Story

An Unusual Shoreline Discovery The bicycle slid sideways across the wet sand as the man dropped both handlebars and leaped off. A golden retriever splashed through the foam ahead of him, planting its front paws near a massive glass container wedged into the tide line. Inside the cloudy glass, thick brown tentacles pressed against the … Read more

An Unexpected Offer in Class The principal opened the heavy wooden classroom door and set a thick white envelope onto Daniel’s desk. He announced to the room that everyone needed to stop what they were doing and pay attention. Eighteen-year-old Daniel looked up from his notebook as the principal handed him the paper and told … Read more

A Sudden Confrontation on the Tiled Floor An older man stepped past the polished luxury sedans, his heavy work boots squeaking against the glossy white tiles of the showroom floor. He wore a scuffed brown canvas jacket over a faded denim shirt, his hands resting easily at his sides as he approached a gleaming silver … Read more

A Plea At The Glass Door A young woman gripped the handle of a glass bakery door, holding a brown paper bag in her left hand as water dripped from her hair onto her grey scarf. Inside, the shopkeeper tapped her wrist and glanced up at the clock mounted on the wall. The doors were … Read more

An Unintended Total At Register Four Emma looked down at the long paper receipt curling out of the checkout register and stared at the final number. The man in the blue suit holding a plain brown paper bag frowned slightly as she called his attention to the screen. He explained that he had only intended … Read more

A Rejection at the Counter A loan officer pointed her pen toward a stack of papers on her desk and told the young man sitting across from her that his application was officially denied. He smoothed out the folded sheet of paper in his hands, his knuckles dust-covered and bruised from work. He explained that … Read more

A Sudden Block in the Aisle The flight attendant extended her right arm across the narrow cabin aisle, blocking the man before he reached seat 1A. She snatched the boarding pass from his fingers and pointed toward the rear of the aircraft. Her voice carried over the hum of the cabin air vents as she … Read more

The Struggle Inside The Tank The tiny spotted fawn thrashed its front legs against the dark water, kicking up mud as its chin barely cleared the mossy metal rim. Its mother stood right beside the trough, shifting her weight from hoof to hoof on the roadside grass. She dipped her nose low, pressing her muzzle … Read more

A Wet Suitcase On Polished Marble Rainwater dripped from the wheels of the battered suitcase as it rolled across the polished marble floor. The elderly man pushed through the revolving glass doors, his soaked brown trench coat clinging to his frame. Puddles formed beneath his shoes with every slow, measured step he took toward the … Read more

A Sudden Discovery In The Tall Grass Thick gray mud swallowed the young foal up to its neck as its small hooves churned against the suction beneath the surface. Every kick only seemed to anchor the animal deeper into the sunken pit carved into the open field. A black-and-white border collie paced the rim of … Read more

An Unexpected Hospital Promise The woman in the red fitted blazer rested her right hand on the edge of the blue quilted blanket. A nurse in light blue scrubs stepped toward the headboard and adjusted the digital monitor displaying vital signs. The nurse turned toward the elderly patient and asked if he wanted the hospital … Read more

A Mother’s Warning Unheeded An elderly mother gripped a piece of paper, her brow furrowing as she glared across the living room. She handed the prison mail to her daughter, a uniformed correctional officer named Tiffany, urging her to stop interacting with inmates. Tiffany snatched the letter and brushed off her mother’s warnings, refusing to … Read more