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Encounters, Human Nature, Parenthood
Unwanted
I get mail. Lots of mail. Mountains of mail. Amazing credit card offers, museum membership renewals with special perks, nonprofits begging for donations, and of course of course of course, catalogs: clothes, home interior, gardens and landscaping, computers and electronics, kitchenware, books, toys, sporting gear, plumbing and electrical supplies, restaurant […]
Dirty Job
“Hmmm, it smells good. What is it?” asks David, my general contractor.“It’s a plant-based cleaner. Pretty strong stuff,” I respond as the short stocky man sprays our garage floor with Simple Green and scrubs it with a broom. Only a few minutes ago I was fuming with anger, holding back […]
The Screaming Banji
“HELLO” says a booming voice behind me. I jump, on full alert. Adrenaline rushes through my veins. Who the F*** is in our kitchen? Without a thought, in a move rehearsed a thousand times at the dojo, I turn around into a fighting stance, ready to strike the intruder. No […]
Fountain of Youth
I pick up the fountain pen and begin to write. Long-forgotten images bubble out of the deep recesses of my memory. A classroom perfumed with chalk dust. Rows of wooden tables polished to a fine patina by generations of students and scarred by the tips of their compasses. A hole […]
Gray Ham And Eggs
“Hello?” says the voice on the phone. “Hello,” I repeat. “Could I speak to Gray-ham, please?” “May I ask who’s calling?” “My name is Cedric. I play squash at the Country Club and…” Toot. Toot. Toot. She hung up. For the third time. How can I ever move up in the […]
A Giant Heart
A late afternoon sun radiated through the clouds that covered Playa Coyote. We parked our Montero SUV, caked with dried mud, under a palm tree and opened the trunk. The dogs jumped out: no more driving, it was playtime for humans and canines alike. Biela, the white and fluffy American […]