“We’ve had fruitflies,” I said, flicking my hand at the bowl where two plums sat mashed together under a film of Saran Wrap. She pulled the shoulder of her blouse up to hide her bra strap and some lace jiggled at belly level. When she walked, the whole kitchen set groaned. Yowzah, thought the dog […]
Poetry 91
Jennifer L. Knox: The Bubble That Is You at The End of Your Life
Bruce waits for the gate agent to board the first class passengers. The gate agent is fat, he thinks and wrinkles his nose. A few people walking by recognize him—a man in a cheap suit, an older couple wearing ugly shoes. He watches their eyes flit over him as if he were an ordinary person, […]
Meg Johnson: My Hermit Tendencies
1 There is something as bad as going through a break-up. It’s being invited to watch someone else’s break-up. I didn’t know that’s what I had RSVPed yes for. I just wanted a free lunch. 2 A friend of a friend says he has Clamato and I say I’m sorry and he looks confused. Apparently […]
Meg Johnson: First Born
I am about to give birth in an evening gown, my hair in ringlets with sparkly barrettes. My jewelry clangs as I breathe deeply. I command a nurse to fix my smudgy make-up. Jesus Christ, my fourth husband says. You’re in denial about what’s about to happen. He jokes that I forgot my feather boa. […]
Brett Elizabeth Jenkins: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse (And Close the Loop)
I have spent all day again on the internet, finding things out. I find out new things so I can forget old things. A thing I have forgotten is the combination to my locker in high school. A thing I have not forgotten is the words to every pop song that was on the radio […]
Lynn Marie Houston: The View Up Davey’s Shorts When I was Fourteen
1986, upstate New York: the year Grossinger’s boarded up. No need for a Catskill glory resort when well-to-dos now Bought their own vacation homes, flew to Miami And Las Vegas or drove to the outer banks Where no toupéed comedians hosted games Of Simon Says or horseshoes on the grass. Nintendo happened. Then Play Station. […]