The sign above your store lost a single letter. That changed everything. The sign above the door had said Grossman & Sons for the last 17 years. It was a proud day when I welcomed my twin boys, Jacob and Stanley, behind the counter with me when they tuned 18. But now that the '&'... Continue Reading →
No one in the world wants to touch you. They won't explain why. It started after the accident, or sorry, should I say 'partial plant infarction' last year. Everyone from Head Office; from HR to the Scientists; assure you that none of the virus came into contact with your bare skin but you can't recall... Continue Reading →
Your father cheerfully moved into the basement 14 years ago. He's never explained why. It's become awkward and embarrassing. He can't climb the stairs anymore, so he never leaves. The rest of the family only really see him when they come down to do laundry. He's in fine spirits. But you know how people talk...... Continue Reading →
You go for a ride in your mother's prized car. On the way home, you hit a deer, denting the bumper. You know your mum will get over the bumper. Eventually. What occupies you currently is what a deer is doing in the middle of down town New York City...and how you are going to... Continue Reading →
When we came home, the house smelled of warm bread, even though we had been gone for hours. "Nana...is that you?" Silence is your only reply. You head straight for the kitchen, the oven is cold and empty. Never has the comforting, homely aroma of fresh, warm bread seemed more sinister. "Hello?" You stop yourself.... Continue Reading →
You want to learn to dance the tango. The only person around who can possibly teach you is confined to a wheelchair but he's game, so you lower the arm on the record player and start counting. Apparently the whole first lesson will be like this, counting while Nathan bangs out the rhythm with a... Continue Reading →
More than anything, he craved the taste of pizza. Since leaving Italy last month all he had managed was rice and fish and pho. They were great but they weren't pizza. It was a silly reason to venture into the expat quarter which he should have avoided at all costs. There were bound to be... Continue Reading →
Your mission should you choose to accept it, is to save a future president of the United States. She's a 10 year old brat. "Don't eat that!" you scream as you throw yourself across the room knocking the cupcake from the hand of a rather sticky and badly dressed fairy whose face is incongruously painted... Continue Reading →
The teacher died during recess. The kids formed a staring, open mouthed circle through which the paramedics had to break a path. That finally seemed to snap the other teachers from their daze and they started herding us away from Mrs Symonds. Our chatter as we tried on and discarded theory after theory rose to... Continue Reading →
There are warning signs giving you a number to call before digging up the underground cable. You call the number. The response isn't what you expected. A breathy voice, pitched lower than her natural register asks "What can I do for you big boy?". You let two beats of confused silence pass before you start... Continue Reading →
They recognised each other by the tattoos. There weren't many survivors of the camps left. Death would come for them all eventually and the years of privation during the war had weakened them. Some had their tattooed numbers removed, they wished to forget. But he smiled at #4973 who had also left his tattoo, a... Continue Reading →
35 writers share office space in a city building. In 24 weeks just 3 of them had written anything of note. 2 of them had gotten divorced, from each other. There had been 6 passive aggressive yet witty notes about cleaning up in the kitchen. 1 person had essentially moved in. Another had reached advanced... Continue Reading →
Your sister backs out of a blind date. You go instead. It's one of the best things about being twins. People always assume you'll do that kind of thing and you don't like to disappoint. In this case though it's much more a long term strategic move. Phoebe had heard things about Stu that had... Continue Reading →
There is a three-year-old in the subway holding a stuffed bear and a suitcase. She is at the end of a long line of similarly provisioned kids. The line snakes out of sight. The evacuations have begun. As you snap the clasps closed on another suitcase you call out, "ok now the four-year-olds." You figure... Continue Reading →
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