She opens the plastic cover halfway as the instruction on the box states and places the tray of lasagna in the microwave. While waiting, she watches a YouTube video of a stray dog being rescued. From the covered with a mat of hair and filth to the tail-wagging, adorable. Beep. Beep. She takes the tray out and peels off the cover, avoiding the hot … Continue reading covered
She doesn’t hear me and walks straight by me. She doesn’t see me either. I decide to watch her. Really watch her. Pay full attention to her. She vigorously washes pots and pans until they shine and scrubs the bathroom with bleach. She doesn’t go out much, stays home, reorganizing the shelves and drawers, and cries. I try to reach for her, talk to … Continue reading sound of my voice
A red wallet, a cell phone, a pair of glasses, and a pen. The contents seemed untouched. A dog walker had found a purse in the bush at the park across from the police station and brought it in. The shoulder strap was torn, but the metal clasp still locked. A $100 bill was safely tucked inside the unscathed wallet. There was, however, … Continue reading belongings
They covered their ears and kept their eyes closed. Under the billowing clouds, the wind whistled and rattled everything, and leaves and twigs twirled and rolled. They huddled and waited. When the wind died down, they staggered out. The sky was clear, and the gigantic plants vibrant. “Hey, she’s back!” “What?” “There!” They looked where his pudgy finger was pointing. Something purple glistened in … Continue reading a twister
I am a fraud, she wipes off the sweat with the serviette. Watching the reactions of other dinner guests, she imitates and bobs her head in unison and lets out a guffaw of laughter a few seconds too late, following everyone else’s. She could hardly taste the food, concentrating on not making mistakes, on reacting appropriately. “To ideologies and agendas.” A gray-haired gentleman at … Continue reading banana
Dinner at seven. Along with some acquaintances, people she doesn’t know will be there, too. Can she make it? She rereads the message and types her response. Will be there… Her index finger hesitates before hitting the send button. She walks into the bathroom and stands in front of the mirror. Keeping her eye on the image, she grabs a pair of tweezers and … Continue reading big head little pinky
The evening gray has arrived early. In her dimly lit room, she checks her cell phone and sets it on the table next to the dog-eared book of Infinite Jest. No new email. Good. She blows on the steam and slurps her herb tea. The screen on the table flashes. She fiddles with the frayed neckline of her t-shirt and takes another sip, then … Continue reading big head big toe
The remanence of equatorial daylight struggled under the surging black clouds. Tweeting birds fused with misty bamboo trees in silhouette. A current of damp wind flowed over the tea bushes and flipped the last page of the book on her lap. Completely unplugged at a lavish eco-lodge for a week, she felt herself rebooting. Soon she’d be back to the world compressed into the … Continue reading disconnected
“Happy Birthday, Grandma!” The old living room smelled of new paint and was filled with a cacophony and commotion of children and adults whom she barely recognized. She sat in the family heirloom wingback chair, which the daughter-in-law had recently reupholstered with the “candy apple” cover. She missed her husband, her children’s father, who had passed away years earlier. She thought of her friends, … Continue reading and many more
It has taken her hard work and perseverance to attain a leading role on Broadway. With small fame, though, has brought unwanted attention and criticism. She covers blemishes with a dab of concealer and brightens the focal point with a touch of the pale highlighter. She then concentrates on the corner of her eye. “Five minutes till showtime!” The voice startles her, making her … Continue reading 15 minutes of fame
