Pond Life

By Andrea Chesman A slow warmth seeps through his body. Is there anything more satisfying than awakening from a long winter’s sleep? His thoughts drift lazily. The scent of lilies, insistent, floral. And the cry of the loons, eerie and frightening. Sun on the top of his head. His heart rate speeds up; his discomfort … Continue reading Pond Life

Metamorphoses in Reverse

By Sara Davis Imagine a story you know, but this version begins with a man embracing a tree. The tree is a laurel tree, slight and smooth-barked, shuddering as if wracked by a solitary storm in the silent wood. Its branches swing like the arms of a runner, exuding a perfume of agitation from its … Continue reading Metamorphoses in Reverse

Person. Place. Prey.

Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime. by Honey Rand It wasn’t the first trip or last; it wasn’t the most memorable or cheapest, or most expensive. I went to Amsterdam for cheese, tulips, wooden shoes, and Heineken. It’s a big city. The streets are crowded and dirty, like many big cities, and there I learned that it was … Continue reading Person. Place. Prey.

Playground Love

by Paloma Thoen February 2014 “Elena’s gotta go,” my mom tells me as she hands me a piss cup. I concentrate on the opposing wall so that I can pee. I wrap a strand of my hair around my finger until it rips from my scalp. I worry she’ll find the bottle of detox solution … Continue reading Playground Love

Our Boys From Musandam

by Jillian Schedneck The driver flirted with both of us. As soon as we climbed in the Dhow Khasab Tour’s van, Mohamed told Tori and I he was honored to transport such beautiful women to Musandam, the place he now called home. Tori was all “ooohs” and “ahhhs” at the snack box on each of … Continue reading Our Boys From Musandam

The Cadet

by Valerie A. Smith “I regret to inform you, Cadet Salter. You have failed to meet expectations and are being honorably discharged from The United States Military Academy.” I recognized Captain Johnson as soon as I stepped in his office and stood at attention. “Cadet Salter, reporting as ordered, Sir,” I saluted. His reputation of … Continue reading The Cadet

Table for Two

by Beth Konkoski “Table for two,” the phrase had not stopped echoing in Sarah’s head since she had read it on the receipt while cleaning off the counter and drinking her morning coffee. It had been in a pile with other papers and the change Kyle had taken out of his pocket in a hurry … Continue reading Table for Two

About St. Louis

Catherine Uroff Chip asked me about my father once. He said it was important to know every little thing about each other, even the bad stuff. “Better start with the parents,” he said and then he told me about the time he saw his father shake his fist at his mother. So I told him … Continue reading About St. Louis

Harlequin Babies

Laura Valeri Lucy finished her round of depositions early. She could have gone home. Tonya would have surely appreciated help with dinner, but Lucy felt caught in an impulse that was growing alarmingly frequent. She drove, listening to the end of an Indigo Girls song, wanting nothing more than to keep driving, not towards home, … Continue reading Harlequin Babies

From Away

Elizabeth DelConte Milly didn’t want to save Mazie Pinkerton. She wasn’t even sure she was capable of saving her. Still, she yanked her dress over her head and kicked off her shoes. Dove into Jones Pond and skimmed across the water the way she’d seen the muskrats do. Head watching above and below and to … Continue reading From Away