Story

A Daily Routine in the Parking Lot A dark sedan pulled slowly into the parking lot at seven in the morning, stopping in the exact same spot near the store front. Inside the car, an elderly man in a dark cardigan adjusted his sleeves and glanced at his wristwatch. He reached down and rested his … Read more

Counting Coins at the Counter A boy’s wet fingers slid a small pile of copper coins across the stainless steel counter. Rain trickled down his forehead, dripping onto the metal surface beside a handful of scattered pennies and nickels. Behind him, a little girl in a bright pink rain jacket clutched the back of his … Read more

A Sudden Confrontation On The Showroom Floor The man thrust his open palm forward, planting his fingers firmly against the woman’s lapel to halt her stride. His fingers gripped the edge of her navy suit jacket while his other arm hovered rigidly between her and the display shelves. “Hold it right there,” he said, leaning … Read more

An Unwelcome Donation A woman clutching a clipboard taps her pen against a stack of papers and turns toward a small wooden desk. She shakes her head slowly, pointing her finger at the polished maple frame standing in the center of the asphalt lot. An elderly man in a green jacket steps forward, resting his … Read more

A Sudden Break on the Sidewalk A sharp blast from a car horn startled the golden retriever, snapping his head toward the street. The black nylon leash ripped out of the young man’s fingers before he could tighten his grip. The dog, named Max, spun on his paws and sprinted down the suburban sidewalk at … Read more

A Sudden Interruption In The Yard A golden retriever dropped his bright yellow tennis ball onto the green grass and snapped his head toward the roofline. His ears stood straight up as he let out a sharp bark. Thick gray smoke tumbled into the sky just past the wooden fence behind the yard. Bright orange … Read more

Caught in the Wire The baby raccoon’s small snout wedged tight against the hexagonal wire mesh as its front paws clawed at the green grass. Its tiny claws gripped the twisted metal strands, pulling backward against the tension, but the narrow opening held its skull firmly in place. A few yards back along the fence … Read more

Trapped Against The Wire A round, bristling porcupine pushed its snout through the lowest square of a woven wire fence, pinning its barbed quills against the metal strands. Its dark hind legs kicked against the hard-packed snow, but every forward lunge only drove its sharp spine coat deeper into the narrow opening. A few yards … Read more

Tangled in the Mesh A young spotted fawn twisted its rear legs against the wire netting laid out flat over damp autumn leaves. Its thin hooves were wedged deep into the hexagonal metal loops, pinning its small body to the ground. Just a few yards away through the gray mist, an adult doe stood tall, … Read more

A Sudden Discard On The Sidewalk A black plastic garbage bag burst open across the concrete, sending crushed coffee cups bouncing off an elderly man’s lap. The blue convertible slowed along the curb as the driver tossed the remaining paper wrappers directly onto the sidewalk. George raised both arms to shield his face, his wheelchair … Read more

An Evening Encounter An old man clutched a crumpled brown paper bag tightly against his worn jacket as he sat on a cold wooden bench. His knuckles were raw, pressing against the paper folds while his gaze remained fixed on the empty walkway in front of him. A younger man in a dark jacket stepped … Read more

A Helpless Flutter Against the Wire A ball of white down flapped wildly against the wire mesh along the edge of a muddy tulip trench. The chick’s small talons kicked against the plastic grid as its downy feathers caught in the narrow squares. A few yards above on a weathered wooden fence post, an adult … Read more