Caroljean Gavin

Caroljean Gavin’s work has appeared or is forthcoming from places such as Barrelhouse, Bending Genres, The Conium Review, and Pithead Chapel. Currently she is working on a novel, a story collection, and putting together/editing an anthology of short fiction based on the jokes of Mitch Hedberg. Find her on Twitter @caroljeangavin.

HAM SANDWICH, DRY by Caroljean Gavin

August 29, 2020 · Creative Nonfiction

One day, in the middle of the week, a Wednesday or a Thursday, in the humid summer, with the air conditioner broken, and the ceiling fan so feeble, I fell asleep under my down alternative comforter and had a dream of walking through a lush field, thick blades of grass slithered against my legs, dandelions swung in the breeze, little hammocks for lazing bees, and when I woke up, covered in a loose sweat, I walked down the stairs step by step, blinking my eyes open, open and closed, flexing my fingers, balling my fists, and I went to the…

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BLACK HOODED NUN by Caroljean Gavin

March 29, 2020 · Creative Nonfiction

Stunned, I took the subway and rattled off to work at the Starbucks on 51st and Broadway. My brain’s way of assimilating my mother’s news was to take customers’ orders while imagining plunging a knife into their chests. Would I have to struggle to penetrate their clothing? Would there be a slurp of suction when I tried to yank the weapon back out of their flesh and muscle to repeat? Would they fight? Would they be angry? Surprised? Terrified? What would they say? What would their eyes look like? What would it feel like to not turn back? To go…

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