Story

A Cold Night on the Stone Steps Rainwater spilled off the brim of the building’s awning as Arthur gripped his wooden cane and leaned heavily against the glass door. His coat was black and drenched, dark fabric clinging to his shoulders as he peered through the window. Inside, Eleanor turned from her shelf, a stainless … Read more

A Crying Family in the Mud Raindrops beaded across the brown fur of a small stoat as her front claws gripped the wet strands of a farm fence. A few inches below in the saturated clover, two tiny kits huddled together with their mouths wide open, letting out sharp, high-pitched chirps. Water dripped continuously from … Read more

A Rough Ride Down The Narrow Aisle An elderly woman gripped the yellow handrail of a moving city bus, dragging a black tote bag against the rubber flooring. Her knuckles stayed white as she shifted her weight onto a wooden cane with every jolt of the vehicle. A few feet ahead, a young man sat … Read more

A Sudden Confrontation at the Entrance The store manager lunged forward and snatched the brown paper bag straight out of the older man’s weathered hands. He pointed a stiff index finger directly toward the revolving glass doors, his lips pulled tight as he barked an order to leave. The elderly visitor leaned hard against a … Read more

A Sudden Demand At The Counter A heavy palm slammed against the laminate countertop, splashing dark coffee over the ceramic rim. The bearded biker stood tall over the stool, his leather vest creaking as he leaned forward. He jabbed a thick finger into the space between them, barking an order for the counter seat to … Read more

A Flat Folder On The Counter A man in a sharp navy suit slammed his hand against the desk and leaned across the laminate counter, his eyebrows drawn together as he yelled at the older man standing in front of him. The older man wore a faded brown work jacket with worn cuffs, clasping a … Read more

An Unexpected Request at the Glass Counter An elderly man in a threadbare, dust-streaked suit walked up to the polished glass counter of a luxury watch boutique. He stopped before a pristine display case lined with high-end timepieces and rested his hands near the edge. “Good afternoon, sir,” the man said quietly, gesturing toward a … Read more

An Argument In The Aisle The copilot drove his index finger toward the seated man’s face, leaning over the leather headrest until his shoulder blocked the cabin light. He gripped the paper boarding pass by its corner and snapped it through the air. His jaw worked hard as he commanded the passenger to stand up … Read more

An Empty Tin on the Pavement An elderly woman rested her back against a stone wall, extending both cupped hands toward passersby on a sunlit street. A dented tin cup sat untouched on the cobblestones beside her worn blue skirt. People walked past in light summer clothes, their eyes focused straight ahead as they moved … Read more

Trapped Against the Cold Ground The swallow’s dark wings beat rapidly against the gray asphalt, scattering dry autumn leaves across the path. A thick band of bright red plastic pinched tightly around the bird’s chest, pinning its feathers down and holding its body firmly against the ground. Every time the tiny animal tried to lift … Read more

More than two decades after John Ritter’s sudden death, his face still seems to be appearing in Hollywood — just not quite where you might expect. John Ritter could shine in dramatic roles just as easily as he did in comedy. I grew up watching reruns of Three’s Company in the early ’90s and sometimes … Read more

Tears on the Station Bench A little girl in a red dress pressed both palms over her eyes, shoulders shaking as tears slipped past her fingers. She sat on the weathered wooden slats of a train station bench, her small legs dangling above the concrete platform. Beside her sat an older man in a frayed, … Read more