My Father Stood Loading His Gun

by Lucas Dean Fiser

Originally published on January 1, 2012

My father stood in the middle of the yard in front of me crushing the remainder of his cigarette into the snow. He reached for the red handkerchief in his back pocket and blew his nose. Birds still chirping, snow still falling. The pistol gleamed from his pants.

Home

by Owen Tucker

Originally published on September 1, 2011

When the earthquake struck nearby Sichuan province that May, we did everything wrong; we did not leap from the one free window. We remained calm, sought out doorways and braced ourselves, hearing the windows rattle in their loose frames and the doors above slamming as the upstairs residents fled the building in fright.

The Overweight Anorexic

by Joey Nicoletti

Originally published on March 1, 2011

The face of Jesus seemed to glare 14 karat-gold disapproval from the charm glued to the middle of the steering wheel of Fleming’s nickel-gray Buick Skylark, sticky with brown drops of Kettle One Skyy Coke.

Saturday Afternoon Games

by James Randolph Jordan

Originally published on January 1, 2011

In less time than it took for me to look to the ground for more ammunition, Ricky had launched two dirt clods back at me: one hitting me in the thigh, the other smacking me in the center

California

by Sheyene Foster Heller

Originally published on January 9, 2007

“Steve and I had talked it over for hours this morning, before the children got up. I was supposed to calm down more, to let the children misbehave. ‘Just let them be kids,’ Steve had told me again and again. ‘Let them break stuff. They can’t help it, so don’t expect them to be other than they are.’”

Presented in Istanbul

by Anastasia Ashman

Originally published on June 1, 2003

I was going to marry a Turk. But first I would face a cultural gauntlet meeting his family in Istanbul.

Violence

by Richard Weems

Originally published on April 1, 1999

Get ready to rumble, as Richard Weems tackles professional wrestling and the allure of violence as a spectator sport.

Relearning Baseball

by Sharon Preiss

Originally published on April 1, 1999

As the boys of summer return to Tuscon, Sharon Preiss relearns the fine art of baseball.

I Was a Female Motorhead

by Joan Radell

Originally published on March 1, 1999

Women aren’t supposed to know cars. When Joan squats down to follow the line of a jet-black fender, or admire some beautiful bodywork, men look at her as though she’s from another planet.

How I Never Learned to Drive

by Stefene Russell

Originally published on March 1, 1999

Stefene reflects on learning to drive – and decides she’s much safer walking…