[11] stirring
Our house is silent. The living room is dim. I feel nerves in my belly as I start. I sneak out of my bedroom, and slowly crawl to the...
[10] night shift
Behind the small building, an intersection of alleys, gravel, and cracked asphalt-patched concrete, the sun sinks to our left. We park....
[09] china blue
She sits on the kitchen floor near the wide window. I join her on the wheat-colored linoleum and face her. The sunlight quickly warms us...
[08] blind man's bluff
She ties the bandana over my eyes. Darkness. The laughs are loud and directionless. With stretched out hands, I probe the space in front...
[07] butcher shop
Mom's out of cigarettes. She hands me money. It's a cloudless summer day. I study the rainbow strap wedged between my big toe wondering...
[06] knock
I hold the key hanging from my neck and unlock the door. We step inside. I lock the door. We take off our shoes. She sits on the couch. I...
[05] no bun necessary
My stomach rumbles. My mom tosses a split hot dog into the heated frying pan. The sound of the blistering meat cracks the air like the...
[04] rainbo
I roll the brown leather skates off the counter. I huddle them into my chest. Indifferent to the scuffs and stains, I lace up. Muffled...
[03] carnival
Like moths to a flame, we speed walk toward the flashing bulbs. The orbs flash on and off like startled lightening bugs taking flight. We...
[02] lawrence street
As the glass door pivots open, the scent assaults my nose— an exotic blend of stale tiger balm and chalky vitamins. I slowly scan the...