Story

Stranded Below The Concrete Edge A white mother duck paddled in circles through the dark puddle at the bottom of a deep concrete culvert, her four tiny yellow ducklings trailing close behind her tail feathers. The steep, sheer walls rose several feet above the water line, far too high for the ducklings to leap or … Read more

Desperate Steps on the Sidewalk The man pushed off the pavement, sprinting past shuttered storefronts while gripping the collar of his jacket. Breathing heavily, he skidded to a stop right as a metal shutter rattled down over a toy store window. He gripped his knees, bent forward, and swallowed hard before looking up at the … Read more

A Confrontation in the High-End Kitchen Chef Julian Vale stood inches from Walter Reed’s face, jabbing a forefinger into the older man’s grey apron. He barked across the line of the two-star Manhattan kitchen that dishwashers wash dishes and never create food. Walter, 67, lowered his chin and kept his arms pinned to his sides. … Read more

A Harsh Exit A grey hard-shell suitcase skidded across the porch floor and struck the bottom of the wooden door frame. David Mercer turned to face his wife, stepping directly into her personal space on the front step. He thrust a manila folder into her hands and pressed his finger against the paper inside. He … Read more

A Confrontation in the Corporate Lobby A dark stream of hot coffee splashed across the polished marble lobby floor, settling right at the boots of a senior janitor. Bradley Knox leaned down with a slight smirk, watching the brown liquid spread over the stone tile. He straightened his tie and pointed a stiff index finger … Read more

A Sudden Demand At The Corner Table An elderly woman pressed a small tissue against the corner of her eye while sitting alone in a vinyl diner booth. A white ceramic cup and saucer rested before her on the speckled laminate tabletop, steam rising gently toward the window. Heavy footsteps tapped across the linoleum as … Read more

Confrontation at the Laundromat A man leaned forward with a tight jaw, pointing his index finger straight at a laundromat employee in a blue polo shirt. David’s voice echoed across the quiet, fluorescent-lit room at two in the morning, demanding to know if his commercial business was being run as a charity shelter. Sarah stood … Read more

Plunging Toward The Swelling Waves Thick gray smoke poured from the tail of the single-engine aircraft as its nose dipped toward the open sea. On a jagged rock ledge above the shoreline, a golden retriever stood tall, its ears pinned back against the ocean breeze. The aircraft skimmed across the surface with a loud spray … Read more

A Lone Sentinel by the Guardrail The brown dog threw its head back and let out a sharp bark toward the oncoming traffic, its front paws pressed firmly against the chest of an older police officer lying motionless in the tall roadside grass. Cars sped past along the two-lane asphalt curve, their tires kicking up … Read more

A Harsh Demand At The Counter A man wearing a black trench coat thrust a twenty-dollar bill toward the worn jacket of the man standing beside him at the register. He demanded that the man take the cash, buy himself some dignity, and clear out of the line. The man in the green work coat … Read more

A Confrontation Over Woodworking Benches Helena slammed both hands onto the wooden workbench and leaned directly into the old man’s face. Her fingers pressed against the scarred timber as she barked at him to vacate the premises. Across from her stood Arturo, his grey hair uncombed and his denim shirt stained with decades of sawdust. … Read more

Escaping the Rising Surge An elderly man yanked open his heavy wooden front door and pointed toward the surging gray river overflowing its banks. Torrential rain pounded against the steep metal roof while muddy water slammed violently against the stone foundation below. He gripped the wet frame of the doorway with both hands, shouting over … Read more