He was grounded for the entire summer, having finished the fourth grade with a U—for unsatisfactory—in penmanship. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been warned, was it? his mother asked on the last day of school. She sat at the table in their small kitchen, the stiff green paper of his report card somehow even more … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: February 2019
A Book Review of “The Human Age The World Shaped by Us” by Diane Ackerman—Kailey Blunk
In The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us, Diane Ackerman brings a new way to look at our society during the Anthropocene. Ackerman discusses the way humans have become the single most dominant force on our planet, however seems to deliver the message that humans may be oblivious to our environmental impact. Ackerman’s book … Continue reading
Desire. Rage. Fear. Love. Curiosity.—Ariel Crego
I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask to know what the contents of your mind were. I didn’t ask for the ability to read every body like a goddamn book. I didn’t want this ability or need it or even find it useful. … Continue reading
The Rearrangement—Maggie Hart
Ben walks into the room and stubs his toe on the leg of a table that used to be two feet to the left, next to the sofa. She’d rearranged. “Would you like some coffee?” she asks, already headed to the kitchen to brew it before Ben has a chance to respond. He can’t say … Continue reading
Opening in Silence—Samantha Jankowski
Cast of Characters PERSON A: Male/Female, hungry, chip-loving individual who does not have the u best sense of silence. PERSON B: Male/Female, busy, easily annoyed individual searching for silence. Place A quiet room (a library, a waiting room, etc.) Time Present Opening in Silence (PERSON B is sitting at a desk/table working very studiously. … Continue reading
The Price You Pay For Being Lucky—Roberta Hartling Gates
Eugene coaxed his new ’57 Buick over the treacherous streets, thankful for the chains he’d put on his tires just last week. Some years you didn’t need them, but this winter was turning out to be a doozy, one of the worst on record. The sun had actually come out today, but its only effect … Continue reading
Lost and Found—Sarah J. Reilly
I wish I could scream out to her, let her know I’m here. I want to yell. I want her to come running. Running to me. I want to feel her soft, warm embrace. I want her caressing, steady hand holding me tightly. But I cannot speak. My muteness curses me as I watch her. … Continue reading
Review of A Higher Loyalty—Melissa (Milo) Schmitt
Politics. It’s always a dreaded topic at family gatherings. It’s a bit late to talk about Thanksgiving but I’m sure a fair share of us had that awkward conversation with our families and friends back home about differing opinions. Some of you fellow political buffs may be familiar with A Higher Loyalty by James Comey … Continue reading
The ABC’S of HPN—Ron Singer
Since someone had already prepared the loaves of dough, this story begins in medias res, with the noodle-maker pounding a loaf on a floury table. It also begins in the middle of a conversation. A: … I can’t stand them, they’re everywhere. You get on a subway, at least half the passengers… you go to … Continue reading
Codes—Nancy Antle
You have to understand. None of us heard Mac and Nicole leave. No slamming car doors. No car engines. Nothing. We would have tried to stop them if we’d heard. They were in no condition to drive. They were way drunker than the rest of us after the party. They always are. We left … Continue reading
Coe Review 