PUSHING THROUGH THE HOLLOW by Joe Squance
When Jimmy felt ready, he held the tip of the safety pin to the side of his left nipple and pressed it in.
TO HAVE A CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT by Richie Zaborowske
The thing is I’m not having a stroke. I’m drunk.
MAINTENANCE by Nicholas Claro
I got a call from a friend of a friend back home in Arkansas while waiting in line at the CVS, telling me our friend was in hospice.
QED by Tina S. Zhu
To prove that I was not a victim of grand larceny by way of The Incredible Madame Eustacia like Channel 2 News is falsely claiming, I will demonstrate the following: a) that the Incredible Madame Eustacia was not a fraud and that b) despite relying on crowdfunding for next month’s rent, her advice was worth the cost.
BAD NEWS GOOD NEWS by Ahimaz Ponrasa
Bad news is prose allows only so much empty space. Good news is poetry allows lots and lots of breathing space.
EATS LIKE A BEAR by Nathan Willis
The bear looks up the school the baby will one day attend and leaves messages for the administrator, asking how soon is too soon to start the admissions process.
HOW I GOT HERE by Emily Behnke
Up there, euphoria is brewing, and I decide it’s just for me.
CLOSE ONE by Matt Barrett
He said he knew the best way to escape. He wouldn’t just sit back as the cops put handcuffs on their wrists.
THE ELIMINATION DIET by Alexandra Wuest
Her older sister Kathleen is on the clams casino diet. Her younger sister Nina is on the tap dance diet. Each sister thinks the others are crazy for eating the way they do and each sister says so.
BIG GULP by Catherine Chiarella Domonkos
You hook up with Danny in a boys’ room stall after rock band practice the day he tells you when you hold the mike close to your lips it’s like you’re going down on it.