Fiction
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By all accounts Joe is ‘a good man’. He was born the only child to Joe and Joanne Wish. His parents loved each other and raised him well. Unfortunately they also gave him their unremarkable genes, and the last name Wish. His mother was short. His father was wide. Joe was short and wide. ***…
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There was a time when I did not know you. I worked, ate, slept, laughed and lived like everyone else. I went through the motions of life. I did what was necessary and expected. I felt complete. I had all I wanted. I did not know that I lacked you. On the day we met,…
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Sunday morning church service started like every other. Congregants talked and laughed in hushed tones, genuinely happy to see each other, or faking it so masterfully that no one could tell the difference. They laughed, joked and judged each other by their cars and clothes, and secretly thanked their lord that they were doing so…
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Ong’s excitement is clearly visible on his face. The deep lines that usually divide the prominent ridges above his eyes are almost invisible, and his large ivory-colored teeth show through a wide grin. Tonight, both moons will be full, and he can choose a mate. He doesn’t have to choose; this choice was made a…
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Michele was conceived against her mother’s will. The rapist kept the woman for five days in his run-down single wide. She used a Home Depot bucket for a toilet, careful to not knock it over with the chain padlocked to her left ankle. Another bucket with water was for drinking and washing. On the sixth…
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Note: I had a hard time keeping this one straight. I think I got it right. Jon lost his phone. He is sure of that. He looked everywhere for it: in his car, yard, and house. He called it a few times from his landline, but the call went straight to voicemail. Like a fool,…
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Jody is going on a date. She is always going on dates. She is not a ‘working girl’ though. She works at a local grocer as a cashier. Jody is pretty. She has no problem finding dates. Dating apps make it easy to hook up. Men usually reach out to her. She knows that men…
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‘Sorry, can you say that again?’, Jim was sure this customer asked to buy every drone he had in his store. ‘I’d like to buy every drone in your store’, the customer repeated with a disarming smile. ‘Jim’s toys and games’ has been in business for 6 months. Hard months filled with stress and ramen.…
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Ben’s heart attack was no surprise. Morbid obesity and a sedentary lifestyle have always put him at risk. He knew this. Doctors reminded him every time his neglected body necessitated a trip to the local clinic. It still surprised him. It started feeling like heartburn. Ben cursed himself for indulging his love for hot sauce.…
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Jack and Jill were already gathering their gear when Lieutenant Miles entered the barracks. As always, he smiled broadly, almost beaming, earning him the nickname Lieutenant Smiles. ‘We need you pronto’, Smiles says, speaking without disturbing his smile. ‘Ah, good, you already know! Excellent!’, incredibly Smiles’ smile widens, ‘I’ll give you a ride to the…