elephant

by bofa xesjum

a gray elephant slept insincerely a jaguar approached cautiously somewhere a stock fell and a little girl was instructed in arithmetic but found it boring just because something happened does not make it important, dr dee explained patiently nor, dr burton added, is something interesting just because someone takes the trouble to describe it victoria squirmed sullenly in her chair and wished she were outside lying in the grass, with or without her puppy someone someone someone, she thought why are they always running on about this so-called someone where is my fancy man? and when will it be time for tea? * the white dog walked loudly over the polished floor agatha was not amused but what could she do? lord marsdale had her in his power, at least until the court finally ruled on uncle frederick’s will and that might not be for many years how agatha wished she were a man, or a bird or even the foolish white dog walking loudly over the polished floor sometimes she thought she hated the dog even more than lord marsdale and then suddenly a thought hit her like a thunderbolt she had never seen lord marsdale and the white dog together! whole new vistas opened up before her

windowsill

by genghis gilgamesh

betty johnson lived on a hill with a dog named adam and a snake named bill she went to work every day at the mill and left a pie on her windowsill a bum named custer happened by and spotted betty’s cooling pie a single teardrop filled his eye and a bird fell from the sky and then he saw a cloud and a voice from it said out loud there is nothing left to fall have a nice day, y’all the voice brought back memories and made custer weak in the knees he looked at the sky and passed up the pie though he could not really say why custer felt a feeling strange as he walked along the whispering range the world was changing someone was rearranging the atoms in the universe it would not be the first time it had happened to him but his memories were dim he trudged along, bereft only one memory was left he had a cat named larry snd a dog named joe it was a long tome ago they decided to rob the mail and away to easter island sail with the jewels in a coffee can yes, that had been the plan but king john had got there first king john, he was the worst the desert was filled with bones why would they not leave him alone?

the inhabitant

by dog e relaford

do i remember how things used to be? no, not really i have always just been me i sit in a room on the wall is a screen i press a button and observe the scene a lone horseman rides the range his hat is pulled low and his smile is strange he is as free as a bird and as crafty as a fox snakes and bandits hide behind rocks a town on the horizon is waiting for him ruled by a cattleman named big jim the stranger has destiny on his side the horse and big jim are along for the ride so is the town and so is the sky so is my room and so am i the red light blinks my protein is ready my water glass fills the air pressure is steady the stranger rides out of town it is time for the game if my team does not win i will know who to blame

the withdrawal

by nick nelson

mr jesse james, the richest man in the world, walks into a bank. he carries a new suitcase in his hand, and is accompanied by the lady in red, who is wearing a new fox stole purchased just that morning. the head cashier, mister william mckinley, recognizing mr james, comes out to greet him. what can i do for you this morning, sir, mckinley asks. i want to close my account. i have 222 billion dollars in it and i wish to withdraw it. certainly, sir. would you like a cashier’s check for the amount? that might be most convenient, although of course it is up to you. jesse james swings his suitcase up on to a counter beside him. no, i would like it all in crisp new one dollar bills. put them in this case. certainly sir. it might take a little while. i am no hurry, but i would like it as soon as possible., of course sir. would you like to wait in my office? no need for that. very well, sir. i will be as quick as i can. william mckinley takes the empty suitcase and disappears into the depths of the bank. the lady in red tugs at the ends of her new fox stole. how long is this going to take? she asks jesse james. not that long. what is your hurry? i want to get to the island before the tourists, that’s all. don’t worry, we will. i will have the tourists and the rabble held up at the dock, if necessary. outside, the limousine waits with the motor running. the chauffeur, john dillinger, leans against the hood of the sleek vehicle, eating a bag of pretzels. he is careful not to get any crumbs on the car. a light rain begins to fall.

my baby left me

by genghis gilgamesh

when my baby left me time came to a stop all the countries i conquered rebelled all my plays on broadway flopped no one returned my calls my postcards came back unread everyone i stopped on the street said, hey i thought you were dead i looked at the statues in the park but mine had been taken down and the pigeons who loved me so much had all left town where are the burgers of yesteryear the fries so golden and crisp? is fame only a dream? is life a will of the wisp? you ask for answers and they tell you to click on “like” you ask if you can sleep on the sidewalk and they tell you to take a hike long ago and far away george washington was president and he sat all day in a cherry tree and the branches were never bent abe lincoln ascended to heaven wearing a top hat ten feet tall now i wander the earth in the rain looking for my tennis ball my baby left me and the world can’t be far behind i thought everybody loved me how could i have been so blind

the apple

by genghis gilgamesh

the apple fell from the tree and then what? a creature came along and ate it that sounds reasonable i thought you might think so it is getting late not for me he will be here soon be that as it may, i don’t care you say that every night this time i mean it but you will find a way he has his reasons they all do he gave her something nice did she like it? she may have, or may not an angel came down from heaven what will they think of next? my lips are sealed it is one and the same to me all will be revealed would you have it any other way? there may be repercussions their lawyers can sort it out do not forget the banana what banana? what about the banana? that is a whole other story

the accused

by nick nelson

doctor, doctor, i’m in trouble my brain is bursting like a bubble i fall into a black whirlpool where green snakes hiss and red wolves drool everyone i ever thought was my friend is really not all my life i have been blind to the portents and the signs the winks and giggles and little coughs that should have set my buzzers off the laughter floating down the breeze that should have brought me to my knees at the company get together the chairman noted the lovely weather the sun was shining, then how quickly the eyes turned cold, the smiles turned sickly do i deserve such obloquy? i only wanted to be me must i on the wheel be broke? i was only making a little joke a blameless life - and then one slip! now i am tied to a sinking ship on a leaky raft i am set adrift one more wayward breeze - then pffft! what is that, you want details? i am sorry but my courage fails some things, doctor, are best unknown i ascend the gallows steps alone ah, now, i feel new resolution confession is the only solution how could i ever doubt my guilt? the machine is silent - the sign says “tilt"