Wembley Fraggle watched from the pillow end of the bed as the boy unfolded the tissue-thin paper. The print was tiny and a bitten fingernail tracked along a particularly fine polysyllabic word. The boy mouthed it to himself in precisely …
I loved to dress up as a princess and parade in front of Dad. But when I was five, he walked out on my mother and me.
Mom worked in a bakery during the day and as a waitress at …
On any day, behind these walls, you will find extraordinary people. A thousand of them have come and gone, and hardly a one was recognized, was truly seen. There’s no time here to practice seeing people. Too many tasks to …
Scene Two
Grit. Same as sandpaper. My hand trembled from the exertion of holding onto the uncertain rock surface. My weight held to the face of the vertical wall by will power and this one left hand. Above and to the right jutted …
The knocking woke me from a deep sleep. I glanced at the bedside clock. Two am. I went to the front door and looked out. An apparition was half turned, smoking a cigarette and made furtive eye contact with me. …
She pops the chocolate into her mouth and holds it in her cheek, not quite sure what to do next. A memory surfaces: Dad arriving home, dusty and worn in his khaki uniform, a bar of Fry’s Orange Cream in his hand. Her mum smiling: …
It is your responsibility to write the obituary. You’re the oldest grandchild, and currently living in Shanghai—unable to help with any of the funeral preparations. Your parents reminded you that everyone knew Grandpa had dementia, and he wouldn’t want anyone …
A ninety-second video did for us what three years of pleading could not: convince Amma to let us adopt a puppy.
“I have one hopeless husband, two thankless children, and endless chores. Why would I want to add a smelly …
“So… How’re you holding up, Charlie?”
He just looked at me for a minute. And then he shrugged. It was shady on the porch but he was squinting a little. He’d taken off his sunglasses. I knew he felt like …
“Honey, what’s a five-letter word for ‘dismissed an employee?’”
Ruth looked up from her crossword. Their therapist said puzzles helped with cognitive agility. Her eyes were alert and intent; that gave Jonathan comfort.
“Any letters?”
“The second one may be …