East District
The central street of the east district was slick like a runny nose on a toddler.
Easter Eggs
...the way couldn't be written down, there was no map, this was uncharted territory...but we were headed for the horizon
The Island
Naomi's small house held mostly paper. Books lined the walls and stood in piles in the corners and by chairs. Papers lined the desk and the floor around the desk. The desk itself, a metal desk from the 50s, took up an entire quadrant of the main living area.
Kipper Vam Beethoven
No one considers the downside of being immortal.
Abuse of Power
The next morning his dad was sitting at the small kitchen table huddled over his coffee, hands shaking, bags under his eyes. He motioned Andy over. Andy's heart raced as he took each fearful step. As he got closer, his father picked up a pocket knife off the table and held it out to Andy.
Funhouse of Music
The house was crooked. Its paint, whatever was left of it, was of mysterious original coloration. The entire thing was made of wood, wood that creaked underfoot, creaked in the wind, creaked when the sounds and reverberations came from within it.
Joseph and the Poets
"The roold breaks erryone," he said.
The Antipocalypse
Post-apocalyptic? It's been so anti-climactic, though. What happened to the skies on fire, dragons, and white horses? So the average temperature has gone up 30 degrees. I wanted the fire and brimstone falling from the sky, not creeping up at me from the equator.
Resonant Girl
Skate’s body resonated. Whenever music played, her whole body vibrated like a giant organic subwoofer. When a car drove by, buzzing a bass line for the whole neighborhood to enjoy, Skate would rattle more than their rear windshield.
...Wrecks Art Exhibit: Trickster Makes This World and the Role of Art in a Spiritual Life
...what is the deal with art? Why does it elicit such strong opinion, particularly negative opinion? Why are so many people offended by so much art? Why are things that, when experienced in day to day life, are no big deal, but when highlighted in artistic expression become reason for violent reaction?
My New Church
This is my new church.
Micha's Story
The tape, the CCTV tape, black and white and out of focus on the mini TV in the closet-sized office of strip mall security, shows a middle-aged woman talking with her hands to the young sales clerk behind the counter. He looks like she might as well have her hands crushed around his balls. He nervously rolls on his feet. A transaction takes place. She leaves.
Cake: The Political and Social Journey of a Band
The Lyrics, 1994-2001
Passion 2001
Jesus came to town with a small band of devotees, after making a pilgrimous journey from Vegas.
Christmas 2001
I remember Mary and Joseph. They were a nice couple. It took Joseph forever to finally pop the question.
Short Fiction on the Blog
Broken
...he heard the noise in the distance, something like a growl and a scream and a whimper all at once
Jeanie and Jimmy
The social brand management agency had a catchy name displayed on a neon sign facing the door out to the coworking space. Some of it had stopped working so now it said “L ass”...
In My Dark Hours, I Have the Certain Feeling that Everything Outside This One Thing Has No Meaning
“These storms are too strong on the sea of my winter,”1 she said Vigilantes of Love, S.O.S., from the record Summershine. ↩ ...
On the Way to Valentine's Day
He could see the jaws of life peeking in through the crumpled seam of the door. His eyes played tricks on him, and the little metal pincers appeared to be changing shape, moving globules like mercury.
The Artist
She saw it in the eyes of every visitor, those dead, no-substance gazes of the crowd. They saw art but did not know art. They appreciated art the way they appreciated secret jungle cultures. Other.
Heat Zombies
Or the road crews, just standing there, staring at you as you drove by, no doubt contemplating the sapidity of your brains. You'd realize they had made the transition, you'd see the vacant eyes and the drool and the discolored skin. Your heart would leap into your throat and you'd want to step on the gas, but you couldn't. You were forced to a crawl as traffic squeezed through the coned-off lane.
Jimmy Bean
Everyone loved Jimmy Bean and Jimmy loved everyone. Except when he didn't.
Concerning the Curious Confections Coming Out of Calopezzati
Dear Editor...
Unsaved by the Bell
Every day for weeks we would go there. At first right there, with flowers and a cloth, to clean the stone. Then, from a distance, just staring at the bell, willing it to move...
I Was a Worship Pastor once
“Well I guess I don’t have to worry about surfing pr0n at work anymore.”...
A Conversation Between a Boy and an Elderly Woman.
“I want to play!” “Sometimes you have to play alone.” “But I don’t want to play alone.” “But part of being an adult is to learn that You can go your own way. You can call it another lonely day....
I Have It on the Highest Authority that Jimmy Page Is Jesus’ Favorite Singer.
“Wow I’ve never seen a priest smoke before. Especially not Camel regulars.”...
Ddy.exe Ships with Less Features than the Original, Although Without Dedbtddy.exe Performance Is Vastly Improved
“dedbtddy.exe” is a trojan installed by Love4Evar, Inc.’s “Prego” app, popular in the late 90’s and early 00’s...
Your Chain of Command Has Been Silenced now
and all those birds would have sung to your beautiful heart anyhow...
Opportunistic Bullshit Economy
Jenny woke up with something new (to her) on the brain. She swung her legs gingerly out from under the duvet and spread her toes on the hardwoods...
You Down with OOP? Yeah You Know Me!
“Does class Love extend class Sex or does class Sex extend class Love?”...
Dystopia
“What do you want for your birthday grandpa?”...
Parenthesis (the Stage Whisper of the Written Word)
Oh Dallas, if you are sad about my disappearance, imagine how I must feel. I am the toddler dropped in the suburban dumpster, climbed out, picked trash out of hair, looked around, started walking...
They Have Traffic and Dirty Dishes and Computers Crashing and Lost Keys to Be Upset About
Well Dallas, you did it again. Why I let you do this to me, I do not know. I want something from you, but clearly it is not mine to have...
She Stood in the Middle of the Street Every Night
She closed down the bar again. He had to go home to his family, leaving her with word tokens for love, exchange them for extra longing at the cashier stand on your way out the door...
The Padded Walls Shook
The padded walls shook. The canvas felt warm against his skin. The chains a comfort. Yet the walls shook...
Sometimes You Just Have to Jump...
Sometimes you just have to jump down that wormhole to see where it leads. Sometimes you have to follow the shadow into the filthy room just to see what kind of furniture is in there...
He Plays the Drums as a Meditation
He plays the drums as a meditation...
Billy Was the Smartest Best Looking Loneliest Gay Man Parking His Car on the Street in Front of the Club at that Moment
Billy was the smartest, best looking, loneliest gay man parking his car on the street in front of the club at that moment...
In Flight
Just after the seatbelt sign went off and people jumped to their feet, as I was hunched over my bag re-stowing my various entertainments, I felt something heavy but soft land on my head, from above...
Julias Boyfriend Was a Rock Star
Julia’s boyfriend was a rock star...
Shawnteese Is the Most White-trash Girl to Never Hang Out with White People
Shawnteese is the most white-trash girl to never hang out with white people. She can’t even remember the last conversation she had with a white person...
Untitled
There we were, shoveling coal in western Montana, the fact of its rurality self-evident...
The Walk
The man wandered the streets aimlessly
The Dialog
Angie was just leaving...
Teasing You with Character Sketches
First a little backstory: So I just walked home from the Dremo’s open mic, where I played second-to-last to a handful of die-hards who came out and stayed out despite the snow...