An Unfortunate Roadtrip

“Pull over, I got a coobee,” Jeff said suddenly from the passenger’s seat. “The fuck is a coobee?” That was Reggie, or Reg, from the backseat. It was his car, but after being on the road for three hours, the third occupant of the car, Mike, had taken over driving. “Coobee a fart, coobee a shit, …

Mama versus the Black Tentacles, Part 2

The legend continues…   The young man carried a pitchfork in his white-knuckled fists. Both he and the old man had startled violently from the unexpected explosion to the east, but the old man was just grinning now. The rumbling of the ground was followed almost immediately by a cackling voice over a loudspeaker — ‘I said knock …

The San Cristóbal

I asked the old man why he sat and gazed at the sea. After a pause, during which time I’d come to believe he hadn’t heard me, he spoke, without turning his eyes from the green waves rolling in across the rocky shoreline of Los Picollos. “Mi corazon…” he paused, sighed, and continued, “…ahogue.” I …

Mama versus the Black Tentacles

“Maow” the impressively large cat said. He waited impatiently at the top of the stairs looking back over his shoulder. “What?!” Bud raged at the cat in mock anger as he walked over to him. “Maow!” Sometimes the cat got impatient. “Look now with the attitude, Tom,” he chided the cat, bending down to scratch …

Callia and Xandros — Part 1

Callia was a girl who deserved more. She lived on the island of Peparethos on the Aegean and loved the feel of the salt water embracing then retreating around her ankles as the wet sand parted and squished between her toes. This is where her spirit felt most free. The water was home. She did …

High Flying Kung Fu Fighting Murder Machine

When I was a kid there were things we had that are, by today’s standards, absolute death traps, summoning lawyers and social workers like rubbing a genie from lamp. They were so normal to my youth that when I imagine them now it’s a bit of a shock to recall (yes, we also had lawn …

Upgrades

“What are you doing?” she asked. “Maintenance.” “You are digging pretty deep. Upgrades?” “Modifications.” “Is there a mod that lets you speak in full sentences?” Her metallic voice was shaded with sarcasm. He stopped, feeling frustrated at her questioning, and looked up at her. He set the arc-pen down and made sure all of the …

Marrow Bones

In thought, upon his iv’ry throne, in courtly robes sat Marrow Bones with hateful grin from lack of lips he clicked his bony finger tips. Into his fleshless kingdom came four riders seeking wealth and fame, when through the dry-bone dogs they rode, were dragged from horse, except for Bode. The youngest of the four, by …

Awash in Feminē

Poseidon, put your fork away I sing you this apostrophe my antiphon of lover’s lips the whim of Eros wicked sling I’m drunken with the drifting flow upon these waters, salty seas a blason written on my skin of flowers, jewels, a dream of dreams I do not swim, I do not need, I laugh upon …

A Dream of She (not You)

  12:41am “Can’t sleep.” Thinking about you and the blank space where my leg now sprawls where there’s now plenty of space trying not to but closing my eyes cannot deceive the way you hurt me is more than you’d believe I would hold you when your smile no longer beams I would give my …