13 stories

by chuck leary

illustrations supplied by pete palomine studios

albert albert went for a walk and saw a man with a big head and a dirty sweater but did not attempt to engage him in conversation. * belinda belinda sat on her front steps reading "wives and daughters" by elizabeth gaskell. a man walking a large orange dog came by and winked and waved at her, but she ignored him. * charles charles had no time for nonsense, and angrily rebuffed the bolt of lightning which struck his blue 2007 toyota as he drove to the pet shop. * dave dave wondered what women were like. * eugenia eugenia knew what men were like. * francis francis lived in the shadows, and sometimes realized that his fellow humans were all werewolves, and at other times that they were camels and cockroaches. * gloria gloria liked to trample and uproot flower beds, until one day a raccoon surprised her as she was engaging in her egregious behavior. * hanscomb hanscomb fantasized about unspeakable things. one day, seated on the bus, he blurted out his most revolting one, but the woman standing in front of him, reading a harry potter novel, either did not hear him or pretended not to. * irrigation irrigation is the key to human civilization. * justice justice is uncertain in this world, and little applauded even when it can be found. * kings and queens kings and queens may rule the earth, but that was small comfort to mrs martin. * the limits of intentions let us pause to remember those who accomplished nothing, however good or bad their intentions. * mockers and contributors my prayers go out to all who contributed, as well as to those who mocked, and those who actively opposed. *