1. Ants (A Cautionary Tale)

    AND LO THERE WILL COME A DAY when the weather is hot and dry. Or far too wet. Or you’ve left a small crumb of chocolate chip cookie out on the counter. On that day an army in miniature will advance, bringing with them the seething tide of war. Small black bodies, too numerous to… Continue Reading »

  2. Through the Glass

    Through the glass, the conversation looks intense. The table they sit at is large, could maybe fit 4-5 people, but they’ve pulled their chairs together. They sit, knees touching, leaning in towards one another. He holds both of her hands in his as he speaks, and still manages to gesture grandly. His face is animated… Continue Reading »

  3. Shiny, Positive, Glowing

    I had just walked in and sat down at a table when I noticed him. He was an older man, skin wrinkled, hair white, and he reminded me of my grandfather. As he walked through the glass door, I smiled at him. He nodded. I had just taken my laptop out of my bag and… Continue Reading »

  4. A Single Conversation

    I see him in Starbucks often. He’s always smartly dressed. Dressy-casual plaid button down shirt. Coordinating casual blazer. Shoes neat, shiny, new. Matching belt. Aviator glasses. “Crisp,” I think. “Together.” Most days I sit near the door while he sits at the high-tops in the back. His meetings are all business. Brisk conversations. Buying and… Continue Reading »

  5. Young and Restless

    When he first walked in, I barely noticed. His face was red from exertion, sweat beading, dripping down his neck. “Hot out there?” the girl sitting next to me asked him. He looked up with wild eyes, like a feral beast approached by an unfamiliar animal. Eyes moved quickly, furtively. “Uh. Yea. Hot” he mumbled…. Continue Reading »

  6. A Portrait of Tom

    His voice is deep and rough. Like boulders tumbling down a hill and breaking apart. Like gravel beneath steady footsteps. He tells me stories about his life. The companies he started. The nonprofits he dedicates his time to in retirement. His failed marriage. His six children. The movies he’s seen. His eyes are a watery… Continue Reading »