Autism Speaker, Author, Artist
I found the following student essay on a computer screen at the Community College of Beaver County s library on April 15, 2002. Except for omitting the author s name, I now present the essay verbatim. ■ Hamlet: Streetwise Francicso downed his last drink in an attempt to keep wake. He and Bernardo worked as security guards Continue reading "Hamlet: Streetwise"
The seventh—and possibly last—excerpt from “Our Putative Couple,” a work in progress. For the first six excerpts, please click (in this order) here and here and here and here and here and here. ■ Friday night, September 7, 2007: Cassie doesn’t feel like reading, not that she has anything to read anyway, having donated all her books to the Salvation Army the day before Continue reading "NO MORE…
The sixth excerpt from “Our Putative Couple,” a work in progress. For the first five excerpts, please click (in this order) here and here and here and here and here. ■ Sitting at the kitchen table after the video call, taking a loud and—in her self-conscious opinion—melodramatically drawn-out sip of her mug of Vibe Valley® brand Calming Herbal Hemp Tea, Lavender Mint Continue reading…
The fifth excerpt from “Our Putative Couple,” a work in progress. For the first four excerpts, please click (in this order) here and here and here and here. ■ “I like your sweater,” Cassie says. “Me too,” Zane says. “Thanks,” Reed says. “Did Luisa crochet it?” Cassie asks. “Uh-huh.” “I could tell. It looks really high-quality. You always Continue reading "The Non-Insane Portion"
The fourth excerpt from “Our Putative Couple,” a work in progress. For the first three excerpts, please click (in this order) here and here and here. ■ Standing outside her smeary beige high school at 7:12 AM on Monday, August 25, 2014, the first day of her junior year, Bailey spends a few moments checking out her classmates, Continue reading "Cats Riding Skateboards"
The last excerpt from “The Weekly Farm Report,” a story in progress. For the previous excerpts, please click (in this order) here and here and here. I plan to publish the finished story in my upcoming short-story collection—upcoming in a rather leisurely fashion. ■ Two days later, Tuesday, 8:06 AM, on Truth Social. Another message from President Trump. A Continue reading "Sheer Exertion"
Another excerpt from “The Weekly Farm Report,” a story in progress. For the first two excerpts, please click (in this order) here and here. ■ Easter morning, bright and sunny. I met Taylor outside her dorm. “Have you seen Trump’s post today on Truth Social?” she asked. “No,” I replied. “You should. You might think Continue reading "A Biological Need"
Another excerpt from “The Weekly Farm Report,” a story in progress. For the first excerpt, please click here. (Note: the below text contains some political content that might cause the Laura Loomer, Jared Kushner, Kirk Cameron, Nicki Minaj, the MyPillow guy, and even you to say “Awwwwww, not cool, David, not cool.”) ■ For the Continue reading "Blowout Losses"
An excerpt from “The Weekly Farm Report,” a story in progress. ■ It wasn’t until college, March Twenty Twenty-six, that I had what I considered my first serious girlfriend. I met her, Taylor, one afternoon in line at the Brew Crew coffeehouse at the student union. The moment I looked at her, my jaw actually Continue reading "An Artisanal Hottie"
Your unremitting hatred made me the acclaimed industrial musicmaker I am today. (Well, acclaimed so far only on Screeeee!, this “noise, etc.” website run by an Indiana concert promoter I once blew.) When I was about fifteen or sixteen, I realized (after years of enduring your abuse) that I could become whatever I wanted because Continue reading "Happy Mother s Day, Loser"