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short stories
In Case of Emergency Take Selfie
This story was featured by Mulberry Literary Journal in the Issue IV NOWISE. Established in 2020, Mulberry Literary is an online literary and art magazine dedicated to showcasing boundless creative work in its every form.
This was how it started. First, she forgot to wash her hair. She reduced the ritual from once a week to once a month, then abandoned the task completely.
She piled her hair high on her head and focused her attention on knotting macramé. On Tuesdays she baked sourdough, using the scoring lame to slice artwork into the top of the dough so each loaf emerged from the oven looking like Jesus.
Q
This story was featured by Active Muse literary journal in the Winter (Shishir) 2021 collection and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Each collection of Active Muse, issued seasonally, features poems and short stories by authors from around the world.
I shot hoops at the YMCA most summer nights. Swiped my card at the snacks machine. I pretended not to notice that my hair was falling out by then—tight white chunks like lint from the dryer trap. I saw one real big piece float down the court and lost my shit, because parts of me shouldn’t be taken out with the trash despite what ‘Rico says. I wrapped my hair in a scarf, put on a cap and double checked my fingernails to make sure they were clean.
Sister Salsa
Our mom had decided to teach us how to make homemade salsa. We said, OK. Our husbands didn’t think it was such a good idea.… Read More »Sister Salsa
Looking Glass
At East 74th and 5th Avenue in Central Park, just north of the water conservatory and east of the boathouse, stands the Alice in Wonderland… Read More »Looking Glass
It Didn’t Have To Happen
It didn’t have to happen. Not the recession. Not the decrepit senior citizen retirement center nor the 1970’s camper van. Not the bad jobs, broken… Read More »It Didn’t Have To Happen
Julie
She was a lanky woman who looked like an athlete and when she walked, especially fast, placed extra emphasis on the balls of her feet.
A family outcast since the day she was born, she moved through the world with a lofty air and a certain resignation—but things started to change right around the time she graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in art history.
Mind Monday
The radio flipped itself on and a light buzz filled the room. Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue” weaved between a lilting voice racing through the dailies.
Jump Cut to Venice, CA
They pop their shirt collars high like it means something. In an end-of-world apocalypse scenario this is what they’ll be doing when they die. Or,… Read More »Jump Cut to Venice, CA
Robots Get Lonely Too
I can’t write about loneliness, because it’s a cliche to lament about darkness to other privileged people. Let’s say I’m at a coffee kiosk. Let’s… Read More »Robots Get Lonely Too
The Zoom Room
The green light came on. Two windows appeared, then four, six, eight. Someone tapped a microphone. Some attendees checked for food in their teeth, adjusted… Read More »The Zoom Room
Wild Parrots
The parrots first arrived in August. The boyfriend says it was a sign. She says all they did was put seed outside — like they… Read More »Wild Parrots
San Francisco Apocalypse
Today was the best of days, whether Maggie consciously knew it or not. This morning she woke in a sliver patch of sunlight and realized… Read More »San Francisco Apocalypse
Big City Dreams Turn Mortals Into Icons
New York City. He’d heard about it from another paisan who talked about it with reverence, like the Big Apple was the friggin’ holy land.… Read More »Big City Dreams Turn Mortals Into Icons
Third Wave Coffee And Justice For All
His eyes squint as he enters the tiny coffee shop and lips purse in response to the morning soundtrack – The Misfits – loud enough… Read More »Third Wave Coffee And Justice For All
Los Angeles, Then
2004, the old Cinespace on Hollywood Boulevard one wet Tuesday night in April – who can forget! How the traffic backed all the way down… Read More »Los Angeles, Then
Learning To Swim
In the dream I had, the lake bubbled like a hot spring. The water was crystal clear, and I could see all the way down to the bottom.
Antiheroes swim. Flesh and blood protagonists from popular 21st century television shows with enormous flaws and the deepest of secrets – Olivia Pope, Don Draper, Emily Thorne – they all swim.
From the Archives: Friendships
I walked down Pickney St. with a bottle of Perrier in one hand and my cell phone in the other. I always find myself scrolling… Read More »From the Archives: Friendships
Twenty Two and a Few (Part 1)
I wake up to the sound of ringing. It could have been the ringing of my ears as a result of last nights party but… Read More »Twenty Two and a Few (Part 1)
Growing Up Mall
As far back as I can remember my mom has worked in the cosmetics industry. When I was growing up she was a representative for… Read More »Growing Up Mall