CARL DINERMAN: The Point-One Percent
Private helicopters and jets whisk coddled, air-smooching trophy wives off to be detoxed, Botoxed, Gucci’ed and Armani’ed. Yacht captains are given their sailing orders. More wings are added to...
View ArticleCATHERINE BUCK: Tomorrow
Today I am awake. Today I am alive. Today I am not wasting any more time. Today I am going to get out of bed. Today I am going to love myself again. Today I am going to tell the truth. Today I am...
View ArticlePATRICK YU: A Little Borged
Resistance is futile you have been assimilated. Your mind will experience a gradual desensitization. You are not alone. Your are within the many. It comes with no pain. Ignore those over 50. Do not try...
View ArticleHARRY DEMAREST: Automation
The North American Automated Missile Response System analyzes 1,542 sensors of all kinds. Final testing involved over a billion random simulations. The combination of a power failure in DC, a fire in...
View ArticleMICHAEL COOLEN: Muscular Miscalculation
Strutting down the street, Bubba yelled scornfully at the lesser humans scurrying into neighboring buildings. He had honed his 300-pound body into muscular mastery, and he knew it would handle any wind...
View ArticleFORREST WHITESIDES: The Process Server
Like a doppelganger, he emerged from the 1982 Datsun hatchback dressed as a pizza delivery guy. Complete with greasy pizza box, he sleazed his way across the street and up onto the front porch and rang...
View ArticleCB AUDER: Survival of the Fittest
Penny’s monkey (having graduated cum laude) threw a fit to attend the lecture. Nettled, Penny acquiesced. Once there, the monkey grew bored. It leapt from her lap, chattered towards the podium. Before...
View ArticleJOEY TO: Civil Disobedience
Danny hopped into a black bumper car while Johanna hopped into a blue one. Both drivers skimmed the signs on the surrounding walls. In large red letters: CLOCKWISE DIRECTION ONLY NO HEAD-ON HITS Danny...
View ArticleJOHN B SINCLAIR: Age Concern
Jim’s and Bob’s lives were inextricably linked. They scoured newspapers daily with no interest in modern technology. One day, Bob read, “Jim Cooper: USA’s oldest man: Dead” and knew his time had come....
View ArticleYASSI DOO: God Nature vs. Nature God
Their insignificant lives were in her hands now; she felt no mercy. How oblivious of them to invoke her wrath by trespassing. She’ll effect a flood and watch them drown in pleasure. She was their god....
View ArticleELIZA ARCHER: Expedience
Arthur pulled at the sword stuck in the stone. It came out easily. The blade probably was dull, but Sir Kaye wasn’t exactly the brightest blade in Camelot. Maybe they deserved each other. Taking this...
View ArticleCONNELL WAYNE REGNER: Narration
“I looked at her and it was love at first sight. I knew she didn’t know I existed so I hid my glances. Then she got up and walked towards me as if to say something.” “You’re so nerdy. Everyone can hear...
View ArticleKEVIN MCMANUS: Never Give Up On Your Dream
Queenie, fifteen, had two teeth, no claws, and had never been outside. Yet daily, on the table by the window, she patiently watched the birds. One Christmas a startled bird flew in when the door...
View ArticleMARIAN BROOKS: Speechless
The day the little flat screen in the kitchen blew up, Heidi and Jim Colton knew they were in trouble. They listened to the loud hiss of static and watched the frantic swirling of tiny snowflakes...
View ArticleSYLVIA HEIKE: Loss and Gain
Sarah stared at the hamster. “Mom, where’s Poppy?” “Right there, sweetheart.” Mom hoped Sarah couldn’t tell the difference. Old Poppy had died and she’d replaced him with a lookalike. “But it’s much...
View ArticleANITA SOUPIR: Poison
“What is this colorless swill? Offensively bland tonic; completely odorless. I’ve had my eye on you. I know you despise me. What are you playing at, giving me this vile, mundane concoction? I...
View ArticleMICHAEL COOLEN: There Goes Spot Again
“See Spot run!” yelled Dick. “Why?” responded Jane. “Huh?” replied Dick. “Why?” repeated Jane. “Uhmm,” said Dick. “I have a million things to get done at home today,” Jane continued. “Why should I look...
View ArticleKATY MADRID: The Borator
I stood and listened as Dianne said clever things that belonged to someone else: my jokes, her boyfriend’s politics, Lily’s favorite “literary fiction”. She didn’t have a single original thought or...
View ArticleJOEY TO: The Button
What had been planet Yardinvert was now a cluster of brown bits. Bulging eyes encircled Lord Lapso. He was relieved his black hood obscured his gawk. “You’ll die for this!” exclaimed one hostage. The...
View ArticleCONNELL WAYNE REGNER: Proudly Humble
Being the world’s humblest man was hard work at the best of times. Will looked back on his journey: the full page advertisements, the talk show appearances, the posters he had erected along interstate...
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