Bianca J. Cook 
A Final Count on the Wooden Counter Daniel Brooks stacked a short column of nickels and dimes across the scratched wooden counter. His fingertips pressed flat against the metal discs, nudging them into alignment beside a stack of unpaid bills marked with red ink. Outside the storefront window, rain streezed down the glass, blurring the … Read more
A Driver Leans From His Silver Car Afternoon light reflected off the damp asphalt along a quiet downtown avenue. Brick storefronts bordered the wide concrete sidewalk under an open sky. A sleek silver sedan sat idling along the curb near an open coffee shop. Inside the driver seat, a young man wore a dark blue … Read more
An Argument At The Marble Counter Warm light spilled across the polished stone lobby of the grand building. A man in a plain gray buttoned shirt stood quietly before the desk. Beside him rested an older gentleman holding an embroidered service cap. A clerk wearing a blue suit leaned forward across the marble counter. Suddenly, … Read more
A Clear Morning At The Checkpoint Gate Bright sunlight illuminated the tall corrugated metal fence surrounding the secure military installation. An American flag hung straight from a high pole against the cloudless pale blue sky. A guard in standard camouflage fatigues stood on duty beside a striped barrier arm. Suddenly, a visitor dressed in a … Read more
A Rare Discovery Beside The Mountain Stream Rugged mountain ridges rose high into the pale morning sky. Green pine forests covered the lower slopes of the wide alpine valley. A shallow stream carried cool water over beds of smooth gray gravel. Golden grasses swayed gently along the curved banks of the running creek. Early autumn … Read more
A Quiet Morning In The Stone Courtyard Bright sunlight illuminated the stone paving of a private outdoor patio surrounded by olive trees. Vibrant purple bougainvillea blossomed in thick clusters along the pristine white stucco walls. A man with gray hair and a white beard stood beside a wooden stepladder. He wore a light beige work … Read more
An Unpleasant Spill in the Courtyard Cobblestones covered the wide driveway outside a large stone villa in the bright sunlight. A dark green convertible car rested beside a low perimeter wall. An orange tabby cat sat quietly on the stone ledge watching the driveway. A man wearing a dark jacket and tan trousers stood near … Read more
A Fawn Trapped in the Pavement Dense morning fog hung low over the damp evergreen forest along the winding mountain roadway. A narrow strip of cracked asphalt cut through the pine trees under a gray sky. Along the edge of the roadway, a deep crevice split the damaged pavement apart. Suddenly, a tiny spotted fawn … Read more
An Encounter Along the Snowy Forest Trail Deep white snow covered the narrow trail winding through the dense pine forest. Tall evergreen trees stood draped in heavy layers of fresh mountain powder. A massive black bear stood upright on its hind legs in the snowdrift. Thick dark fur coated the bear from its wide shoulders … Read more
An Unexpected Interruption On The Running Trail An overcast sky hung low over a wide expanse of still coastal water. A concrete footpath curved gently along the grassy bank of the open lake. Weathered wooden guardrails separated the paved surface from the dark shoreline below. A woman with long blonde hair jogged steadily forward along … Read more
An Arrival At The Medical Reception Desk Fluorescent ceiling lights illuminated the wide hallway of the busy medical clinic. An elderly woman in a beige coat stood near the reception counter. She held a dark walking cane in her right hand for support. Beside her stood a tall man with silver hair and a gray … Read more
The Morning Commute Begins Under Pale Light The interior of the public transit bus was filled with flat morning light. Blue upholstered seats lined both sides of the narrow center walking aisle. A woman with long gray hair stood beside a row of vacant passenger seats. She wore a faded olive jacket over a light … Read more