Apr/May 2009

e c l e c t i c a
f i c t i o n

Fiction


(These are excerpts—click on the title to view the whole piece!)
 

Along the Fault Line

At least the kid hadn't mentioned his appearance, the strange, flat, fish-shaped head with a mean eye on either side. The caved-in chest, the twitchy little front limbs. He was having to lean forward to reach the wheel.

Anna Sidak
 

Annunciation of the Baby Jesus One Block North of Riverfront Drive

I told the checkout girl, that's right, I was crazy, and I slapped the fresh pack against my hand and pulled my baggy flannel tight and walked my skinny ass into the wind.

Ann Rosenquist Fee
 

Two Flashes

It was hard to believe that a mere three months before he was a young member of the city's more desirable social circles. While never athletic, the sharp angles of his body were always closely wrapped in fine clothes, giving a pleasing effect.

Charles Frisbie
 

Box Beef

"Just go ahead and rob the fucking thing," said Samantha. "You know you want to."

Bob Barber
 

Train

Coeli remembers going into her bedroom and seeing the empty space where the stereo had been. She remembers the thin white curtains billowing around the open, screenless window in that old house in Mesilla.

Darlin' Neal
 

The Eye

At the height of Jonah's pain, when the eye felt like it had a red-hot coal in it, his mind fixed itself on the image of the black and white dog, terrified and churning up the water to get away.

Paul Silverman