James R. Gapinski

James R. Gapinski is the author of the novella Edge of the Known Bus Line (Etchings Press; University of Indianapolis) and the linked flash collection Messiah Tortoise (Red Bird Chapbooks). His short fiction has appeared in Heavy Feather Review, Hobart, Juked, Monkeybicycle, Paper Darts, and other publications. James teaches for Southern New Hampshire University’s MFA program, and he’s managing editor of The Conium Review. Find him online at http://jamesrgapinski.com or on Twitter @jamesrgapinski.

BOLD NEW ‘DO by James R. Gapinski

The hairdresser takes too much off the top. Whoops, sorry! she says, holding out a piece of scalp for me to see. I take the little hand-mirror and inspect the damage. A swath of skin pulls away from my brow and wraps around, like a halo. I take the scissors and plunge it into the hairdresser’s leg. Whoops, sorry! I say. She laughs and smears the blood around her leg. It’s red and vibrant. She is liquid inside. There is a glossy sheen brighter than the brightest no-smudge, stay-on, fire-engine-red lipstick. The hairdresser smiles and says I think we should…

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