PENNY SENANARONG: Heartless

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

A void sits in between his rib cages; he lacks the beating bit of flesh that makes humans human. So, she fills the emptiness with memories of overgrown moss and poisonous flowers, along with false promises of eternity.

It is the closest thing to her heart that she can give.

Penny Senanarong is currently an A-Level student who grew up in the bustling city of Bangkok. Although Thai is her mother tongue, the world of English language and literature fascinates her, and she wishes to be a part of it through writing fiction.

VIV BURGESS: Frequent Flyer

Amusing, Submissions, ,

After years of business suppers, his wife put him on a diet. The benefits were obvious. The uniform was looser and his delivery route was quicker. He could go in and out of buildings faster and travel lighter.

But refusing client generosity proved difficult. He never could resist mince pies.

Viv Burgess is aware that he also likes cookies or biscuits but on a diet he should really only eat the carrots.

CHELSEA ROBERTS: The Saucers

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

The saucers appeared at 12:15 pm on Feast Day, when we celebrate victory over body shaming and our collective morbid obesity.

The saucers searched for intelligent life, abundant natural resources or a population able to power their work force back home.

The saucers left at 12:16 pm on Feast Day.

Chelsea Roberts on most days can be found writing essays and short stories at pastpaperanswers.com.

JOSÉ JAIME PÉREZ: Someone Different From the World

Submissions, Touching, , ,

He was lost in thought again. Someone took over his mind, someone with a heart able to enjoy every single moment as if everything was special.

He stared at her and she smiled back happily, unaware of her own uniqueness. That ignorance, he pondered, was also part of her beauty.

José Jaime is from Spain and is studying at university.

DAVE NOVAK: The Cruelest Part

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , , , , ,

She told me that the cruelest part of it all, after it was over and she was finally allowed to leave the hospital and come home again, was that they had taken the crib away without even telling her.

They pretended like it had never been there to begin with.

Dave Novak works in a fairly serious office that sends him to strange and mysterious places throughout New Jersey. Whenever he feels like being more or less serious, he writes. You can check out his works and thoughts at dumbstupidfakestories.wordpress.com.

ISRAELA MARGALIT: Found and Lost

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

After an extensive search I found a great piano tuner. He showed me pictures of his paintings. I said he was very talented and he should be working on his art rather than tune pianos. Two years later he took my advice and now I don’t have a piano tuner.

Israela Margalit is a playwright, television writer, concert pianist, recording artist, and recently a published author of short fiction and creative nonfiction, with awards or honors in all categories.

ROBERTA BEACH JACOBSON: Childhood

Submissions, Touching, , , ,

I filled sacks with too-snug jeans and sweaters; my closet was finally getting uncluttered.

A fellow donor at the charity shop drivethrough extracted a train set and scooter from her van. I helped her with a dirt bike.

“They grow up so fast,” I commented.

“Tommy had leukemia,” she replied.

Roberta tried retiring, but it didn’t work.

LUCIA SAJA: Until Death

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , , ,

I can’t turn my back on you, even though we’re now strangers.

Once you were brave and clever. Your body gave me pleasure, comfort and delight.

Now your limbs tremble. Your mind wanders. The strong man is a lost boy.

In sickness and in health. Until death do us part.

Lucia Saja wrote this story.

MARK FARLEY: The lost

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , ,

Years later, on a strong day, they retrieved the grey shoebox from the back of the closet and arranged the pictures on the living room rug. They smoothed and flattened curls, mended tears with tape. Then they sat silently, back-to-back, lost in memories of the child who never grew up.

Mark Farley writes novels, flash fiction and the occasional poem. See more at mumbletoes.blogspot.com.

HAYLEY PEN: Coffee Woes

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

A hot wind beats against the coffee shop window where I stare at a foam smiley face. The Fires are coming. Recently evacuated, alone, and unsure of the future, I found solace, with many others, in a steamy cup of caffeine.

Admiring great Mother Nature, I sip as I cry.

Hayley has been an amateur writer her whole life. She has a degree in English and spends most of her free time diving into the realms of her imagination. Her stories touch the hearts of her friends and family. She lives in Southern California where wildfires are currently raging. She looks forward to many more years of creating memorable stories.