Did you know a full quarter of Christmas house fires happen because of Santa? Think about it—that little piece of coal in the stocking, pulling the fabric so it droops just low enough to be warmed by the fire. He doesn’t even hide it. Not really. Fire, coal, fabric. How long did yours take to […]
It was right there in front of me, the last box on the shelf, one corner crumpled. I’d been on the lookout for weeks. The app showed two in stock when I checked after work, heart thumping with possibility. I had driven at speeds double the limit to nab the videogame console, praying the whole […]
Lloyd sits slumped on a swivel chair, wishing someone would crack a beer bottle over his head. End his pitiful existence already. Strands of multi-colored lights adorning Nudie Cuties provide no cheer. Neither does the silver garland. And all the $2 fireball shots have done is coat his throat with the aftertaste of cinnamon rectum. […]
It had been a slow year for the practice. As Mitch and Ted drove along the freshly plowed streets to their next job they wondered silently about the future. Their last outing had not gone well. Murray was a patient man but even he had limits. They parked around the corner from the empty warehouse […]
Helena sits at the kitchen table, trembling hands around a mug of tea, steam curling like wisps of some dream. Outside, another gray December day in Scranton—meager snow drifting down. Kai shuffles in, hoodie pulled tight around their thin frame. The kid doesn’t speak much in the mornings—just like Helena. “Hey, Ma,” they mumble. “Hey.” […]
“Happy Holidays, my best Curly Girlies! If you’re new here, I’m your number one Curly Girly, Sav, short for Savanah, bringing you all that’s new and fabulous in the curly hair world! Don’t forget to like and subscribe! “It’s the first day of Christmas, and y’all are in for a treat because I’m kicking off […]
Even from his place way down the road, Mister Montrose heard the Armeniwhoos, Armenios, whatever the fuck they were. O-la-la! Like it was hilarious the hundredth time. They came up to Olalla from shitass Los Angeles and some shitass place before that to purchase the neighboring land, cash in hand – for what? To grow […]
Carl turned off the engine again and listened to the oil drain and heater parts cool and waited for the cold night to seep in between shabby window and door seals and generally fall upon his old truck until he was chilled once more. He watched the old feller work across the road and the […]
Marquis walked down the snowy sidewalk, looking at the houses along the way. Most were old bungalows in need of remodeling and repair. But this time of year, they were decorated for Christmastime. Multi-colored strands of bulbs, clipped onto gutters and roof rakes, hung around their exteriors. Thick garland wrapped around porch columns. Wreaths hung […]
White Christmas. Shit. It’s been raining for weeks. The cabin is cold and damp. Hikers take pictures of it in the summer. They say it’s out of a fairy tale. From the Brothers Grimm. Grim. Must be German humor. “What’re we gonna do?” Angie coughs. It’s only a matter of time before I catch her […]
Bells above the liquor store’s door jingled merrily, a small, cheerful sound on a night thick with snow and cold. Pearl looked from her crossword puzzle, pencil paused mid-word, to see two figures: one heavyset, the other shorter, skinnier, both faces shadowed by hoodies. The shorter’s hoody hung on him like wash on a line. […]
