by Amanda Crum Donetta Cain was an eyeballer. Everyone else at the factory relied on measurements, and she had too, in the first year. She had poured the syrup precisely, kneaded the sugary mass until her hands ached, rolled it finger-thin against a yardstick to cut perfectly formed candy canes. It had seemed important back … Continue reading Candy Canes
by Marco Etheridge &&&Booth’s momentary enlightenment cost him three broken ribs and a moon-shaped scar under his eye. Sara was only the catalyst. The scar stayed with him longer than she did. &&&He could still see her in the old squat, rolled up on one elbow, the dirty bedsheet falling to her waist. &&&“Why are … Continue reading A Breach In The Wall
&&& By the third Friday of October, the worst of the cold hasn’t found its way east. Shelby thinks it wants to snow, but it can’t yet. Nature has to wait sometimes, too, even if only on itself. Freezing rain hangs translucent buds from the cat’s cradle of naked branches outside her house. &&& Shelby … Continue reading
by Reed Kuehn &&&The sun warmed him as the rolling waves sang their hypnotic song. Eyelids heavy, he licked the salt from his lips, content to lie there on the sand without a care in the world. &&&“Mr. Askerian,” a soft voice called to him. The sunlight dimmed and the crashing waves quieted. “Mr. Askerian,” … Continue reading I’ve Got a Dream for you
by Hayden Moore Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep–William Shakespeare: Henry VI part II It was a place where the sea met the rocks and the rocks melted into the sea. In the shade of a twisted palm tree hosting thousands of glistening blackberries at its base, the girl watched as the … Continue reading Sea Foam
by Epiphany Ferrell It occurred to Marion that she’d been lying in bed quite a long time. At first she’d watched the shadow from the windowpane move up the wall, across the ceiling, down the other wall. Then she’d not been able to see it anymore. It all seemed gray, the indistinct light of not-quite-morning. … Continue reading Freshman
by Greg Roensch The still water bottles were happiest when the sparkling stayed on the opposite side of the shelf. In truth, both sides preferred to keep any interaction to a minimum. The way the still water bottles saw it, their fizzy counterparts were carbonated showoffs who only came around for special occasions, like holidays … Continue reading Still or Sparkling
by Elliot Harper “Where are you going with that? Hey, peg leg! Huh? Hey, Marky boy! I’m talking to you!” They burst out laughing at his comments. They don’t expect me to answer. I’ve had enough experience with their bullying to know that. They just want to torture me. Sometimes I wonder if they will … Continue reading The Bombyx Gigantica
by Bruce Barrow &&&Somehow she always had the money. Her favorite was Oxy, but Vicodin or Percocet would do. Sometimes, though, the money was harder to get than others. &&&On the radio in Ben’s Lexus people talked about how the market always served the consumer but they never said anything real. It was the kind … Continue reading Slug Bug
by Dan A. Cardoza I can’t get enough interstate I-80, between Melissa and her recent past. I never anticipated that I’d see so many dead Jack-Rabbits. Tommy isn’t far behind. I’m convinced of that. I know Tommy very well. I’m his brother from another father and his best friend. My older brother Tommy is the … Continue reading The Harrowing Tale of Wyoming Jack-Rabbits
Dream Noir 