Story

Defying Direct Instructions Emma set a clear glass of water on the white tablecloth before stepping back. The elderly man looked up from beneath his grey eyebrows, murmuring a soft word of gratitude. Before he could raise the glass, a firm hand pulled Emma back toward the corridor. The restaurant manager stood inches away, his … Read more

Stopped at the Sliding Glass Doors A uniformed security guard extended both hands, blocking the doorway as automatic glass doors slid open. Before him stood a man in dust-stained clothes, his hair disheveled and his brow furrowed with strain. The man pressed his palms together in front of his chest and leaned forward, pleading to … Read more

Trapped Beneath the Cracking Surface The driver slammed his fist against the steering wheel as icy water flooded across the floorboards. In the back seat, a mother pulled repeatedly at a stuck seatbelt buckle, shielding her six-year-old daughter against the upholstery. Outside on the snowy embankment, three bystanders stood along the concrete barrier. One held … Read more

The Knuckles Against the Wood A contractor struck his knuckles against the grooved pine boards above the brick fireplace. He gestured across the room, announcing that the wall should come down to double the sunlight. Standing behind him, a woman added that the sunroom and outdoor garden would have to be removed as well. Across … Read more

A Cold Reception An elderly man in a faded knit cap set a clear plastic sack full of crushed aluminum cans against the front counter. He rubbed his bare knuckles together and leaned toward the receptionist, asking to use the facility phone because the power was out across town. The receptionist tapped her pen against … Read more

A Sudden Arrival At The Corner Table An elderly man pushed open the glass cafe door, gripping a worn brown leather travel bag against his side. He walked across the wooden floorboards in dark work trousers and a faded utility jacket, scanning the room for an empty seat. At a nearby two-top table, a young … Read more

A Sudden Discovery On The Pavement The white rubber toe of a sneaker stopped an inch from the dark rectangle lying flat against the concrete. Two young men halted mid-stride under the dappled shade of the sidewalk trees, their eyes fixed on the pavement. One of them, dressed in a denim jacket with a dark … Read more

A Sharp Command In The Aisle The flight attendant pointed her finger directly toward the passenger seated in 4B and told him to get out of his seat. Her knuckles tightened as she leaned forward into the row. The older man sat back against the headrest, wearing a worn brown work jacket and a gray … Read more

A Table Slapped in Anger An elderly server leaned forward, carefully resting a porcelain plate of food onto the white linen tablecloth. Before his fingers could even leave the rim, the man sitting across from him slammed an open palm against the wood. Silverware rattled across the cloth, and glasses clinked violently from the impact. … Read more

An Unexpected Walk Onto The Showroom Floor An older man wearing a faded brown canvas jacket, worn denim, and work boots leaned his hands forward to inspect the chrome exhaust of a cruiser parked on the dealership tile. A salesman in a tailored black suit and patterned tie walked over, eyes scanning the older man’s … Read more

An Impossible Thirty-Day Deadline A motorized shop door rolled upward, revealing a faded green 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 resting on the gray shop floor. A man in a leather jacket marched past the rusted fenders, turned to mechanic Frank, and demanded the vehicle be road-ready in thirty days. Frank ran a gloved hand along the … Read more

The Twenty-Four Hour Ultimatum A pair of gloved hands pressed flat against the peeling orange paint of a 1970 Plymouth Superbird as garage doors rolled shut behind it. The car sat low on uneven tires, its body panels scarred by deep rust and missing hardware. A woman stepped out from the driver side, dropped a … Read more