The story of the week for May 29 to June 2 is…
Ice by Shawnta S. Barnes
AMY ELIZABETH: Exit
My counselor told me “You can beat this, but you need to keep attending our sessions.”
My mother said to me, “you’re going to die if you keep this up.”
As I leave the liquor store, I hear the door chime ringing behind me. Did an angel get its wings?
Amy Elizabeth wrote this story.
ELLEN SINCLAIR: Saltwater Love
He knew, often before she did, what was needed. His casual remark midweek, her nodded assent. Saturday morning: lunches packed, headed toward the rising sun and the smell of salt.
Now, when she stands alone by the edge of the sea, she thanks him even though he is not there.
Ellen Sinclair is from Belfast, Maine. She is a retired teacher, counselor, widow, mother, and grandmother, a lover of words and the sea.
DAN SHUSHKO: Next
Mikolo woke up tired. His hair felt heavy and his throat burnt. A masked man came into the room and gave him some water.
The man left and locked the door. Mikolo did his business in the corner. He could hear unbearable screaming from down the hall.
He was next.
Dan Shushko is a Ukrainian writer from Lviv.
MARY SHEEHAN: Platform
“Coming through!” I yell, negotiating the thronged station.
Heads turn.
“Last call for Dublin,” the Tannoy booms.
I run.
My case bounces, overturns and spills its contents.
The train doors hiss shut.
“Hard luck!” someone says.
That’s more sympathy than yesterday.
Tomorrow I might just have to trip and fall.
Mary Sheehan lives and writes in the sunny south east of Ireland. Unfortunately, she spends too much time doing both just in her head.
PONTIUS PAIVA: Timber!
Others have forgotten, but I’ll always remember the good times – the tire swing, the treehouse.
I rub my hand over initials carved in its bark. They mark the spot of our first kiss, and the wedding that followed years later.
It pains me to remember, but my axe shows indifference.
Pontius Paiva got 99 problems, but a birch ain’t one. You can root through his collection of short stories and other written works at pontiuspaiva.com.
DB ROBERTSON: Checkmate
When I was younger, my dad taught me how to play chess. If I made a bad move, my dad would let me take it back. He also taught me that a man never cheats.
But I cheated. And that broke her heart.
Nobody’s letting me take that move back.
D.B. Robertson is a Psychology major from Indiana who has rediscovered a love for creative fiction after taking courses in creative writing. When not busy with writing or theatre, D.B. works as a writing tutor at university.
MATTHEW KEELEY: Barriers
“Cappucino, love. Quick.”
He yanks the cup from my hand, throws change in my direction, and dives off, ticket in mouth. And the next suited man goes. And the next. I watch from under my cap.
The barriers slide open and each one glides off. The counter pens me in.
Matthew Keeley is a teacher and writer from Central Scotland. He is currently seeking representation for his first science fiction novel, ‘Turning the Hourglass’.
SHAWNTA S BARNES: Ice
Ran into school carefree and excited to learn. Exited school; discovered Papi was gone.
They watched us. They knew where he would be. Once he drove around the corner from my school, they took him into custody.
I was so happy to go into school that I didn’t wave goodbye.
Shawnta S. Barnes is a literacy coach in Indianapolis Public Schools, an adjunct instructor at IUPUI School of Education and a 2016-2017 Teach Plus Teaching Policy Fellow. Links to her publications can be found at educatorbarnes.com/publications.
JOEY TO: Death in the Air
Amy checked her seatbelt. Seats were filling… yet, more passengers still boarded.
“Hope I don’t get kicked off,” she muttered.
“I won’t do that.”
Amy turned her head. A lanky guy in a black, hooded robe towered over her.
“I’ve been running my transportation business for ages. I never overbook.”
Joey doesn’t like it when his bookings aren’t respected. You can visit him at joeytoey.com at anytime. No need to book.