FLASH

Small but mighty, these short, incisive pieces cut to the core in a just a few words.
Little Cow

A man with a fistful of showbags said, “That cow sounds like a person trying to sound like a cow.”

Teeth and Boyfriends

With great reluctance, I agree to meet a cousin for an outside lunch…

Swoon

Jenna says that he typically goes for redheads, so I run to Target and buy a box of hair dye.

Sisters of the Divine Apparatus

The day does not conclude with the gentle exhale of the earth, but with Mother Superior flipping the hourglass over, again.

The Bird That Carried One Hundred Messages To America

At the end of the meeting, the villagers agreed to contribute shillings and pounds to sponsor Elochi to a university in America.

Smile.

At twenty, the world is yours because you’re beautiful. But never acknowledge your beauty, or it makes you a bitch.

Here in East Greenwich

He used to hold my hand on Commonwealth. I wonder sometimes if he ever still thinks about my mouth.

Post Pregnancy Examination (Shortened Form)

Infant’s Name: A
Delivery Date: August 1, 2002

Familiar Territory

Could someone hating you really cause a physical unease? Sure, why not.

Theoretical Debate

On the first day of our new life together, my husband realized that I was not interested in theoretical debate. He said it was okay by him and went out to get some pancake mix.

Junk

It was spring and the hills were irradient, like they had to get out all their green in one short burst before catching fire.

Laika Came Home

When Laika the space dog comes back, bulleted to earth in a tiny white escape pod that dissolves upon opening, nobody can believe it.

Ruminations

Through the dusty window in my parent’s bedroom, I watched the neighbor’s cattle graze.

The Sweetness

I’m dancing with my best friend’s husband, under the influence of his jaws and thighs.

Cost of Care

I reached for my invoice, which Dr. George, holding it between thumb and forefinger as if it were a soiled diaper, dropped into my hand.

dead roses
The Cycle

It all started with the curse of my tits. Women’s bodies are cursed. Everyone tries to look at them, everyone tries to ignore them.

graffiti on cement
Slabs

We drifted junk with a sledgehammer looking for juice. Sometimes the rage.

artwork with Venus
Light Pencils

The weeks go like this: accepting, horny, hopeful, sad. I’m four different people trying to establish one perspective on a major life event – on the creation of life itself.

forest fire
When The Ten Thousand Ton Trilobite Attacked

We said, Heck, that’s really something.

First Boyfriend

I run with a pack of older boys from our neighborhood, the only girl.