Fiction
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line and sinker
by Heather Emmanuel You slide pescatarian into the conversation like it’s your word to claim. “When it counts,” you say, scanning the menu. Across the table, in a crisp button-down and cuffed sleeves, she doesn’t bother pretending to read hers. “And when does it count?” The intensity of her slightly downturned eyes unnerves you. Her Continue reading
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Dry
by Chila Woychik It was the farthest north they had ever been. And time was all Maddie and Saul had left. Hours awash in Maddie’s own thoughts, the strangest memories crept in at even the hint of a connection: an oak tree with a split trunk reminded her of climbing a tree in her back Continue reading
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Concession
by Robert Schiff The speech is drafted—brief, polite, gracious. Tradition calls for writing two. One for victory. The other for this. Two are not necessary tonight. Twenty five years ago: The last Fall practice wrapped. Jordan packed up gear. That was the freshmen’s job. Coach coming over. Jordan saw and walked the other direction. Coach Continue reading
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Directive 23
by Jack Tisdale Belknap House. The Abner L’Argent Psychic College for Pantisocracy, Aspheterism, Benevolence, and Civil Liberty DE DESPERATIONE, FORTITUDO Staff Directive 23, October 5. From: Director Barringwell Re: Certain Items. Certain items have been brought to my attention. I address them here in no particular order. Were you therefore to read this from the Continue reading
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Mom’s Mom’s Mom’s Music Box
by Nora Esme Wagner Mom’s music box is being auctioned off on eBay. Not her exact one—that disappeared with her. Delia and I upended the entire house, opening air vents, the false back board in her closet, the paint cans left in the garage from when she decided to paint all the walls lemon. She Continue reading
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We, the Spiders
by Jaclyn Port The spider appeared late Wednesday night, or before dawn Thursday morning. None of us knew the exact time, as we were all getting our recommended six-to-eight hours of sleep or finishing our homework. We only saw segments of it as we arrived at The School: three legs each on Keyuan Road and Continue reading
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Bystander
by Mary Kate Williams As a novelist, with quite a robust imagination, I never expected the mob to be involved in the success or demise of my literary art piece novel. But here we are. “Thanks again,” I trill, exiting the nail salon feeling truly pampered. Some women do this every week; how do they Continue reading
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A Choice of Living
by Christina Fong It’s the kind of spring day that permeates all conversation until it can’t be talked about anymore and must simply be enjoyed. The warm temperatures promise to stay for good this time, and with that promise, all the winter frost sitting heavy on everyone’s shoulders gradually drips away. The air smells sweet Continue reading
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Talent
by Paul Hostovsky He played that thing all the time: waking, sleeping, walking, riding his bike, reclining in the bathtub fully clothed, where the acoustics were the best, he said. And in the backseat of the family Buick when we were trying to have a conversation up front. It was annoying. If we turned the Continue reading
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Colour
by Kristi Ross Another day in this northern city. Even at noon the light is too diffuse to cast a shadow. For months this grey-brown winter has soaked into her skin, layering loneliness and sadness, conjuring up memories of loss. When she thinks of him, the planes of his face and the set of his Continue reading
January House Literary Journal 