There’s Only One Thing I Know To Be True Chris Lee Funeral homes have terrible coffee. CliffsNotes for Whitman’s “Song of Myself” (or, How to Pare Down 52 Stanzas Into One) Cindy Hochman Uh- Grass. Workmen. Equality. Yawp, yawp, yawp. Boot soles. Any questions? Upon Reexamination Rachel…
Star Wars: Episode VII April Selley Han caught a glimpse of Leia, her hair still shaped into cinnamon buns—though frosted now with grey—and thought of how hot and cross she still was after thirty-five years. Emergency Exit Chris Wiewiora You say you saw feathers poof out of the…
Corner Bakery Carleen Tibbetts I was thinking, “This soup smells like gym class,” when you asked why the ring wasn’t on my finger, but it came out “I could never be your wife,” as I told you, numb-gummed, that you were persona non-grata. Why She Always Wore Pants…
Opening Statements Chuck Strangward Not until the prosecutor defined her marriage as one of mutual corruption did Connie wonder what else had been kept from her. Perfect Silence Megan Branning I watch a wave of distant birds break against a cliff. Other Kinds of Death Amanda Vacharat…
Special Diet Forrest Anderson His skin tastes like pan-fried chicken soaked in buttermilk, mustard, shortening, but I’m a raw vegan. My Dog, Peanut John David Harding When your mother says that she is sending your dog “to the farm” for “more room to play,” you must remember to…
Young Lauren Stanley We were great at being young until we grew up and had to start practicing it. Decision Katherine Blaine Hurley When you called, I asked myself the question, “Where do I never want to eat again?” because that’s what you’re really telling me when you…
Oedipus Complex, or “You Smell Like My Mother” Brittany Harmon I prefer whiskey, but my friend only had vodka, which we drank copiously while seeing how many times we could say copiously and lamented about our bedroom frustrations, but when I came home you kept close to my breath…
Accidental Insult D.M. Olson How else could I respond to my mother when she called me a “son of a bitch,” but laugh at what she called herself? Note from Phil Roman Colombo If I am sleeping when the rapture starts, please, don’t wake me up. Time…
The Only Age-Defying Miracle is Death Daniel Riddle Rodriguez Anything else is product branding. Acceptance Letter Mary Jones I know it’s for the best. Keep It In Your Pants Ted McLoof My girlfriend wistfully tells me that, when she was fifteen, she blew a guy named Rick…
