I was silently swearing as I finished up my household chores. I was running late. Today was the day when I make contact with my handler, and if I missed the exchange, lives could be lost. I was going to the thrift store. A location that didn’t draw attention, but with an abundance of places … Continue reading Cover story
Tag: secrets
Yellow slick
I tried telling people that the bruises were from my clumsiness, or that I merely bruised easily. No one believed me. The tiny, evenly spaced, purple ovals, the exact shape of an angry fingertip, erupted on my arms regularly, often with the previous alien markers not completely faded alongside the newer ones. As a child, … Continue reading Yellow slick
Hey, baby
She used to make fun of her dad whenever he’d take their family down all those back country roads during summer vacations. Shunning the heavily trafficked interstates, he would say that the old roads had character, that they were a time capsule of a quieter, slower time. Along the way he would point out various … Continue reading Hey, baby
Tin woman
The story so far... Old Wives’ Tale James Carson huddled with Pappy for a long time after the travelers left the bus. His contempt for Charles was palpable. Amelia was grateful for James’ careful attention to her bag, and Olivia’s welcoming embrace. From Pappy’s bus, James unloaded their belongings. He let Amelia hold her duffle in … Continue reading Tin woman
A family matter
The story so far… Old Wives’ Tale “This don’t concern you, Roxie,” Roger said. “I don’t even know why you’re here, it’s none of your business.” Roger was on the defensive the minute Marshall and I arrived. He refused to talk about his aunt and became hostile when I told him about discovering the bodies … Continue reading A family matter
Moving mountains
The story so far… Old Wives’ Tale After four days on Pappy’s bus, Amelia was grateful to see the blue haze of the Smoky Mountains as they drove south over the Blue Ridge Parkway. She wished that her daughters could see how beautiful they were. They would have loved the sweet smell of the spring … Continue reading Moving mountains





