JASON HUYNH: Paradise at a Price

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

“Time’s up.”

“What? No! I need to go back! Please!”

“Your life savings would give you… maybe a month. Sign here.”

*Frantic scribbling.* “Yes! Take it; just get me back there now!”

The pod clicked closed. The custom Virtuatopia and life support resumed.

“Now we can afford another pod. Excellent.”

Jason was inspired by dystopian literature and the science fiction short stories of Ray Bradbury. With virtual reality at the forefront of gaming technology, Jason wonders if simulations may end up being abused. Escaping reality can be quite addictive. On a more personal note, he is looking forward to high school graduation, attending UC Riverside, and perhaps taking a creative writing course there.

MATTHEW EICHENLAUB: First Love

Submissions, Touching, ,

The dead sparrow behind the garbage barrel brought it all back. Vietnam, that letter from home about my first girlfriend. Suicide, it read, something about her husband and her sister.

But this damp spring evening we danced again, carried by the wind and the liquid trilling of a Wood Thrush.

Matthew lives and writes in Maine. He loves the cool evenings of spring, and first the wood thrushes, then later the loons.

MICHAEL HILL: The Suspect Who Thought He’d Get a Fair Trial

Artistic, Submissions, ,

He had been arrested and brought to the Precinct. In the cell he received a black eye in silence. Outside a crowd bayed for his blood. Inside a guard said, “We’re moving you for your own safety.”

As they entered the basement car-park Jack Ruby stepped forward and shot him.

Michael D Hill is a Londoner who has lived in Dorset for more than half his life. He enjoys reading, writing and breathing.

SUSAN GALE WICKES: The Long Road to Friday

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

I tried to avoid his eyes. They were intent. They questioned, but I had no answer.

I quietly slipped the wallet back into the pocket of his pants. Well worn, they had seen better days… But so had we.

I had known, without even looking, that the wallet was empty.

Susan Gale Wickes spent many years in the newspaper industry, but is now devoting her time and energy to writing poetry and short stories. She has been published in Haiku Journal, Sleeve, and 50-Word Stories.

LOUISE EMMA POTTER: Motherhood

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

The unveiling mysteries of motherhood: stages of intense transformation, from daughter to wife to mother. Entrances, exhilarations, exits; lively childhood memories, intoxicating teenage adventures, disoriented adulthood choices. Happiness, madness, sadness. Empty nested. A rejoicing feeling of accomplishment. Gratified facial expressions as they leave. Adjustments, introspective silence, fulfillment.

Another cycle begins.

Louise Emma Potter was born in the United Kingdom and brought up in Brazil. She has been in the education field for more than 20 years and is a material writer and teacher trainer. Her website is teach-in.com.br.

MICHAEL ROYCE: Summer

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

She was a golden girl, and he fell in love each summer, a boyish crush undisturbed by consummation. One night, they danced closely to Venus by Frankie Avalon. He felt her warmth and wanted to kiss her, but fear restrained him.

In life, we turn some corners and not others.

Michael is a graduate of Portland’s 2011 Attic Atheneum, a one-year alternative to a MFA program. His published fiction and creative non-fiction have appeared in Bartleby Snopes, Blue Lake Review, The MacGuffin, PANK, Prick of the Spindle, Prime Number, and other on-line and print journals and anthologies. His series collectively called “Mississippi Freedom Summer in Eight Vignettes” was published in the “Best of the Net 2011” by Sundress Publications.

CANDACE KUBINEC: The Nonconformist

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

I didn’t know it then, but she was ahead of her time.

The other mothers baked and cleaned; she gave her time to help the poor.
The other mothers played cards and sewed; she read and played the piano.

My mother didn’t conform to her peers.

She taught me well.

As she writes, Candace wonders what example she’s setting.

KRISTEN VANBLARGAN: Hair

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

“How much?” the hairdresser asked. Delilah remembered how Sam would run his fingers through her hair. Never cut it, he’d say.

“Everything.”

When it was done, Delilah smiled at how strong she looked. As she walked outside, cool air caressed her nape. The world breathed as if for the first time.

Kristen VanBlargan lives in Queens, New York. Her fiction has appeared in Timeless Tales, and she blogs at kristenvanb.wordpress.com.

CLORIS CUI: What’s Next?

Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

I wanted to buy a necklace for my wife as a Christmas gift.

Unfortunately, I really didn’t know what size fit her. Therefore, I decided to measure her neck size when she was asleep.

However, as I was putting a rope on her neck to measure size, she woke up.

Cloris Cui a student at Shenzhen Academy of International Education who wants to learn directing in university.