftwood

By Neil Brosnan Angela isn’t exactly sure when her loathing of public holidays first began, when each impending break from work had become a source of anguish rather than joy. She had once adored such breaks, and had perfected the art of manipulating isolated bank holidays into an extra week of annual leave – providing …

Watching Cricket with My Father

By R.B. Simpson Unsurprisingly, and like all my fellow boarders, the highlight of our school year was the Christmas holidays, straight after we had written our last end-of-year exam. Six weeks of unrestricted mayhem lay before us! We would rip our ties off and would be playing a last game of touch rugby on the …

Academy Classics: O Tannenbaum

By Thomas Page The tree sort of slumped over. Ornaments scattered all over the ground. On the way down, the tree took out several pictures on the mantle. The ground was covered in broken glass, clay, and porcelain. Their dog, Sparkles, was trying to eat the remains of a surfing Santa. “Well, I’ll get some …

A Sampling of What’s to Come

By Lynette Murry Christmas Is Vastly Different Christmas is vastly different, since you’re not here A somber season, no laughter or holiday cheer Our lives are shattered, nothing’s the same Memories recalled, with the mention of your name Thanksgiving was difficult, but that’s just the start An empty chair in remembrance of you, broke my …

Poem by Ian Copestick

By Ian Copestick   God, at this time of year, these Sub-zero nights can really Get you down. I wonder what It must be like to live somewhere Like L.A. where it's Sunny all year round and They've never seen snow. Except in the excruciating Xmas movies that they churn Out each year. Right now, …

Christmas Contest: 3rd Place Fiction

"Christmas Presence" By Andrew Paul Grell “It’s time, Nick.  Are you up for it?”  Josh assessed the old man’s visage.  It wasn’t like the old days. Larger territory.  Vast increase in audience. Security. Changes in entrance and exit protocols.  Not that any of that mattered; it was Nick or nobody. “It’s been a while since …

Christmas Contest: Poetry 1st Place

"The Ghosts of Christmas Past" By Micah Singleton The Ghosts Of Christmas Past As a cold wind blows, the hour comes fast, to a time when Christmas, will be part of the past. With no tree of lights, and no gifts to bear, a man sits alone, as a chill fills the air. His fire …

Christmas Contest: Fiction 1st Place

A Christmas Gamble By Matt McGee Christmas is giving. It’s surprises. The unexpected. Maybe, some years, there can be just a little bit of magic thrown in. Some people need to be alone to feel that. Chris loves to lie in her room, lights off or at least dimmed down to little more than a …

Christmas

By John Page Christmas can have many different means depending upon who you ask. The holiday holds different values for various people. Since you asked for my opinion, if not too bad, I will tell you about mine. The following is my view and is not that of the other editors.  This for entertainment only. …

Tommy Haiku #126-130

By Thomas Page What is the color Of justice? Is it judge’s Black or angel white? The pragmatist must Wonder if a sword is only Sharp piercing a heart. The pragmatist’s thoughts Are like dull skipping stones With a pow’r to blind. November must be Latin for “stressful” ‘cause it’s Thirty days of “aaahh!” I …