Seems like the weather is finally starting to behave true to form. That storm we had last weekend was a doozy. Another one of those, and I'm going to start missing The Warmth of summer even more. This issue of 50 to 1 features the work of Michaela Halsey, Sander Blome, Chris Dize, April Johnston, Stefanie Snider, Edward Garza and Adam Johnson.
Paul had waaaaaay too much candy this week. Curse you, Halloween. Curse you.
Royal Flush by Michaela Halsey
You are delirious.
You sit at your poker table, cards in hand, playing with all the people you have ever wanted to meet. The devil cracks a fart, fans it with his tail. Unconcerned, he says: “Whose empty seat?”
The irony bemuses you. “Jesus is coming.”
Michaela Halsey, a recent college graduate, means no disrespect.
You are delirious.
You sit at your poker table, cards in hand, playing with all the people you have ever wanted to meet. The devil cracks a fart, fans it with his tail. Unconcerned, he says: “Whose empty seat?”
The irony bemuses you. “Jesus is coming.”
Michaela Halsey, a recent college graduate, means no disrespect.
Sleep Aide by Sander Blome
Kathy, SunGate’s shapely housemother, finally responds to Will's advances. “Sneak into my bedroom after meds.” Sting croons “Message in a Bottle,” Kathy coos, “Just cuddle” and Will reaches underneath Kathy’s nightgown.
“Out!” Kathy yelps. Right then, Restoril’s dazing effect grips Kathy’s bedmate.
At breakfast, Kathy tests Will’s befogged memory. “Rested?"
Sander Blome denies life as a bipolar twice a day when he medicates. Now a British and American Literature major at University of South Florida, he is at work on a first book of poetry. www.sander-blome.blogspot.com.
Kathy, SunGate’s shapely housemother, finally responds to Will's advances. “Sneak into my bedroom after meds.” Sting croons “Message in a Bottle,” Kathy coos, “Just cuddle” and Will reaches underneath Kathy’s nightgown.
“Out!” Kathy yelps. Right then, Restoril’s dazing effect grips Kathy’s bedmate.
At breakfast, Kathy tests Will’s befogged memory. “Rested?"
Sander Blome denies life as a bipolar twice a day when he medicates. Now a British and American Literature major at University of South Florida, he is at work on a first book of poetry. www.sander-blome.blogspot.com.
Into the In-Worlds Below by Chris Dize
We stepped off the porch and followed the path around the house and down into the woods where the ferns grow ankle-high, brush your calves like lace and canvas the entire ground and the pathways to the in-worlds below. “Whatever you do,” Penelope warned, “don’t go off the path here.”
Chris Dize is a recent law school graduate who lives in New Jersey and is currently studying for the bar exam and watching his sanity and creativity slowly disintegrate.
We stepped off the porch and followed the path around the house and down into the woods where the ferns grow ankle-high, brush your calves like lace and canvas the entire ground and the pathways to the in-worlds below. “Whatever you do,” Penelope warned, “don’t go off the path here.”
Chris Dize is a recent law school graduate who lives in New Jersey and is currently studying for the bar exam and watching his sanity and creativity slowly disintegrate.
HPV by April Johnston
As I lie on my back, feet spread wide, organs numbed, his gloved hands inside of me, I don’t know which one of you did this to me – who left the virus that invaded the cells that multiplied and shape shifted and threatened to kill me – but I blame you.
As I lie on my back, feet spread wide, organs numbed, his gloved hands inside of me, I don’t know which one of you did this to me – who left the virus that invaded the cells that multiplied and shape shifted and threatened to kill me – but I blame you.
April Johnston is a professor and former newspaper reporter who lives and writes in West Virginia. She can confirm that it is both wild and wonderful. Read more of her work at http://littlestbaglady.wordpress.com/
I've Been Meaning to Tell You by Stefanie Snider
Their passionate clinch ended with the director's call. She pulled back, embarrassed by the catcalls offstage.
He thumbed errant lipstick from below her mouth.
"Let's go, babe." Her boyfriend, in the wings.
A smile fluttered on her delicate lips.
"He'd never let me, if you were straight."
"Of course. Right."
Stefanie Snider wishes she could get paid for sleeping, because she's really good at it. Her first published story can be found in the soon-to-be-released Short Sips: Coffee House Flash Fiction Collection 2 from Wicked East Press.
Their passionate clinch ended with the director's call. She pulled back, embarrassed by the catcalls offstage.
He thumbed errant lipstick from below her mouth.
"Let's go, babe." Her boyfriend, in the wings.
A smile fluttered on her delicate lips.
"He'd never let me, if you were straight."
"Of course. Right."
Stefanie Snider wishes she could get paid for sleeping, because she's really good at it. Her first published story can be found in the soon-to-be-released Short Sips: Coffee House Flash Fiction Collection 2 from Wicked East Press.
Thank-You Letter by Edward Garza
Dear family members and friends,
Thank you all for your kind wishes concerning the health of my beloved wife, Mabel. As I now know, my Mabel caught a bad case of the syphilis. So as for news, sadly, there ain't much to offer - she is still dead.
Sincerely,
Orville McLean
Edward Garza lives in Houston, which he asserts is a captivating city, if you know what you’re doing. He works as a consultant at the University of Houston’s Writing Center and is a staff writer for the magazine Stryve. He enjoys Houston’s winters, mixing iced tea with lemonade to make an Arnold Palmer, and running, one of his favorite addictions. Additional work can be found in The Aletheia.
Dear family members and friends,
Thank you all for your kind wishes concerning the health of my beloved wife, Mabel. As I now know, my Mabel caught a bad case of the syphilis. So as for news, sadly, there ain't much to offer - she is still dead.
Sincerely,
Orville McLean
Edward Garza lives in Houston, which he asserts is a captivating city, if you know what you’re doing. He works as a consultant at the University of Houston’s Writing Center and is a staff writer for the magazine Stryve. He enjoys Houston’s winters, mixing iced tea with lemonade to make an Arnold Palmer, and running, one of his favorite addictions. Additional work can be found in The Aletheia.
Lucky Break by Adam Johnson
A blinding flash. The power behind the arc was overwhelming. The sound, deafening. It knocked me off my feet, flinging me onto the grass. The earth was scorched where the heavens struck, inches from where I stood. My senses returned. The drum-roll of rain overcame the ringing in my ears.
Adam Johnson is a student who loves to write about whatever is on his mind at the time.
A blinding flash. The power behind the arc was overwhelming. The sound, deafening. It knocked me off my feet, flinging me onto the grass. The earth was scorched where the heavens struck, inches from where I stood. My senses returned. The drum-roll of rain overcame the ringing in my ears.
Adam Johnson is a student who loves to write about whatever is on his mind at the time.