Crime Fiction by Marek Z. Turner Biting his lip, Jack contemplated the risk he was taking. His parole conditions specified no alcohol. Yet, there he was on his first day as a free man, rocking on the spot in front of the rows of chilled lager on display at the rear of the Hudson Mart.Continue reading “Wrong Place; Right Crime”
Tag Archives: Hard Life
Salvatore
Flash Fiction by Shara Janae The piercing headlights of passing cars blur and blotch the road in front of me. I blink them away, but my head throbs with the beat of every white line. I’ve been driving for hours, arms pulled tight as bands, balled fists on the wheel. I unwrap each finger fromContinue reading “Salvatore”
Thirty Years Of Silence
By Melissa R. Mendelson Today said good-bye as its warm light flooded the compartment, settling on her knees. The glass window reflected both hope and sadness, yesterday felt far away, but tomorrow was even further. Her fingertips lingered along the metal frame, shaking with each vibration, and her hand fell toward the speaker near herContinue reading “Thirty Years Of Silence”
It Stank!
Hard Life Story by Dick Johnson (Graphic Sex Warning) Tommy held the window open so Mandy could climb inside the old brick building. It was sometime in the 80’s and Tommy was going to get laid for the first time. Her parents were at the flea market in the park across the street. They wereContinue reading “It Stank!”
A Long Walk
Poetry by Ralph La Rosa This winter night two fugitives from Jackson Prison rob his store out in suburbs where he lives, blind and bind him, knock him out, stuff him on their Dodge’s floor, and drive him north for Canada. They startle him awake before the border, yank him out, unblind his eyes. He’sContinue reading “A Long Walk”
Honor Thy Father
Poetry by Ralph La Rosa Ray’s father groaned: In the store, below the petty cash drawer. Bring it to me. Hurry. Before they all come home. Ray raced to the store and back— to lightning’s cracking thunder to hail stones pelting limbs of acorn-bleeding oak trees and shivering rooftop tiles. As green wood hissed inContinue reading “Honor Thy Father”
Shots Ring Out
By Matthew Senn My daddy was a paranoid man. Had every right to be too, ‘course. He’d always figgered someone would come lookin’ for ‘im one day. Never went into much more detail than that. One mornin’, he hears some shots ring out. He was a corn farmer then, our patch a land went fromContinue reading “Shots Ring Out”
Anger, Lust and Greed
By Scotch Rutherford June 8, 1980 Max was up before the sun. It was a habit he couldn’t shake. Three tours will do that to you. The hooker from the night before was asleep in her clothes next to him. He had that clammy feel on his skin, like he was covered in hair gel.Continue reading “Anger, Lust and Greed”
The Wheels Go Round and Round
By Melissa R. Mendelson “Come on, Ben. Wake up.” He kicked the young boy’s shoulder. “Get up.” “Oh, come on, Henry. It’s early.” He rolled across the floor and pushed the thin shirt under his head closer to him. “Let me just sleep.” “You’ve slept enough. Come on, Ben. Let’s go. We got work toContinue reading “The Wheels Go Round and Round”
Follow The Stream Back Up
By Charles Jacobson On a bitter January morning, when Richie and I should have been trudging through the snow to our IT classes at the University of Minnesota, our backs were jammed against a freezing curb, wrangling a junkyard transmission into a ‘53 Packard straight-eight. The massive car was jacked up on blocks. The UltramaticContinue reading “Follow The Stream Back Up”