Bianca J. Cook 
A Deep Trench Along the Farm Path Sunlight spread across the open valley and warmed the dry olive groves. Low stone walls bordered a narrow dirt road winding past rocky hills. A deep trench had been excavated straight into the dry brown earth. A pool of murky brown mud collected at the very bottom. Suddenly, … Read more
An Unexpected Visitor Inside The Car Showroom Bright morning light poured through the tall glass walls of the automobile showroom. Polished tile floors reflected the clean silhouettes of modern vehicles parked along the main aisle. Several employees stood near an open reception counter, speaking quietly among themselves. Suddenly, an elderly man in a worn brown … Read more
Confrontation Outside The Grand Entrance The sidewalk in front of the luxury building was quiet in the daylight. Tall glass doors reflected the street traffic and the stone facade of the entryway. A man with gray hair and worn work clothes stood near the threshold. He wore a faded green jacket marked with scuffs and … Read more
A Visitor Steps Into The Corporate Lobby Tall glass windows rose high above the polished floor of the modern office building. Sunlight filtered through the outer glass panels and illuminated the wide corporate reception area. Several office workers in tailored business attire moved quietly through the electronic entrance turnstiles. Suddenly, a tall older man with … Read more
A Confrontation in the First Class Cabin Rows of gray passenger seats lined the narrow interior of the commercial airplane cabin. Soft overhead lights illuminated the aisle between the first class and main cabin sections. Several seated travelers turned their heads to watch an unfolding dispute in row two. A flight attendant in a tailored … Read more
A Quiet Presence In The Showroom Recessed lights cast a sharp glow across the polished tile floor of the dealership. Several modern passenger vehicles stood parked in neat lines across the wide interior. An elderly man in a faded green work jacket stood beside a silver sedan. His jacket fabric showed dark grease marks and … Read more
A Quiet Arrival In The Showroom Bright overhead lights reflected across the polished white tiles of the motorcycle dealership floor. Several rows of brand new sports motorcycles stood aligned beneath high industrial ceilings. A man with unkempt gray hair walked slowly through the front entrance. He wore a faded denim jacket torn across the front … Read more
An Elegant Dining Hall Fills With Guests Tall arched windows let bright natural daylight flood across a long dining room. Ornate crystal chandeliers hang in a straight row beneath the high vaulted ceiling. White tablecloths cover dozens of round dining tables arranged across polished marble tiles. Men in tailored dark suits and women in evening … Read more
Taking Control of the Mail A slender woman in a slate-blue silk shirt slides a long white envelope into the open compartment of her dark leather handbag. She rests both hands on the leather straps, looking across the entryway counter as if concluding an ordinary piece of morning business. Arthur, an older man wearing a … Read more
The Faded Paper in the Hallway The man’s thumb pressed against the corner of a folded sheet of notebook paper while blue lockers stretched behind him in the hallway. Tears traced lines through the gray stubble on his cheeks as his eyes scanned the handwritten lines. He stood alone in his work shirt, holding the … Read more
A Few Pennies on a Wooden Counter A man with bruised cheekbones held out two open palms, displaying a tiny scatter of copper coins. His jacket was torn at the seams, and his eyes stayed locked on the metal trays of hot food sitting inside the street cart. He asked for just one plate, promising … Read more
A Simple Request Sparks A Living Room Debate A teenager in a blue pullover stepped onto the living room rug, extending both palms toward the couch where his mother and father sat shoulder to shoulder. His voice carried the straightforward question familiar to households on quiet evenings, asking whether ordering a pizza might settle dinner … Read more