while lying on the ground,but he worked his way to his feet and began his pathetic attempt to flee the scene. We were completely dumbfounded. \Ve all groaned with disappointment as we watched him limp away to the backyard. He did not make it far with a collapsed lung, but he made it farther than... Show morewhile lying on the ground,but he worked his way to his feet and began his pathetic attempt to flee the scene. We were completely dumbfounded. \Ve all groaned with disappointment as we watched him limp away to the backyard. He did not make it far with a collapsed lung, but he made it farther than we thought was possible. David didn’t need to break a walking stride, let alone a sweat, to catch up to Nemo. The two appeared from the side of the house, and we led him to the paramedics. Nemo immediately began defending his pride, or his stupidity, or something to the paramedics. “I don’t need to go in the ambulance. If you guys could just check out my arm here that would be great. My arm really hurts.“ \Vhen the para- medics asked him when his birthday was, he said, “That’s not the point." After looking at each other confused and annoyed, the paramedics walked around to Nemo’s back and began leading him toward the right side of the ambulance. As they walked away, we heard Nemo ask if the ambulance ride was going to cost a lot of money. Both of the paramedics snorted and laughed. We all stayed outside and watched as the ambulance drove off and wondered how Nemo was going to tell his parents that he fell off of a roof, and we worried that they would either make him move back home or that they would come live with us to make sure nothing like this ever happened again. \Ve also wondered if Nemo would change his ways after finally being confronted by the fragility of life, but we knew he would continue to seek his small excitement at even the biggest cost. \Vhen we visited him in the head trauma section of the hospital the next day, he smiled and laughed when the four of us 58 walked through the door. After asking him what happened, he glowed when he said, “The doctors said that if 1 would have landed any other way that I would haw died!" Som- ber and still shaken, all we could say was, “We‘re just happy you‘re alive, man.“ Show less
be nice." It was a Saturday afternoon, October. The sky was sharp and blue. Remy andJim were walking together past the Hines County roller rink, to the movie theater. They weren't holding hands, but two blocks past, the rink shrinking behind them, she bumped his fist with her own as if on accident... Show morebe nice." It was a Saturday afternoon, October. The sky was sharp and blue. Remy andJim were walking together past the Hines County roller rink, to the movie theater. They weren't holding hands, but two blocks past, the rink shrinking behind them, she bumped his fist with her own as if on accident. He glanced at her sideways, smiled, and linked his pin— ky with hers, answering the question she didn’t ask, 85 Show less
his porch the next morning, they looked like they were visiting with their long lost father. \Vith all ofJackal’s rowdy past adventures, they very well might have been. “What do I know about God?”Jackal had invited them to sit in his ‘office’, a massive liquor cabinet disguised as a living room. ... Show morehis porch the next morning, they looked like they were visiting with their long lost father. \Vith all ofJackal’s rowdy past adventures, they very well might have been. “What do I know about God?”Jackal had invited them to sit in his ‘office’, a massive liquor cabinet disguised as a living room. “Well, as far as I know, God isn’t a person like you or me. He’s more like an idea or a feeling. Some people tell me he‘s like pure, unlimited energy, like a bright light that can do anything. Other people say he’s a bit more concrete. From what I gather, he‘s more like an alterego that people use like a funhouse mirror to make themselves feel bigger and better than they really are. That help you out any?” After an uncomfortably long silence, Rex spoke up. “I don’t understand anything you just said, Jackal.” The others echoed confirmations. “Yeah, you lost me, man.” “No clue,Jackal.” “Alright, let’s try again,”Jackal chuckled to himself. “Say, what’s this all about anyway? You trying to get with some church gals, or what?” “Ah, it ain’t like that,” Rex answered. “We found out that God‘s been looking to kill us. \Ve just want to get to him first." Jackal took a moment to read their faces and look for some sign that they were teasing him. They were cold serious, and scared. He furrowed his brows for a while. They were watching him intently and he began to recognize a certain desperation in their eyes. Sometimes any answer is the right an- swer. He sat forward, rested his elbow on his knee, and spun them the tale they needed to hear. 22 “1 ever tell you boys about touring with Ozzy through Paraguay back in ‘79?” He hadn‘t. They listened with unflinching attention. u\Vell, Ozzy was always worrying about God too, back then at least. He would tell me how everywhere he went everyone was telling him how God was gonna get him and how he should try to make nice with God and shit. But, that was never Ozzy’s style, to back down like that. Anyway, we were in Paraguay and, really nice folks down there ifyou ever get the chance, and Ozzy had this terrible dream the night before the gig. Kept him up sweatin‘ and the whole works. He dreamt that God finally caught up with him and, well, all the nasty stufl'that follows. He was in fit, talkin‘ about calling olfthe whole show and heading home for good, that he'd had enough. Well, Lemmy and his boys were with us down there and Lemmy wasn‘t going nowhere. So, he asked around and found out that the locals there had this wooden statue that they worshipped and that this statue was God. Now Lemmy, being the practical type, offered to smash up the statue, but the locals wouldn't go for that. So, he convinced them that he wouldn't smash it up ifthey would let us keep it locked up in a chest in the tour bus. That way Ozzy didn’t have to worry about God chasing him down, and we could get on with the show. So that’sjust what we did." i Rex and the others exhaled for what seemed like the first time since the previous night. Axel was still a bit hesitant. “WaiLJackal? What happened to God after the tour?” he asked. “Shoot, what am I thinking? Right. Ozzy, of course, didn’t want to keep the damned thing and Lemmy sure as hell wasn't gonna keep it neither. Show less
PORCALEIN GODDESS Aaron Boger You are my pomclain gtx‘ldess. Now I stand up, I'm so glad to come home to you: turn around, and flush; beautiful and smooth; I didn‘t men have to wipe urine OH the seat! cool to the touch, but bringing such warmth up and out of me to form a sunny pool. My fair,... Show morePORCALEIN GODDESS Aaron Boger You are my pomclain gtx‘ldess. Now I stand up, I'm so glad to come home to you: turn around, and flush; beautiful and smooth; I didn‘t men have to wipe urine OH the seat! cool to the touch, but bringing such warmth up and out of me to form a sunny pool. My fair, perfectly formed deity: a statue tojoy, caring for me in my times of need, comforting me when 1 get the “utge”. My eyes delight in your sight, my body can release. Sitting in your soft lap, I feel more open than ewr, able to sing, hum or whistle how I will. 59 Show less
NEW YORK Malena Larsen Flashing broadway signs and lights from towers Like sunshine Shined on your skin. Changing pictures flashed on your check: As they raised from your smile. The city is so bright and busy 1 mean; the city was so bright and so busy. \Ve got pushed through the Cunt-m into pizza... Show moreNEW YORK Malena Larsen Flashing broadway signs and lights from towers Like sunshine Shined on your skin. Changing pictures flashed on your check: As they raised from your smile. The city is so bright and busy 1 mean; the city was so bright and so busy. \Ve got pushed through the Cunt-m into pizza companies and coffee shops with tiny espre$o mugx “bmen dragged themsehes through the street on wedges and high heels Towering above In We were young We were young and in the city. The stars hid and slept under blankets The towers smoked like people And we watched all of it. We could stand there forever I wear, we stood there former. 137 Show less
&PLEASE.; lazmin Crittenden “Can you see me?“ She pR’SSCS her lips, her hand, her body to the mirror. The ice cold minor. “Please saw me!” She saw Pounding on the glas so that her reflecfion rippled. “Save me,” She cried—tracing her fingers on the but she still had no answer. Their ice cold eyes... Show more&PLEASE.; lazmin Crittenden “Can you see me?“ She pR’SSCS her lips, her hand, her body to the mirror. The ice cold minor. “Please saw me!” She saw Pounding on the glas so that her reflecfion rippled. “Save me,” She cried—tracing her fingers on the but she still had no answer. Their ice cold eyes from on anothefi as a tear sneaked their cheek. I love )ou, She begged. Only to fall to her knees 15 Show less
LORNA Ryan Nichols The house, it seemed, had made a clearing in the woods for itselfto occupy; it sat in the middle of a nearly-spherical orb of empty space bounded by vegetation that only dared to venture within a dozen yards of its dreary, darkened walls. Massive oak trees bent their limbs over... Show moreLORNA Ryan Nichols The house, it seemed, had made a clearing in the woods for itselfto occupy; it sat in the middle of a nearly-spherical orb of empty space bounded by vegetation that only dared to venture within a dozen yards of its dreary, darkened walls. Massive oak trees bent their limbs over its failing roof, as ifby command, to form a patchwork canopy that held back all but the brightest ofdaylight. Wildlife also seemed terrified by some specific odor or aura it emanated.Folks who ventured into the depths ofthe forest experienced a peculiar response; they began to worry that they had lost their way, that their destination must certainly lie in the opposite direction. Over time, as a result ofthis severe isolation, the house was entirely forgotten and lost.Even as the houses near the edge ofthe forest multiplied and the forest itselfwas gradually reduced to a fraction of its original acreage, the house and its clearing remained untouchedEventually an entire 124 metropolis had been built. The forest was soon bordered by avenues and called a park. No one was aware ofits existence within the city. No one, that is, except its occupants. Father never lets the sunlight touch. Lorna was remembering what Amelia had said before she left for the city again. Haven't You noticed that Father never lets the sunlight touch his face? It wasn’t precisely true. She had memo- ries. The three ofthem, floating on their backs in the lake. There was sunlight then, and Father had smiled. They were very little then,just girls. But it was true now. How had she not realized? Amelia always knew, not like Lorna. Lorna had feelings, suspicions, but they were always vague and she never knew how to speak them until Amelia did for her. Lorna hated it.The slow, close-lipped smile Amelia would give. Her own importance. So what ifit was true? It was also true that they never saw him touch things anymore.Never Show less
:a couple chewy treats. He purred and rubbed his nose against her pant leg He decided then that he didn’t hate her for intruding upon his routines; in fact, he rather liked having her around. A couple months after that first night, Allison had bought a small house in a quiet neighborhood. Angus... Show more:a couple chewy treats. He purred and rubbed his nose against her pant leg He decided then that he didn’t hate her for intruding upon his routines; in fact, he rather liked having her around. A couple months after that first night, Allison had bought a small house in a quiet neighborhood. Angus spent his days in the spare bedroom upstairs. The room had large windows with flat, shelf-like sills that he could stretch out on and nap while warm sunlight wrapped around him like a blanket. Vanessa often spent the night with Allison. She became a regular pan of their new routine, which involved a bit less time spent cuddling on the couch. Angus slowly realized that Vanessa didn‘t pay as much attention to him as she had that first night. This didn't bother him much. Allison‘s affection was all he really wanted, but he couldn‘t help wondering if Vanessa’s earlier kindness was genuine or just an attempt to win his approval. At night, the two women would shut their bedroom door, leaving him to sleep on the couch or in the window sill. Even this he took without complain. One day Allison picked him up and held his face close to her own as she lay on her back in bed. ‘She was smiling and animated as she snuggled his nose with hers. “Guess what,buddy?” she asked. “Vanessa‘s gonna come live with us!" She squeezed him close and squealed out a rambling sentence about how happy she was and how great everything was going to be. He had never seen her act this way and wasn't really sure what type of response she was hoping for. He purred lightly. “Vanessa is a painter, Angus. She needs a bright place to work and can't have any kitties getting into ‘her tools." It was the morning after Vanessa had moved in and Allison was explaining the closed spare bedroom door to a distraught Angus. “\Vhy don’t you go to the couch?” The weels that followed were regrettable. While Allison was away at work, Vanessa would lock herself in her new studio Dejected, Angus would paw at the door, begging to lay in the sun. After a few minutes of this, Vanessa would emerge, upset, from the contested territon and shoo him away. Eventually, she tried to pick him up. He hissed and scratched defensively at her arms. She went to a closet and armored herself with a winter coat and gloves. She finally managed to grab ahold of him after chasing him around the house for ten minutes. He soon found himself locked in the bathroom. He waited for hours, curled up on the cold tile floor, until he heard Allison open the bathroom door. He rushed to her, pleading forjustice and purring against her calves. She picked him up, and as she turned they both saw Vanessa holding out her arms, which were covered in band-aids. “Look what your cat did while you were gone," Vanessa said. Angus waited eagerly for what he assumed would be Allison’s valiance defense of his actions. “I’m sorry, babe. I’ll have to think of some- thing. ] guess for now we'lljust have to keep him in the bathroom while I’m at wor .” Angus couldn’t believe what he was hearing. \Vhy wasn’t she sticking up for him? It was ohm"- ous he had acted in self defense, wasn’t it? Didn’t she want to hear his version of the events? For the first time in their friendship, he hissed at Allison. He Hailed in her arms until she dropped him. He ran and hid under the couch, feeling betrayed and alone. In the weeks that followed, he acquainted 67 Show less
Sponge —Howewer appealing and self-indulgent— is that every once in awhile—and it all depentt on the \igilance of the one cleaning how oftenia sponge gets swung out. .. But I sit here, and I watch, and exeryone tears each other apart, and human cruelty, and the simple miseries of the day that I... Show moreSponge —Howewer appealing and self-indulgent— is that every once in awhile—and it all depentt on the \igilance of the one cleaning how oftenia sponge gets swung out. .. But I sit here, and I watch, and exeryone tears each other apart, and human cruelty, and the simple miseries of the day that I can't escape and that I can’t wring out... Eventually they get to me. I wish I could say there was a point to it all. But I can’t see one. All I see '5 that you lose friends no matter what you do, and no matter how little you allow yourself to express, and sometimes men those you didn’t really get to know can hurt you. 134 Show less
THE GIFT HORSE Bryce Kadrlik 144 we once had a discussion on the nature of receiving gills and how when handed the reins to a stallion i would push it away and mumble about the idea of “deserving” and once i talked so much about how i deserved nothing that i wanted and little that i had that i... Show moreTHE GIFT HORSE Bryce Kadrlik 144 we once had a discussion on the nature of receiving gills and how when handed the reins to a stallion i would push it away and mumble about the idea of “deserving” and once i talked so much about how i deserved nothing that i wanted and little that i had that i left the imprints of teeth on my wrist. and now you may wonder why i seem so afraid but darling, you are a gift. Show less