THE NEW WIDOW
She awoke, her husband's empty space on the bed a bitter reminder of their dispute in the night. In the kitchen, the liquor cabinet hung ajar, the bottles inside knocked carelessly over. She looked out a window, and the air rang with anguish as the new widow saw the overturned tractor outside.
--Mark Walsh, Santa Cruz, CA
DELIVERY
One quarter mile each way, six days a week, she walks to the mailbox. Following her, along the gravel road, a dog, large, brindled, and old. The postal service wants to deliver mail one less day each week. She wonders what she will do on the day of no delivery. The dog just follows behind her.
--Dana Hoeschen, Pepin, WI
SMILEY FACED OBSESSION
Coffee. Login. Status Available. Six smiley faces. No KPM. Laundry, dog poo, errands, pick up kids. Move laptop to counter. View contacts. No KPM. Prep dinner. Hide screen. Hot bath. Chenille robe. Unhide screen. Refresh. KPM…There you are! Touch his initials. Status Invisible. Shut down. Goodnight.
--Kathleen Parvizi, Scotts Valley, CA
SHOPPING
Mortuary called. Mom's ready for pick-up. He hands me a shopping bag and I write a check. Outside the sun is bright, the sidewalk slick from a recent rain. I slip, fall, reach out to take hold of the cardboard box before it gets damp. Shopping was my mother's favorite pastime. We used to argue a lot.
--Manjula Stokes, Santa Cruz, CA
NIGHTMARE
Last night I dreamed I ate a giant marshmallow. When I woke up, the pillow was gone.
--Keith Fisher, Marina del Rey, CA
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