*This story has content that some might find difficultor disturbing.* 10:30 a.m. Kelly bats her eyes at little Maeve as she pulls the empty bottle out of her daughter’s mouth. “We were hungry, sweet baby, weren’t we?” Maeve smacks her lips and Kelly dabs spots of milk around her mouth. “Time for burpies.” Kelly hoists … Continue reading “Inside, Crying” by Gail Marlene Schwartz, 2019 Fiction Fall Contest Winner
The men stopped their truckand sprung from it when they saw mewalking near the underpass.They crossed the roadstraight towards me. My ears thuddedfrom the argument that set meout there, and it was blackout by then. I just wanted to go home. The men from the truck looked toughbut I didn't want to run.They walked behind … Continue reading “Pool of Light” by Susan Alkaitis, 2019 Poetry Fall Contest Winner
I sit on the couch reading for a long time, unwilling to move, feeling satisfied as I read a story about a Midwestern man who used his Domino’s app to order pizza for hungry families on a Wednesday night. I want to call her. I worshipped our ongoing debates about technology’s relationship to human kindness; … Continue reading “Soulstrings” by Irina Popescu, 2019 Non-Fiction Fall Contest Winner
When I saw on the internet that an entire family had died in a fire, it made me think of the new kids. It happened at the same government housing complex, what we called the Projects, where I grew up. It wasn’t the new kids who died. No they would be adults now. My name’s … Continue reading “A Project’s Tale” by Michael H. Pasley – Summer 2019 Fiction Winner
So, mister, you ever make out on a city bus in the driving rain? I did ONCE, at 17, riding home from high school, kissing a friend of my sister who told my sister she liked me. Eyes like ravens, bubblicious chewing gum-glossed lips, she got off at my stop, lived a block over. Two … Continue reading “Passengers” by David Colodney, 2019 Poetry Spring Contest Winner
When the lunch bell rings we gather again, a clot of disheveled junkies in the artery of the hallway. A couple of new zombie faces have appeared, including the living-dead doctor and a girl named Melanie who wears the ubiquitous sweatpants and, instead of flip-flops, dirty pink Dearfoam slippers. She’s young and skanky-cute, like she … Continue reading “Meet Steven” by Chris Jansen, 2019 Non-Fiction Spring Contest Winner
Pete wrestled the wooden stepladder into the azalea thicket. Like him it was old. Unlike him it was getting heavier every year. Ducking, sidling, backtracking the ladder like a dance partner through the thrust and wallop of the branches, he headed for the spot he'd chosen. Right between the two oldest azaleas. He had … Continue reading “Lady Azalea” by Stephanie Joyce, winner of the 2018-2019 Winter Fiction Contest
