writing in a maze of brown bushes.
"A two and a half inch folding pocket knife. Black plastic grip, a white residue about the diameter of a pencil eraser lingering in the depressions of the grip on one side." He tried opening the knife and it didn't fully unfold. He eyed the locking middle and then blew in the spot. He used two fingers to fully remove the sky blue lent that had emerged. Now the knife clicked straight. "Stainless…
It feels blasphemous; but I think the Father, Son, and Spirit agree: life with them will be better if you are with us too. Better! More sisters and brothers is better. All the relationships rise. I am the youngest and am blessed with wonderful siblings. As great as my parents were, home life was diminished after my brother moved out. Even more so once my sister moved out and it was only me and my…
There were two kids. There were two pizzas. The lights in the house went out. When they flickered and came back on, there was no pizza! The boy moaned. The girl said, "The worst part is the smell is still here." She grabbed her stomach and said, "I'm so hungry." The boy jumped to his feet, "The smell! Quick follow me." He ran out the front door of the house and into the night. A streetlight lit…
Grandpa said I wouldn't be the same when I next stepped on that driveway. Everyone I cared about then was dead or in that house. I stooped down and ran my finger along the grooves of the concrete. Twilight beckoned me to shelter, but my eyes stayed on the cracks. While I was away they had grown into a web. The dim light made the fissures black against the orange of sunset on the concrete. I stood…
In high school made about $25 dollars selling the first season of a comedy show my friend and I made. It was the first time anything I created had paying fans. At the time I was working and didn't know what to do with the money I was making, so I didn't want to just throw in that $25 to my other savings. I decided to buy a pair shorts. I'm not that into clothing, but thought that the memory that…
For most of my life up to that point I had wanted to. First I didn't have the ability. Years went by, distracted by other pursuits. Somewhere along the line I gained the ability, but I no longer had the time. Then came an overnight job to guard a near-ready-to-open new gas station. While I did it for money, I found myself rich in disposable time. I thought about how to spend the bounty and came…
Thoughtful. Chosen confinements. Precious second stage; kindling becomes power. Breath. Attention. Focus.
I fell asleep quick. I heard the chirping as the smells filled me. Not one, but dozens of distinct acorns starting dancing in my mind. Some were soft and moist with age, some were sweet, one had what I can only describe as an underlayer hint of hops. I opened my eyes. I craned my neck, stood on my hind legs and leaned back on my tail to crane more. Hundreds of feet up the tree limbs spread over…
Asleep. Days fly by. Decay comes into view. "Daddy will you dance with me?" I, to my immediate shame, delay to finish the dishes. I may be a fool, but I do dance after the dishes. Hang out with my brother and brother-in-law. I am happy, but distracted. Many yeses to people I won't be connected with in five years. Busy with things I will forget in five months. Blessed abundantly. Still, there are…
The sea is his, for he made it, -Psalm 95:5a (NIV) A Burmese teacher sits in front of his hut, weaving rattan into a ball. Seven classes play with the ball. Each student seeks it, all to differing levels of success. A few students kick it hard enough to split some of its woody fibers. One student tucks a splinted piece back under a weave to protect his own feet. None of the classes care about the…