Story

Paying It Forward At The Register A young cashier pushed two cans of sardines along the register belt as an elderly customer reached into his coat pockets. The man counted his sparse coins onto the metal counter and admitted he did not have enough money to pay for his food. Julia looked at the small … Read more

A Tense Confrontation On The Showroom Floor An elderly man in a faded brown canvas work jacket and denim shirt walked slowly past the polished red sedan on the showroom floor. His work boots clicked quietly against the reflective white tiles. A salesman dressed in a fitted black suit and dark tie cut across the … Read more

A Sudden Pull On The Lead The Belgian Malinois dropped his chest low to the paving stones and lunged forward against the black nylon leash. His front paws scrambled across the gray rock, nose tracking directly toward an abandoned maroon backpack leaning against a low stone bench. His handler tightened her grip with both hands, … Read more

An Unplanned Turn Onto a Quiet Porch A young woman hurried along a dimly lit suburban sidewalk late at night, her knuckles white around her smartphone. Every few steps, her head snapped sideways to check the empty street behind her. Her stride grew faster as she rounded a manicured front lawn toward a house with … Read more

A Long-Awaited Journey The older man gripped the steering wheel of his car, staring through the windshield at the diner across the street. In his lap rested a stack of faded black-and-white photographs tucked neatly inside a white envelope. He spoken softly to himself, his fingers tightening against the dark steering wheel as he kept … Read more

A Single Candle on the Curb A young boy sat on a concrete curb, turning a single yellow birthday candle between his thumb and forefinger. He adjusted his grey zip-up hoodie, shifting his dark backpack between his knees as his eyes stayed fixed on the small spiral pattern of the wax. A man carrying a … Read more

Trapped Along The Concrete Barrier Tires threw sheets of gray water across the narrow shoulder as cars rushed past the concrete divider. Huddled against the wet barrier, a small tabby kitten pressed its body into the corner where the road met the concrete. Water pooled around its paws, soaking through its fur as each passing … Read more

A Broken Chain on a Busy Street A man in a dark grey suit tapped the rear wheel of his bicycle on the city sidewalk. He crouched slightly, inspecting the tangled chain wedged tight against the rear wheel sprockets. Pedestrians pushed past him on the crowded walkway while yellow cabs rattled by in the background. … Read more

A Struggle in the Tall Grass The young red fox kicked its hind legs into the dirt, clawing at the clear plastic jug wedged over its skull. Its front paws scraped repeatedly against the slick plastic edge. Every attempt to pull backward only wedged the narrow container tighter against its neck. The animal stumbled sideways … Read more

The Confrontation at the Elevator Doors An elderly man in a dark woolen overcoat stood facing the polished metal doors on the twenty-fourth floor. He rested his weight evenly on both feet, looking straight ahead at the illuminated floor indicator. Heavy boot steps echoed across the marble tiles as a uniformed security guard marched toward … Read more

An Unusual Traveler On The Conveyor Belt The security officer slid his blue-gloved fingers along the zipper of a small patterned handbag sitting on the metal conveyor belt. Right beside the luggage perched a bright yellow ringneck parakeet, its red beak gleaming under the bright fluorescent terminal lights. Passengers in the queue behind shifted their … Read more

An Unusual Traveler On The Conveyor Belt The security officer slid his blue-gloved fingers along the zipper of a small patterned handbag sitting on the metal conveyor belt. Right beside the luggage perched a bright yellow ringneck parakeet, its red beak gleaming under the bright fluorescent terminal lights. Passengers in the queue behind shifted their … Read more