Bianca J. Cook

A Mark on the Sole The train attendant bent her knees in the narrow carpeted aisle, leaning down toward the row of burgundy seats. Her fingers rested lightly against the fabric headrest as her eyes traced the floor. The woman seated by the aisle wore a mustard-yellow sweater and kept her hands clamped together in … Read more

Paws On The Front Grille Two massive front paws slammed onto the dark green hood of the Mercedes sedan as the car crept through the grocery store parking lot. The German shepherd pushed his weight forward, planting his hind legs firmly against the warm asphalt while staring directly through the windshield. Inside, the driver gripped … Read more

An Urgent Interruption On The Morning Route A sanitation worker lifted a bulging black garbage bag toward the back of the collection truck, ready to fling it into the compactor. Before the plastic could clear the ledge, a golden retriever lunged forward on its hind legs and planted both front paws firmly against the dark … Read more

A Dismissive Hand At The Counter The clerk’s palm struck the worn leather wallet, sending it clattering across the gray floor tiles. An elderly woman stood on the other side of the high wooden counter, her cardigan fraying along the hem. Her fingers remained open where she had just offered her card, twitching slightly as … Read more

An Unwelcome Visitor on the Showroom Floor An older man reached his hand toward the glossy black door handle of the new SUV parked under the showroom lights. Before his fingers could touch the painted metal, a younger man in a tailored dark suit lunged across the polished floor and shoved an arm between them. … Read more

Hands Slammed Against The Formica A broad-shouldered man in a black leather vest slammed both palms flat onto the booth table. The white ceramic mug rattled against its saucer, sending a small ripple across the dark surface of the coffee. Across the table sat an older man in a faded olive field coat with frayed … Read more

An Unwelcome Visitor at the Counter A young salesman in a tailored black suit jabbed his index finger forward, blocking an older man squarely in front of the glass display case. The visitor wore a rumpled beige trench coat over an unbuttoned gray shirt, his hands resting loose at his sides. Behind them, overhead spotlights … Read more

A Sudden Standoff in the Aisle A woman in a bright red blazer slammed her leather handbag onto an empty overhead shelf and turned directly toward the aisle seat. Her index finger jabbed forward within inches of an elderly man resting quietly in row ten. The man wore a worn olive field jacket, frayed at … Read more

A Rough Hand on Polished Paint The old man’s weathered fingers pressed lightly against the gloss of the red supercar’s front fender. His frayed, patchwork overcoat hung loose around his narrow frame as he leaned closer to inspect the hood. A salesman in a tailored charcoal suit strode across the marble floor, cutting directly into … Read more

The Coins in His Hand The bus driver shook his head and waved an open palm toward the sidewalk. He leaned out of the vehicle’s doorway, his dark uniform taut against his shoulders as he pointed away from the entrance. On the curb stood an old man in a frayed, dirt-streaked overcoat. His shoulders curved … Read more

A Quiet Seat in the Waiting Room A young man sat upright on a blue office chair, his hands resting on his denim trousers as he smoothed the frayed collar of his jacket. Around him, applicants in tailored navy suits flipped through resumes and typed on their phones. One man leaned down from his seat, … Read more

An Empty Booth in a Crowded Diner The woman slid the gray plastic tray across the laminate table and smoothed her fingers over the edge. She turned her back to the booth, stepping toward the stainless steel condiment island near the center of the dining room. Paper ketchup packets lay stacked in small metal trays … Read more