Tag: short fiction

Alan and John are swapping stories about Vietnam when I notice Ann Foster lumbering in our direction. When Alan and John reminisce, they tend to fade away from other people. They don’t notice Ann as soon as I do. They don’t notice when I stop listening to them and start watching her. Ann is an incredible figure by anyone’s standards, at least six feet tall and fat, a Sumo wrestler kind of fat. Today her shirttail has come untucked and dangles, wrinkled and dejected, below her gray polyester jacket. Her short, red hair is creased and matted on one side as if she just rolled out of bed. She holds her textbooks in front of her like a shield. I know from experience that she is heading for the seat next to mine and wish I could occupy both seats simultaneously.

Continue reading “Duets, 1979” →

Once Upon a Time

“Trailer trash!” It’s what my mother used to say. People who spit on the sidewalk or threw trash out car windows were subject to such immediate judgment. So were those who neglected to say “Sir” and “Ma’am”. And those who talked loudly in the cinema. As well as those so crass as to mop up runny egg yolks with toast while eating in a public place. Continue reading “Trailer Trash” →

Once there was a place where harmony reigned and everyone lived in peace. The hares were at peace with the hounds, the bears with the salmon, the egrets with the fish and so on. No one was hungry because there was no need to eat. No one fought because there was room for all to live comfortably. No one ruled because rules were unnecessary. All lived a peaceful existence without the need to know if what they felt was happiness or not. Continue reading “A Bit of Orange” →

“You’re old!  You’re not supposed to be old.”

The voice came from somewhere above me, its tone plaintive and confused.  I was on my back in the grass.  Wet grass at that, though I had no idea whether the moisture was from dew or a recent watering.  In truth, I had no idea where I was.  I slowly opened my eyes, brushing the dirt away from my lids as I did so. Continue reading “Revenant Town, Part 1” →

“Nymph?”  Mr. Jeffers leaned back in his chair and looked expectantly at me across the desk.

“What?” I asked.  “Nymph what?”

“Nymph,” he said impatiently.  “Do you think you’d be interested in a position as a nymph?  I have a couple of listings here from The Aides of Artemis.  No special qualifications required.  Seems like one of them might suit your general lack of work experience.” Continue reading “Help Wanted” →