Story

A Patient Companion Outside The Sliding Doors A Golden Retriever sat motionless on the cold concrete beside the sliding glass doors of a supermarket. His ears perked slightly each time the automatic doors hummed open, but he stayed sitting right where he was. People walked past him with grocery bags, some offering a quick glance … Read more

A Rude Confrontation The waitress pointed her finger directly at the small stack of coins resting on the black bill tray. She leaned over the wooden table, her eyebrows pulled tight as she spoke down to the elderly woman sitting in the booth. The older woman held her dark purse open in her lap, her … Read more

A Tense Encounter at the Gala The woman in the burgundy suit pressed a mirror close to her face to touch up her red lipstick. Beside her, her daughter shook her head and began criticizing her appearance in front of the surrounding crowd. She told her mother that the suit was far too tight and … Read more

An Unexpected Gathering on the Street An elderly man in a vintage military uniform stood on the cracked asphalt, leaning his full weight onto a wooden cane. A line of motorcycles rolled to a stop along the curb directly outside his weathered porch. The lead rider cut his engine, swung his leg over the seat, … Read more

An Unnoticed Visitor An elderly woman rested her fingertips against the hood of a polished silver SUV in the center of the showroom. Her grey hair was neatly swept back into a soft bun. She wore a dark cardigan over a pale blouse, carrying a small purse tucked under her arm as she walked along … Read more

A Tearful Plea On The Showroom Floor Tears streamed down the elderly woman’s wrinkled cheeks as she pressed a trembling hand against her silk scarf. She stood near the glossy floorboards of the luxury car dealership, surrounded by polished vehicles and sharply dressed employees watching her from across the room. A salesman wearing a navy … Read more

An Unexpected Refusal at the Dining Table The waiter set the brown leather check folder down on the table and stood patiently with his hands folded in front of his vest. Across the table, a grey-haired man in a dark tailored suit and black hat gently set his toothpick down on his plate. He looked … Read more

A Standing Moment At The Bus Stop An older man stared down at two metal coins resting in his open palm. He folded his fingers slowly over the small change and shifted his weight on the concrete sidewalk. A few paces away, a young man sat hunched on a wooden bench against a red brick … Read more

Sharing the Last Plate A man sitting on a concrete ledge used a plastic fork to lift a small bite of rice from his styrofoam container. His grey shirt was worn thin at the neck, showing noticeable frayed tears near the shoulder seams and dust along the sleeve cuffs. He chewed slowly while staring down … Read more

Accused at the Registration Table A young woman in a green apron slid her hand under the lid of a metal pie carrier and lifted it, revealing a golden, lattice-topped pie. Standing across the gingham tablecloth, an elderly baker tapped her fingers gently against the shoulder strap of her floral tote bag. The organizer held … Read more

An Unwanted Encounter On The Sidewalk A woman in a short black dress and white faux-fur jacket adjusted her handbag and walked directly up to a silver-haired man standing next to a black luxury sedan. She tapped her phone against her palm and looked him over from head to toe. “First class,” she said, leaning … Read more

A Boy Notices a Man Sitting on a Park Fountain A young boy unwrapped his sandwich while sitting on a wooden bench, looking across the brick plaza toward an elderly man resting against the stone edge of a fountain. The man sat slumped in worn, dust-dusted clothing with a rolled sleeping pad resting beside him. … Read more