When I think of the word magnitude, I think of earthquakes. I’ve never actually lived in an area that was prone to earthquakes, but I have nightmares of losing everyone close to me and everything dear to me in an earthquake. So when my boss, Janine Saunders, told me, “The magnitude of your good workContinue reading “Magnitude”
Category Archives: Short Stories
Thief
Diablo thought to himself as a woman followed him into a grocery checkout line, “That one there, Mary, I’ve had my eye on her. She looks so free and easy. I would love to control her,” He made his wallet fall as if by mistake. Mary said, “Excuse me sir, you dropped your wallet.” DiabloContinue reading “Thief”
His Ex-Wife
“So what seems to be the trouble?” asked the therapist. “My divorce. I value my family and have tried to be the best husband and father I could be. I love my wife and kids, and even if I didn’t, I’d want to do right by them. I don’t understand why my wife left me,Continue reading “His Ex-Wife”
On Her Own
Agatha Xanthos couldn’t believe that her grandmother, Tatik, had died. It shouldn’t have been such a surprise, as Tatik had complications of diabetes. She had recently had an eye operation, and had lost feeling in her left foot. The doctors had been talking about amputating that foot. Still, it was hard to imagine living withoutContinue reading “On Her Own”
Escaping Boredom
I was fourteen years old. I had a bad haircut, insisted on by my family. I was overweight, especially around my stomach. I wore hand-me-downs, although we lived in an upper middle-class community. All that was just the surface. The thing that really bothered me was that I was bored with my life. The onlyContinue reading “Escaping Boredom”
A Lottery Habit
My clothes were already threadbare, but that morning I saw that the sole of my right shoe was separating from the top. “I have to win the lottery today,” I thought to myself. By the time I got to work, I had convinced myself that I would win the jackpot that day. Bob is aContinue reading “A Lottery Habit”
Meditative Society
At the end of his lecture to the graduate psychology class, Professor Al Bloom said, “Several of you have helped with the research on how meditative practices affect personality. Your contributions are deeply appreciated. I’m about to write a journal article on the results. We found that meditating on wishing people well increases empathy, whileContinue reading “Meditative Society”
A Student and a Spirit
Lily put her textbooks and three ring binder on the dark green carpeted floor in front of the stereo and turned on the radio. The room of the house that had been built at the turn of the twentieth century had been redecorated and felt cozy. As usual in 1978, a song from Saturday NightContinue reading “A Student and a Spirit”
Late Night Phone Call
I had not been asleep for long when the phone rang. It was Mrs. Bennett, Hannah’s mother. I was surprised to hear her voice say, “William Davis?” as she never had any use for me. Also, I had broken up with Hannah earlier that day. “This is William Davis. Is this Hannah’s mother?” “Yes itContinue reading “Late Night Phone Call”
In a Romance Language
I’m 90 years old. My husband, the father to my children, went to the grave thinking that for the rest of my life, I was well provided for, but my ex-son-in-law ruined everything and squandered my resources. My house is strong, but in bad shape. Everything my son-in-law touched became a mess, like the screenContinue reading “In a Romance Language”
LZ Short Stories 