Category Archives: Stories

TIM SEVENHUYSEN: The Culture Who Cried “Zombie”

Amusing, , ,

“Honey, there’s a zombie on the lawn.”

“Already? Well, get the candy.”

“No, I think it’s a real one.”

“Dear, it’s Halloween. But boy does that makeup look convincing. I’m going to ask how he did it…”

Diary Entry, October 31, 2013: The humans have finally lowered their guard. It begins today.

It is my opinion that Halloween was designed by monsters to gradually lure humanity into a trap. And when it starts, how will we know who’s really a monster and who’s just wearing a costume? Beware!

Happy Halloween, everyone. Have fun and stay safe.

COURI JOHNSON: Dearest, I Am Sorry

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, ,

Loneliness had been an epidemic that left all of my body boarded up. You were supposed to be the cure.

But I’m still feeling sick. I hope you can forgive me; I am going to eat this whole sandwich alone.

Because I am hungry, and because you are not real.

Couri Johnson is a graduate student of the NEOMFA, focusing on fiction. She is currently the president of YSU’s Student Literary Arts Association, and editor of the Jenny.

KEVIN KINSEY: A Crack in the Foundation

Submissions, Touching, , ,

Everything smelled like her. Blankets, clothes, furniture… Even the yard seemed, in a way, to carry her.

He expected to hear her laugh at all times, and turning the corner, to see her. But that is the way that all fathers feel, and the law always sides with the mother.

Born and raised in PA, Kevin loves autumn, undergrad courses, and his three dogs: Nikki, Mika, and Star. One of his dogs is a male. He also enjoys beer. Read more of his writing at http://flashaday.blogspot.com.

TIM SEVENHUYSEN: Victor

Puns and Wordplay, , , , , , ,

Plop.

“Eat up!” said Mom.

Victor stared at his plate. Yuck. What was this slimy, moldy, mushy gunk?

“Don’t you like it?”

“Gross!” said Victor. “Is this rotten food?”

“It’s your winnings,” said Mom. “The ones you gloated about after Monopoly. Like you said, to the victor go the spoils!”

I’m happy to announce the birth of my second son, Victor! This story is for him.

JOHN B. SINCLAIR: Blackout

Adventure, Submissions, , ,

A drip from the ceiling splatters onto his forehead.

“His eyes… They open,” is heard in broken English.

A fuzzy recollection of the previous night arises.

A fight with burglars in the hotel room upstairs.

A knife flashed and bodies fell.

Another drip, blood… But whose, and why the handcuffs?

John B Sinclair is a much-travelled Scot who has now returned to Scotland, where he enjoys freelance writing on a variety of subjects.

ALISON MIRABELLA: Treading Carefully

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

After school, I would follow the railroad home. I walked the iron bars step by step by deliberate step, pretending it was a tightrope in the sky and touching the gravel was the equivalent of falling to my death.

To be honest, talking to you gives me the same feeling.

Alison Mirabella is a librarian-by-day, writer-by-night and grad- student-for-whatever-time-is-left living on Long Island. She has nothing published yet, but she is really good at making tiny origami stars. That’s something, right? Check out her Tumblr: i-a-m.tumblr.com

COURTNEY HAMEL: Fairy Ring

Submissions, Touching, , , , ,

After my sister disappeared, Father brought me behind the house to see a wet circle of mushrooms. “A fairy ring,” he said, hoarsely. “They take little girls to dance with.”

There were policemen inside. They bored me.

I asked if I could dance, too, but Father wouldn’t meet my eyes.

Courtney Hamel lives with many cats in Toronto, Ontario.

PAMELA KALECHOFSKY: The Dancer

Amusing, Odd, Submissions, , , , ,

Karen and I walked through the club admiring the performer’s dress.

“I love the design; it compliments her broader frame,” Karen said.

“The sequins are spectacular!” I added.

“We love your dress!” I called towards the catwalk.

The dancer pivoted and my visage changed.

“Jim!” I gasped at my husband.

Miss Pam is a dance teacher, choreographer, and makeup artist. In her free time she enjoys writing, reading, painting, acting, and participating in artistic projects!

RL WING: It Started and It Wouldn’t Stop

Odd, Submissions, , ,

As soon as she said said go, it started. It was hard to stop at first; pauses seldom happened.

Now it is as if it always was like this. Just like this.

It hasn’t stopped since. Then again, she never did say “stop”.

“Fine, stop!” she yelled.

And it did.

Her bio. Not much to say. She doesn’t have a website and uses an alias. My guess is that she (or he) is a ____________. Yeah, she is a giant fill in the blank. Maybe she is friends with RL Wing?

CHRIS GRIGLACK: Homesick

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , ,

From here it is just another speck of light in the sky, barely discernible from the rest, but as I look upon it I weep.

I tell myself that one day I will make it home, but I know it’s not true.

The Earth winks at me from the heavens.

Chris Griglack was born and raised in Massachusetts where he has lived for 23 years. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2012 with a degree in Writing, Rhetoric, and Communications.