By: Don Tassone Ben had fought in a “forever war” for 20 years when the US finally pulled out. He had passed up nearly two dozen chances to end his tour and go home. Not that he cared for…
By: John E Caulton Jed rides the bike down the hill. The breeze freshens his face. His jacket and trousers flap like bunting in the slipstream. As he speeds down the gradient his eyes moisten and small tears flick behind…
By: The Birch Twins I watched the gnarled hand pour the wine. He licked his lips and concentrated on pouring, his brow furrowed. My stomach heaved. Whether it was due the ship pitching on the seas, or the smell of…
By: Matthew Dube Kim and David weren’t from Coaling. They hadn’t even lived in Coaling their whole professional lives. David had taught at another school, states away, long enough to earn tenure; Kim wasn’t just a bottle swabber but had…
By: Anthony Ward It was not a sun day like its namesake. Instead the sky was overburdened with cloud. The rain that was forthcoming remained so. Though today that suited Dan down to the ground. He had hoped for…
By: James Bates The summer when I was eight years old a new highway began being built about a mile from our farm. My older brother Lewis and I were fascinated by the huge, noisy machines: road graders, dump trucks…
By: Harrison Linklater Abbott I was in the library at high school and was hovering over the aisles. I wasn’t much interested in novels. But when I got to the magazine section I came across these mustard coloured mags which…
By Clark Zlotchew Now, I’m a very good person; anyone who knows me will tell you. I like people, I regularly contribute to a bunch of charities, can’t even refuse a panhandler who asks for a handout, especially if he…
By: Gresham Cash A child turned from his mother and father, paused by a yellow-brick wall, and looked back at his parents with a face of dejection. A sign of obstinacy in the face of authority, a testing of filial…
By: Carl Papa Palmer As Advertised ~ Haibun Obviously out of uniform, the only soldier not wearing his field jacket is easily spotted in my morning formation to ensure proper fit and wear of the newly issued 1984 Battle Dress…