The doctor tells me I have a small heart yet it is strong, does not skip, no reverbration when its doors close. He holds the strip of paper in his palms while the nurse removes conductors, each making a small suckling sound as it pulls away from my skin. I joke that my heart is [...]
Memories cherished polaroid pictures witness good old days family barbecue khaki shorts colorful halters strappy sandals sunlight glare glasses shade eyes ice cold drinks comfort niceness floats wrapped in pink chiffon dusk drop polite questions unhinge answers babies born dash of death couples recoupled kids off to work college jail mother father hood rain of [...]
Just me, the kid, and random vatos hosing down our precious autos. A carvac hiccups, coughs and whines. With hard work, fenders almost shine. A single boom box emits notes, and from our unsuspecting throats the dark blue of a song we know rises like a u.f.o. We belt it out. Then almost blush, lean [...]
The Black Pickup By Rachel M. Harper Holding onto the clear plastic handle, Kyle hung from the shopping cart with his knees bent. He knew that he was too old to be playing on the cart, but it was fun to sway back and forth and try not to touch the ground. He ignored the [...]
“Thank you” to South Pasadena resident Dex Ragatz for allowing us to publish a few of his pieces… Growing dense in this deep valley whence we will depart, a sweeping ocean of tall fragrant sage breaks erratically along the rolling edge of the rising slope. Skittish lizards, alarmed as we move [...]
Coming Home: November 4, 2008 (Written November 8, 2008) By Gale Cohen The TV screen was very small and encased in a furniture cabinet. The news segment showed a crowd of African Americans in their Sunday best church clothes. Men were holding their hats, clutching the hands of their children and wives, arm and arm [...]
Imaginary Surfing at Big Sur for Michael Murphy at 80 By Larry Wilson This is the real world Same as that old world You imagine you live in More realistically The cliffs with their real Esalen hot sulfur water bursting Out where they did the books On an abacus Doesn’t make the books less [...]
This gala, there seemed to be one every few months, was for Cleft Palates in Peru. Tickets to toss a bean bag, throw darts at balloons or whack a mole were ten dollars. But, after a fifty dollar admission, drinks were free. Everybody had heard about the Kissing Booths, but they were surprised to see [...]
Damn hot flashes. Belinda Marvel rolled over onto the empty Cheetos bag, causing orange dust to blow in her face. Her pajama pants pinched at the waist. Her stomach growled. She allowed her sock feet to flop to the floor, the motion propelling her to sit up. On the silent TV screen a skinny girl [...]
Editor’s Note: There’s a bit of a crunch this week because of the holidays and being in and out of town, so this week’s contribution comes from me. Here is the first chapter of my novel Amy’s Own. Amy’s Own Chapter One “Your father and I were lovers,” the woman tossed lightly over her shoulder, [...]
