Story

Caught in the Wire The cow jerked its back leg against the lower strand of barbed wire, pulling the rusty metal taut against raw skin. Splinters cracked off the weathered fence post as the animal pulled again, unable to shake loose the twisted coils. A few yards away through the dewy grass, a massive grizzly … Read more

The Drop Into the Water Water surged over the stone coping as the young server broke the surface of the pool, her uniform soaking through instantly. Shattered champagne flutes rattled across the wet tile deck, scattering broken glass between the polished shoes of the partygoers. A blonde woman in a silk green dress stepped forward … Read more

A Sudden Demand at the Window Table A man in a charcoal suit pressed his fingers against his nose and pointed across the coffee shop floor. A woman wearing a dark work jacket stopped by the neighboring table, holding a white ceramic mug on a small plastic tray. “Can you move her?” the man snapped … Read more

A Line in the Grass An elderly man pressed both hands into the damp soil, settling a carved river stone beside the slender trunk of a young oak. He patted the dirt firm around the base, keeping his fingers flat against the earth. A white golf cart slowed along the curb, its tires rolling softly … Read more

Standing At The Tailor Shop Threshold An older man clutched a black garment bag with both hands as his wife held his elbow outside the glass entrance. Inside the brightly lit boutique, a young patron in a crisp white shirt pointed a finger straight at the doorway, shouting that the garment bag belonged in a … Read more

A Standstill Beside The Open Trunk An elderly man placed a brown paper sack of celery and bread into the open tailgate of a classic station wagon. Beside him, his wife smoothed the handles of her canvas tote, resting one palm against the rear chrome trim. A sleek black sports car surged forward, stopping inches … Read more

A Stand In The Marble Corridor An officer shoved both palms hard against the metal handle of a loaded utility cart, jerking the wheels to a sudden stop on the marble floor. An older woman in a gray work shirt kept her fingers resting against the crossbar. He loomed directly over her, pointing an index … Read more

A Plea In The Rain A young woman smacked both palms against the passenger window of a yellow cab stopped at a red light. Rain poured down her jacket, and water splashed beneath her boots as she bent low toward the glass. The driver cranked the window open a few inches. She pleaded through the … Read more

A Guardian by the Highway The golden retriever planted both front paws onto the man’s chest and threw his head back to bark at passing traffic. Behind him, an overturned blue sedan rested on its roof in the gravel shoulder. The older man sat slumped against the crushed driver door, his eyes half-closed and his … Read more

A Sudden Snag in the Autumn Leaves The young owl fluttered its spotted wings, beating against the bark as thin green mesh held its talons fast to the twig. A second owl sat balanced on an overhead branch, tracking every jerk and twist below with rounded dark eyes. The trapped bird clicked its yellow beak … Read more

Caught in the Netting The small spotted paw pulled hard against the black plastic mesh, but the claws were wedged tight in the diamond-shaped holes. A tiny bobcat kitten hung suspended several inches off the dry vineyard dirt, twisting its hind legs as it tried to push off the lower wire. A few feet back … Read more

Stranded on the Wrong Side A juvenile crane clung with its chest pressed flat against black silt fencing along the muddy bank. Its thin, gray legs dangled backward into the wet grass as raindrops pelted its downy brown head. A few yards away, two tall adult sandhill cranes stood ankle-deep in the flooded ditch, their … Read more