HARRY DEMAREST: Father’s Treasure

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My father always claimed he had a baseball signed by Babe Ruth.

After he died, we searched through his stuff. I found a baseball, but it wasn’t signed by Babe Ruth. It was signed by someone named George Herman Ruth, so we sold it at the garage sale for $4.

Harry Demarest has retired after careers encompassing scientific research, teaching at a university, software development, web application development, and voter database compilation and distribution. He is now spending his time with his grandchildren and writing memoirs and short stories.

Editor’s Note: Don’t get it? Read here.

MICHAEL COOLEN: Ashes

Submissions, Touching, , , , , ,

A pianist’s hands are extremely sensitive, able to detect minuscule changes in touch, response, key drop, even moisture and temperature.

Sobbing, Thomas wished deeply that his hands weren’t quite so sensitive, as he waited for the next wave, the gritty ashes of his beautiful 10-year-old son cupped in his hands.

Michael Coolen is a pianist, composer, actor, performance artist, and writer who lives in Corvallis, Oregon.

DANA MAZUR: Demon Child

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White petals came down with each gust of wind. Under the blossoming cherry we couldn’t tell if he was a pup or a boy. Pink. Squirmed in my palms.

My husband finished the hole. “Demon seed.” He gestured to throw him in.

By next spring my heart will stop hurting.

Dana Mazur teaches theater therapy and works on her second novel.

JEFFREY LEHRBERG: Belial, Vice-President of Marketing

Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

When they introduced the new vice president of marketing, Frank was amazed no one else noticed.  Why didn’t they recoil at the sight of his bulging proboscis and webbed, leathery wings?

The new exec scanned the room.  When his gaze fell on Frank, he smiled and gave him a wink.

Jeffrey Lehrberg is a Ph.D. student at UC Irvine where he studies limb regeneration in salamanders.  Before he became a scientist, Jeffrey was an underwater photographer for the Navy.  Jeff enjoys snowboarding and looking at animals, especially bulldogs.

ROBERT IULO: A First and Last Date

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He asked, “What kind of music do you like?”

She thought, Well, there’s Duke, Dizzy, and Miles.  Can’t forget Errol and Oscar. Bop, Modern, and Cool. Maybe I should just say:

“Jazz.”

He said, “I like jazz too. I actually just got a new Kenny G. CD.”

She said, “Oh.”

Robert Iulo’s work has been published or is forthcoming in Epiphany, Culinate, Deep South, Museum of Americana, Story Teller, Gastronomica and others. He’s had a special feature published in The Mississippi Sun Herald about his volunteer work on the Mississippi Coast after Katrina.

PAUL BECKMAN: Watching

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The watchers are watching the watchers.

I watch from my bedroom window. Alpha watchers are being watched by Bravo watchers. I don’t see anyone else watching Bravo so I must be the Charlie watcher. That means there’s a Delta likely watching me.

Why? How could they possibly have found out?

Paul Beckman has kids and grandkids. He’s been published in The Raleigh Review, Boston Literary Review, The Brooklyner, Web Del So, Pure Slush, Playboy, Soundzine, 5 Trope, Word Riot, and other wonderful venues in print, online, and via audio and photography. He has stories upcoming in Ascent Aspirations, Pure Slush, Full of Crow Quarterly, Metazen, and The Boston Literary Magazine.

MEGNA MURALI: Face to Face

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He could hardly believe a woman this beautiful would want to be with a geeky, nerdy guy like him. She was an enchanting goddess and he was, well, nothing special.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to meet the love of his life.

The internet had lied.

Megna Murali is an amateur writer who has vowed to escape corporate stoogedom through the power of words. She likes to put one word after the other and watch magic happen. Her blog is the outlet for her chaotic creativity.

DEE MASELLE: Respites

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Joe Sykes said the nametag of the dapper old tour guide who’d enlightened us about Applebloom Historical Mansion’s antiquities.

His eyes twinkled toward lively satyrs carved on the headboard. “It’s said Mr. and Mrs. Applebloom enjoyed their respites here.”

Later I notice ballpoint ink on Grandma’s palm:

Joe Sykes
555-9784

Dee Maselle writes steamy romance.  She makes her home in infinite alternate universes.

KRYSTYNA FEDOSEJEVS: Chocolate

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Day steamed summer perfect. Chocolate was on her mind. Not hot liquid or bars, but frosty, topped with whipped cream, crackling with ice.

She let him dip his straw to join hers, pulled in the last few drops as he tried to tug them his way.

Both, hot for chocolate.

Krystyna writes poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. She delights neighbourhood cats with her singing.

LINDA CASPER: Clarification

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Part of the beach was cordoned off. The press and inquisitive tourists descended like vultures. A white tent fluttering in the sea breeze now concealed the incident.

The man wearing hooded overalls, carrying a small case, shook his head. A deceased female with a fish’s tale would take some explaining.

Linda Casper is a retired teacher, blogger, gardener, judge for Yorkshire in Bloom, and wannabe writer.