Midnight is such a tantalizing hour, the birth of a new day, the next twenty-four hours blank pages intended to be filled. An hour associated with hope; it’s crazy how easily that same hope can come crashing down in a single minute
Month: May 2023
“Toys in a Claw Machine” by Connor Gustafson
As I sip my grimy, soiled, defiled, dirty spiced chai with oat milk, a middle-aged couple sitting at the windowsill scratches scratch-off tickets. We are in a New Haven cafe’s conservatory with used books in two of the four walls that are not glass. I surmise their life story based on their outfits
“Hairpiece” by Noah Praver
I’ve been a writer for 25 years and haven’t finished a single book yet. I write all day, every day, and have practically nothing to show for it. I don’t really know why I write, although I surely do enjoy it; all I know for sure is that I haven’t made a penny from what I’ve written so far
“Jonas & Nadia” by Pascale Joachim
I hear barking coming from inside the house as I help my parents unload our minivan in the already packed driveway. It sounds like Nella got big. I toss my backpack over my shoulder and bend to lift my two duffle bags. Frustrated because I’ll have to make two trips to bring everything inside, I curse myself for overpacking. Again
“The Mountain, the Lake, and Rain” by Orion Emerick
My great-aunt Rose told me stars were air holes poked in the top of a container that huge aliens were keeping us in, like children trapping fireflies. She said we got fireworks when the massive aliens flicked ash from their cigarettes. She wove wonderful delusions to explain the beauty of the world
“Patrus” by Cameron Deslaurier
Per the Delta-Deviance Articles, Article I, Section 4, citizens of Atollis must report all sightings of unregistered Deltas to the DATA within 24 hours on penalty of jail time. If a citizen has reasonable suspicion that an individual is an unregistered Delta, they are urged to leave an anonymous tip at a DATA precinct
“Rodeo Heat” by Gabrielle Esposito
You’re sitting on hot metal stands wondering how you got here. Not the physical here of Dry Cactus Rodeo Arena or Benson, Arizona, but your path in life—31 and married, wearing long sleeves and jeans in 115-degree rodeo heat because you’re trying to cover up the abuse-bruises on your body
“Stealing Paris” by Michaela Barnes
In 1982, I stole some beautiful things in Paris. Looking back, I realized I learned how to maintain my composure after earlier failed attempts at thieving. In 1967, I was five when I was lined up with my five older siblings and accused of throwing a half-opened can of Spam behind a box of gift-wrapping paper in the basement
“A Night and a Day in Hibbing, Minnesota” by Nick Rommel
My introduction to Hibbing, Minnesota took place by a gate at the end of a pine needle-strewn forest road, where I met Steve, an elderly man whose clothing clung to his body like an afterthought, making a last-ditch effort to contain the ruddy skin and wispy white hair jostling for exposure at his every missed button, torn hole, and sandal gap