She will never see Africa. She knows that now. She will never foray out from the trees onto the Savannah. Never follow the Nile. Never. Not in a few years. Not when the children are older. Not when she has saved enough money. Never. She is here, her feet not planted in the soft sand … Continue reading
Barry Pope-Pope
“So how was I to be chosen Pope?” Barry prompted, pouring Mindy more green tea to entice her to continue. “I don’t know,” she shrugged, “You know they lock them in a room to vote.” “Who they?” Barry was eager to know details about his nomination for Pope, or as she put it Pope-Pope, but … Continue reading
Cyclops, One
Freddie would pick her up that day. He’d drive straight from the airport, smile his greetings, wheel her out the door, and off they would go to Winnipeg. Be cold there. Sure would. But Mrs. Millar was used to that. Grew up in Ontario, knew what winter meant. She’d better hurry. Not one of those … Continue reading
Dancing Shoes
Tom laughed indulgently when his friend Frank apologized for having only a quick pint. “Bette and I are going dancing tonight. You and Myrna should join us.” “No way,” Tom said. “It’s been so long since I went dancing with Myrna that she doesn’t even bother to ask any more. If I weakened now, we’d … Continue reading
Not Yet 45
As winner of the coveted Billybong Prize for progressive literature, Theresa, not yet 45, should have been on cloud nine. And had her sister not come to the ceremony, young daughter in hand, Theresa having left her worries about her future decision (syllable or one letter?) at home, bask in the glory. As the event … Continue reading
Two Against One
Seeing the two of them standing there stiff as statues set my blood boiling. They were hunkered together—my four-year-old daughter and 75-year-old stepmother—gazing up and down the street as if awaiting heavenly guidance. Why didn’t they move? When I offered to accompany them, I did so without implying they couldn’t find their own way to … Continue reading
Lips Sealed
Although they were sitting side by side she was as distant from him as she was from the animals at the zoo. Some scientists argued that other animal species could communicate with one another but Bimble doubted that was the case. As it was, she couldn’t even converse with this other type of human. But … Continue reading
Disparate Souls
When his thin face hurled over the hood of her startled car, her body tightened. In that moment, the victims were joined as one: two disparate souls leaving abandoned families and friends, desperate to understand why. The car door opened, a stranger, etched as witness to her demise, yanked her shoulder. “You alright?” “Is he … Continue reading
A Shipboard Romance
Betsy’s two romantic fantasies—remarrying one’s first love and a shipboard romance—were within reach. As a teenager, Betsy had read about the remarriage of Richard Burton, what a voice, and Elizabeth Taylor, what a face, and longed to imitate such passion. Her husband Peter was out of the running for remarriage as they weren’t divorced and … Continue reading
Chalk and Cheese
Hidden under her ratty brown blanket, the blinds closed, the doors double locked, no TV, no radio, Thimble’s last link was her phone and off it went. It had to be her twin sister Station. Who else was there? She had disposed of all the nuisance calls and long since dissuaded friends from contacting her. … Continue reading