Author Archives: sputterpub

Little Lottary (Part 3 of 3)

“Good grief, she’s huge,” came as expected, before the door even shut. “She must weigh a hundred pounds more than she did when I saw her last.” Sheila’s mother came around the bed and sat in the large depression Gwen … Continue reading →

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Little Lottary (Part 2 of 3)

Gwen was late the next evening. Sheila expected to see her restored friend by six, and was hard-wondering by 6:20. She told herself she was sure Gwen would come. She thumbed the button on the patient-administered analgesia machine, giving herself … Continue reading →

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Little Lottary (Part 1 of 3)

Word about Sheila’s operation got around fast. Phenomenal medical stories do. “Did you hear about Sheila Ehrman?” one old classmate asked another in the aisles of Safeway. “You remember her: the fat blonde who hung around with Gwen Strybulski? Ginny … Continue reading →

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Noticing Palm Trees

I owe the gardener my thanks, for Ken by planting something made me notice what was all around me. Here it is again – the evidence my eyes were in a rut. Remarkable: I must admit the sight of tropic … Continue reading →

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Standard Time

The light we set to saving in the spring we only borrowed; now we must return it so the southern hemisphere can bring its crops to readiness, its skin aburn. We fall this weekend back. We get the hour sacrificed … Continue reading →

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Night Vision

I went to bed too early, so I dreamt vignettes all night as if my history were made of shorts: remixing trite with tribulation; splintering delight with thorny iterations and retorts. So I beheld the boredom of my youth, saw … Continue reading →

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Timid & Fray (Finish)

They both had Johns. Jeanie’s had been such a close friend in college that he stood up with her, her man of honor, when she married Keith. They’d been what is now called “friends with benefits” then, and they saw … Continue reading →

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Timid & Fray (Start)

Jeanie raised her kids ass-backwards. She managed to produce a hesitant mousy male and a daughter who’s always spoiling for a confrontation. She’d like to blame it on Keith’s genes but it’s environmental. And even though Keith was around more … Continue reading →

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Arachnidoma

How like a spider I become of late: how vigilant, and light upon my feet. I carry fourteen times my body weight upon a clue of gossamer, as neat as mercury. Renewing my own bed at least six days a … Continue reading →

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Three Wishes

It took me near five decades to decide exactly which three wishes I’d select, but I am ready now – I’ve trued and tried assorted theories and I don’t expect to change my mind, arranged to best receive the favors … Continue reading →

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