Fiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Wishbone Remix by Nine-Reed Mera othing takes you out of a dream like waking up in a nightmare. It’s Ty, screaming his head off because he didn’t get anything under his pillow for the fourth tooth in a row, and somehow there’s toilet paper covering most of the floor. Daja’s in the corner sucking her thumb and crying because Ty’s being loud, and Mom’s in the middle ...
Read MoreFiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 A Contagion Movie by Brenna Cameron om came into my bedroom this morning. “Avery, I feel sick.” She covered her mouth with the cuff of her pajama top. “Are you serious?” I put down my copy of Beloved. “What do I do?” How was I supposed to know?! She was the nurse, not me. “Did you call Dad?” Dad is staying at Uncle Jake’s house. Him and Mom decided it was best ...
Read MoreFiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 If Packing, Pack with the Intent to Go by Chloe Cullen hree cans of tuna, a blueberry-cashew trail mix, and four cans of Campbell’s Chunky Soup clattered in her bag, a floral messenger bag her kids bought her for Christmas stored in the flight attendants’ station, as the plane tipped slowly to the left. Three-ounce shampoo and conditioner. Dove soap. Store-sealed Fruit of the Loom bikini briefs in ...
Read MoreFiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Lockdown Grief by Marian Green riday, 27th March, in a village outside Birmingham, Brian noticed that he wasn’t feeling right, that he was much more tired than usual. He managed to get himself to work but cocooned himself away in his office, leaving early, just after four. He went home and headed straight for bed, hoping the extraordinary tiredness he was experiencing would soon lift. The next ...
Read MoreFiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Lemonade by Susan Hettinger y friend Cheryl says she uses more paper towels than most people but doesn’t feel bad about it. She says using paper towels is not the worst thing you can do, in terms of global warming. We are talking over Skype on a Wednesday after the governor’s first stay-at-home proclamation or commandment or whatever, back when it still felt like a vacation. I’m ...
Read MoreFiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Bare by Lorelei Laird rabella’s face is in the window when I get home. She has a smear of something on her cheek, and I cringe a little, thinking about how frazzled Jennie must be. She disappears, undoubtedly to tell Jennie I’m home. I’ll have text messages waiting after the Great Sanitizing. This starts at the side door to the garage, the human-sized door, which Jennie has left ...
Read MoreFiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 The Divinity by Thomas Elson ne hundred and forty-eight people gathered in the hall. One person could not make it but sent a three-page letter. One hundred and forty-seven signed the book. Only one did not. One hundred and forty-one, over the years, had spoken with her about children, spouses, abuse, rapes, fears, shortcomings, debts, dreams. One hundred and thirty-seven had been hired by her. Twenty-three had their jobs saved by her. Four ...
Read MoreFiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 Title by Author Name text TKAmy Goldmacher is an anthropologist and writer. She lives in the Detroit Metro area with her husband and two cats. She is currently at work on a memoir on grief, anxiety and genetics. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @Solidgoldmacher.
Read MoreNonfiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 A Perspective by Ruth Ticktin ere we all are practicing social distancing, staying at home, and trying to reduce the extent of the plague. Suggestions for quarantine activities like art, music, dance, and writing are everywhere. Considering the reckoning in the streets today, I’m well aware of my privilege: I can work from home, I’m not alone, and we’re safe in our cozy apartment. I can ...
Read MoreNonfiction Issue #5: Heroes July 28th, 2020 July 28th, 2020 RN Thoughts on a COVID Mother's Day Brunch by Rebecca Pelton am a nurse at an acute care psychiatric hospital. Quarantine or not, patients and staff are at work every day, and because of my job, my family is socially distancing like we’re trying to win a prize. It’s painful. Our two kids are so outgoing that the people they regularly engage—at parks, in grocery ...
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