LOUELLA LESTER: Waiting it Out

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Wind-whipped snow devils lash out, stinging the cheek exposed above her scarf. She brushes away the frost gluing her eyelashes, lowers her head, and lopes off into the deepening snow. She chooses a spot, her skin now puffed fur, and burrows in. Curls up. Wedges her snout between her paws.

Louella Lester, a Winnipeg (Canada) writer/photographer, has been published in many journals and anthologies. Her book, Glass Bricks (At Bay Press, April 2021), is a quirky look at work. See more at https:/louellalester.blog.

PONTIUS PAIVA: py9ma1i0n

Adventure, Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

She brought meaning to the life of the old inventor. Yet before today, she never even knew he existed. Her thoughts and feelings came as a surprise to them both. Over the years they learned and laughed, even loved.

It was obvious he had built more than “just a robot.”

Pontius Paiva tries his best to bring characters to life and can be found tinkering away on multiple projects at pontiuspaiva.com.

HAZEL ANN LEE: Forsythia Too Soon

Artistic, Poetry, Submissions, , , , ,

cold wind blowing
colder than tasting frozen-crunchy
tart strawberries

icy snow blasting
against delicate yellow star-shaped flowers
blooming too soon on a hill

a few warm days
winter has abated
reappearing today with frigid temperatures
deep drifts and icicle cascades
bushes of tiny golden forsythia
blooming too early in snow

Hazel Ann Lee is a Black American author of published works on science fiction and fantasy, education and science. Her book of original science poems and science fiction short stories is titled The Astronaut’s Window: Collection of Poems and Short Stories Celebrating Nature. Her poetry has appeared in 50-Word Stories, Star*Line, Utopia, and Frost Zone Zine. Her short story was also published in Frost Zone Zine.

KATHERINE DARLINGTON: Yule

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , ,

We encircle the greedy fire as snow piles outside the cave: silence is the sound of the forest. Stew bubbles in the pot, and I wonder when another meal might be found. I feed the fire another bite of wood. Stars hang from golden threads tonight, despite the bitter cold.

Katherine Darlington enjoys writing poetry, and has articles and short stories in various publications. See more of her work at www.katherinedarlington.com.

LEE HAMMERSCHMIDT: Un-enlightened One

Amusing, Puns and Wordplay, Submissions, , ,

“You must control your anger,” Master Zhan said to the surly monk. “Bickering must stop. Let’s refresh your meditation techniques.

“Yes, Master,” Flan said.

“Close your eyes, breathe, and say… ohm.”

“Arrrrrmmm,” Flan growled.

“No, ohm.”

“Grrrrrmmm.”

“Ohm.”

“Errrrmm,” Flan gargled. “It’s hopeless. I can’t find my way ohm.”

Lee Hammerschmidt is a Visual Artist/Writer/Troubadour. He is the author of the short story collections, A Hole Of My Own, It’s Noir O’clock Somewhere, For Richer or Noirer, and Flash Wounds. Check out his hit parade on YouTube!

ELENA EISS: Bird Catcher

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

You caught the bird with one outstretched pinch. It fluttered fast as your heart, but you clutched its tail hard between thumb and index pads and it calmed. Cupping it in your hands, you turned it to see its eyes, each an oily globe of hate. Then it ate your nose.

Elena Eiss is a student in Pittsburgh CAPA’s Literary Arts Department. She is a fan of fiction and an avid reader. Her work has won Scholastic Writing Awards regionally and nationally, and the Pittsburgh City Theatre produced a one-act play of hers in 2021.

SUSAN GALE WICKES: Postcards

Amusing, Submissions, Top Stories, , , ,

He was never one for long letters, just the occasional postcard from exotic locations to let her know he was alive and well and thinking of her.

She read the news of his death on Friday with sadness. On Monday, his postcard arrived.

So like him:

“Wish you were here.”

Susan Gale Wickes wrote this story.

SHARON AVA EZEKIEL: Bittersweet

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , , , , ,

My parents cried when the doctor said, “Congratulations. You’ve got twins on the way.”

My parents cried as they decorated the nursery and decided what our names would be.

My parents cried that night when I took my first breath, as my partner in crime for nine months never did.

Sharon Ezekiel is a nurse- attorney who lives to write. Her fiction work, “The Storm Cellar” was published in Flash Fiction Magazine and her poem, ” Prelude to My Epitaph” was published in Dying Dahlia Review.

JULIA KLATT SINGER: Boys I Knew

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Boys I knew worked at their uncles’ body shops. They’d take girls like me for a ride. Turning onto the highway, marveling at the power; part liquid, part solid.

Sometimes they’d swerve towards the ditch, always calculating the damage, which parts broken, whether repairable, and what it would cost them.

Julia Klatt Singer is a writer and painter, and the poet in residence at Grace Neighborhood Nursery School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.