The Truth

As Mitch styled his hair, trying to get something similar to 90s David Duchovny, he felt a bit of a poser. It’s for the kid. He told himself silently, trying to picture the look of Dollie’s face when she saw him in his special occasion suit and a long dark coat. What was Scully without…… Continue reading The Truth

The Deals

The Deal (No Deal) When Nixie hit the surface, it still felt as if her lungs were about to explode, but at the same time, she could fill the air rushing through her lungs, a sense of relief tempering her earlier panic. She could finally breathe again. Seeing the shore in her reach, she sawm…… Continue reading The Deals

Parent Teacher Conference

Miss Rigby thought she was ready for anything the first day of a new year of kindergarten. She had the tables organized, the assignments ready—because Kindergarten came with assignments now—and was waiting at the door for anxious children and equally anxious, emotional parents to come. She was showing another student and his mother where the…… Continue reading Parent Teacher Conference

Looking Out My Backdoor

Tennessee hadn’t looked at the porch screening long before she started to see the faces. They were distorted, grotesque, like the masks from that one episode of the Twilight Zone with the rich family.  They became more distorted as the gray screening began to sway, threatening to cave in on himself. Taking a deep breath,…… Continue reading Looking Out My Backdoor

Lucky, Or Wild Elves

Lucky had, had a different name once.  Not that she could remember what it was. Sometimes, she caught flashes of it, the life before the one she was living now.  Someone singing to her in a language she didn’t understand. Flashes of fire and a terrible roar.  Creatures with tusk and leathern armor. The feel…… Continue reading Lucky, Or Wild Elves

The Pack Walk

For most people, the best thing about turning 21 is being able drink alcohol legally. For Radley, it was being able drive commercially over the interstate. Reading the big sign announcing they had crossed over from Nebraska to Kansas, a strange satisfaction filled Radley. “We just crossed our first border Castaway.” She told the massive,…… Continue reading The Pack Walk

Mr. Morton’s Vampire

Mr. Morton needed a new pair of shoes. The store wasn’t that far from the bank where he worked, so he thought he could get there, get in, and get out rather quickly. Unfortunately, he didn’t leave work as soon as he anticipated, so by the time he arrived the sun had already set. Fortunately,…… Continue reading Mr. Morton’s Vampire

The Day the Trekkies Trash the Train

“We should trash a train car.” Nathan jolted upright at his friend’s suggestion.  He and Hanna had been spending the day out and were having coffee at a local cafe when she just blurted out the bizarre suggestion.  “Where did that come from? “ “I was just thinking about Terry Pratchett,” Hanna explained, “You know,…… Continue reading The Day the Trekkies Trash the Train

The Stolen Child

It was Samir’s fault. He was the one who accepted a dare from a six-year-old.  Of course, Joan should probably accept some blame for filling Fidelity’s head with stories to the extent the child believed she was a fairy changing. But it was mostly Samir’s fault. It started when Joan and Samir were walking home…… Continue reading The Stolen Child

Harriet Mondeli: Human Weirdness Magnet

As soon as Harriet entered the building, she headed for the seventh floor. She knew that the witch that had ruined her life would be in apartment 24 G. # Her problems started in utero, when her parents cut in front of a woman at a cross walk, which to be fair was rude on…… Continue reading Harriet Mondeli: Human Weirdness Magnet