The first time I met her, she told me her dream. It was a simple dream, one that — in the past, when real estate prices were still somewhat reasonable — could have been realized with ease. It wasn’t a lofty dream like my own. For my ideal future involved becoming a New York Times... Continue Reading →
The Writer
The writer was attending the meeting of a third book club for the novel In Jest. They had been kicked out of two prior book clubs for disorderly conduct, i.e. instigating verbal confrontation with group members. It had taken them two weeks of scouring online sources to find this book club, and they had to take the Subway... Continue Reading →
Surf Lessons
The island breeze hit the back of Héctor’s neck, pulling horizontally at the fine hairs. It was seventy-one degrees, cool enough for a sweater. But his client, a tourist from Frankfurt named Hans, had sweat beads dripping down his sunburned skin. Hans was an investment banker: single, forty-six, and recently grappling with the consequences of his inactive, high-stress lifestyle. Despite... Continue Reading →
Adrift
Naia found herself adrift in the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by varying shades of blue. The serenity of the monochromatic landscape reminded her of a recent trip to the Sahara Desert. For two nights, she had slept outside on the sand with only blankets as a base and covering, awaking at sunrise content and refreshed. Believing that she... Continue Reading →
The Truth
My mom always tells the truth. One truth she told me is the reason dad left us. “No one’s going to tell you this straight out, but I will. I always honor the truth. Your father left me because of you,” she said one night, pointing her half-red fingertip at my messed up face. She... Continue Reading →
Julius Caeser: A Normal Teenage Boy
Julius was a normal teenage boy. He liked the sports other teenage boys liked. He liked the music other teenage boys liked. He liked the movies other teenage boys liked. He liked the subjects other teenage boys liked. He liked the clothes other teenage boys liked. He liked the girls other teenage boys liked. He... Continue Reading →