My parents tell us there will be chickens at the funeral. I can’t help but snort, which doesn’t go over well with Mom, but I’m sorry, chickens? At my grandma’s funeral? I know they were all she gave a shit about, since there isn’t much to care about when you isolate yourself in the Midwest […]
Mary must have felt this way. No one asked her, and no one asked me. Even so, when the baby stirred in my belly, humming its sweet vibrations through the wood of my stomach, it felt like the incarnation. Mary—a human impregnated by God. I, Veronica—a violin impregnated by man. Well, not man. Woman. Lenora […]
I “Jan Frances.” “Oh, god. Jan Frances.” “I take it that means I win?” Cam was already rolling onto his stomach. “Yes,” I said, writhing like a salmon trying to drag itself upstream as I untangled myself from the sheets. “Jan Frances will do that.” Cam and I were playing Forgotten Folk: we each had […]
Now that I believe in reincarnation, I’m worried about my future. Must be boring for God to watch humans bumble along like a mega-cast reality show. Reincarnation’s probably His sanity. John D. Rockefeller becomes an Indian Untouchable. Osama bin Laden born into an Israeli family. Adolf Hitler birthed as a New Zealand aborigine. I’m wondering […]
Tulum. A single word scrolled across my screen against a backdrop of turquoise water. I clicked to reveal an invitation. I read, scanning down the page, searching for the catch. But there wasn’t one. Instead, the offer of a free weekend in Mexico, airfare included. Experience the latest in luxury with us! Deluxe resort in […]
My Papa wore red calfskin cowboy boots. His shoes were creased and leathery like his farm-worn hands. It was because he wore those boots that my grandfather was named Papa Boots. We were each other’s favorites. Everyone knew it and when Papa, drunk and happy one Fourth of July, finally said it aloud nobody’s feelings […]
Before I was a woman, I was a girl. My mother used to turn me around in front of the mirror, and say, Look at you. One day you’ll be just like me. For a long time, my head could tuck neatly under her chin; even when I was a teenager, it was something we […]
Best athlete we ever had, that Westhead kid. Wasn’t no bigger than you or me but all muscle and hit like napalm. Like cancer. Like he didn’t care who you were or if you might be armed. Four-year letterman at fullback and ended up walking on at Nebraska. Dressed all but one game for that […]
“Ah, Bridget, I’m liking those rainbow socks,” Simon says, pointing at the bright stripes peeking out between the bottom of my pants and the top of my clogs. “What about my socks?” Carla asks, hiking up her bellbottoms to show a brown sock. “Brown! Brown! Me favorite color!” Simon enthuses. “You American girls have got […]
David Carter walks down the street when the building overlooking him says, “Fuck off.” He tells it sorry, drops his eyes to the ground, and keeps walking. The sidewalk asks what he’s looking at so David Carter closes his eyes and tries to cross the street. A car hits him. His head splits. He dies. […]
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