Story

Trapped Along the Mountain Highway An adult red fox pressed her wet nose into a concrete drainage hole beside the highway asphalt. Inside the dark, narrow opening, a tiny kit poked its pale chin out, its front paws scraping weakly against the rough stone edge. Cars whipped past in the adjacent lane, sending vibrations humming … Read more

A Tangled Mother in the Water A mother duck kicked her right webbed foot forward, straining against a loop of blue synthetic cord wrapped around her orange scales. Two fluffy ducklings floated alongside her flank, pecking at the green reeds near the edge of the dock. Each time the adult mallard pushed against the surface, … Read more

A Cold Nudge on the Wooden Ties The border collie pushed its black muzzle against the curled red hair resting across the railroad cross tie. The woman lay flat on her back, boots pointed toward the sky, eyes shut completely against the afternoon light. Her hands rested limp in the loose gravel between the rails. … Read more

An Order To Leave The Lounge A gray-bearded man lowered himself onto the plush brown armchair in the hotel atrium, setting a worn black leather folder onto his lap. His jacket carried visible fraying at the shoulders, with moth-eaten tears puncturing the tan fabric around the lapels. Hard heels clicked against the polished white marble. … Read more

Turned Away at the Scanner An airline staff member extended his left palm outward, blocking the automatic gate as an older passenger extended her boarding slip. The woman, dressed in a worn denim jacket with silver hair swept back, held her leather passport wallet close against her side. “Step aside,” the young officer said, stepping … Read more

Stepping Across the Threshold An older woman with silver hair walked across the polished concrete floor, gripping a brown leather document case against her coat. A man in a navy suit stepped directly into her path, his hand extended to cut off her route forward. “Excuse me, this area is restricted,” he said, planting his … Read more

A Flat Refusal at the Window An older woman in a dark tailored coat placed a white paper slip onto the polished counter. Behind the clear glass partition, the young teller picked up the document and scanned the figures. The teller’s eyebrows shot upward, her head snapping back as she shook her head side to … Read more

An Unwelcome Visitor An older man pushed open the heavy glass doors of the luxury auto showroom, his worn work boots squeaking against polished white tiles. Frayed threads hung from the rips in his faded denim jacket and jeans as he stepped past rows of gleaming sports cars. A salesman in a tailored black suit … Read more

A Sudden Discovery The doctor pulled the blue paper mask down from her ears, letting the elastic twist around her fingers. Her eyelids pulled back wide as her chest rose in a quick, ragged breath. Across the sterile consultation desk sat Sophia, dressed in a tailored camel overcoat and a buttoned cream blouse. Sophia shifted … Read more

Laughter Along the Wooden Counter The young recruit tilted his amber bottle back and chuckled, leaning his elbow onto the worn timber of the bar counter. Across the room, glasses clinked as off-duty soldiers relaxed in their olive-green undershirts. The recruit grinned openly, shaking his head at the quiet woman sitting beside him with a … Read more

A Sudden Interruption at the Dining Table A slender hand reached down from behind the chair and yanked the folded paper straight out of the older woman’s fingers. The paper snapped crisp in the quiet room as the younger woman pulled it away. She took half a step backward, clutching the document against her waist. … Read more

A Public Dismissal A man swirled amber liquor in a lowball glass and rested his palm on the woman’s shoulder. He leaned into her ear in front of eight dinner guests seated around a polished mahogany table. His American flag lapel pin caught the chandelier light as he chuckled to the room. He told the … Read more