By: Richard D. Hartwell Suffer anguish of memory, family close as sticky-rice, grain to grain, gene to gene, coagulated and congealed. Cannot un-remember psychological molestation, brutality of hidden scars, rage of emotional rape. Dark memories filled with white lies, spoiled…

By: Richard D. Hartwell  It must have been about 1955 or ‘56 when I was first a procurer for my cousin Jocelyn. I don’t recall whose idea it was to sell from door to door, but it fell to me…

  By: Ruth Ann Hixson I wish I had a friend To cry with when I’m sad. I wish I had a friend To laugh with when I’m glad. A friend to be there for me When the sunshine turns to…

By: W. Jack Savage   I woke up, having planned to go in a little late and had told my employer so the night before. My son’s birthday was coming up and I knew what he wanted. It was a T-shirt…

By: Lee Oleson Sylvia had a face too thin, eyes sunk deep, shoulders and body uncomfortably narrow, dark hair, and a neck a little too long, jumbled into what’s sometimes called unconventional beauty. She had made her way through life…

Strayed into enemy’s, 23 years ago And taken prisoner And falsely implicated for spying And then sentenced to death! But with life caught in diplomacy Sarabjit finally returned home, Disfigured and dead, He was robbed of his heart and lung…

By: Erin F. Robinson It was his last night playing guitar at the tango salon as a bachelor. His band mates lined up at the bar, and as Flor poured them each a glass of gin, she raised the last glass…

By: John Michael Flynn   Christmas was a week away when Tillman Grossklag found Claudia Ruden face down in vomit on the floor of her Manhattan apartment. Tillman was the only person Claudia had entrusted with a key. Tillman removed the…

By: Corey Cook   You lean against Nana’s charcoal grey Taurus – a monochromatic reflection of the midday sky. Hands in pockets. Hat pulled down. And watch your siblings search the boggy yard for “eggs.” Empty pantyhose containers heavy with…

 By: Ian Cassidy    As a child I never read a kid’s book, I just didn’t get on with them. Narnia, Wind in the Willows, Winnie, Alice and William, I read them all later, as an adult, I think they’re…