Category Archives: Fiction

Book Report

Posted on August 8, 2021 by sputterpub

My problem with a lot of books these days,at least the ones the Kindle hawks to me,has less to do with failure to amazethan the extent of the banality.Not only do I know too frequentlythe words I’ll see before I … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Language, Poetry, Writing | Tagged | 2 Comments

Ears

Posted on October 11, 2017 by sputterpub

Del is an active eavesdropper. That’s not to say she kneels at keyholes or holds glasses up to walls (although she did that once, in a Chicago hotel with her husband, to try to decipher what the couple next door … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Neighborhood | Leave a comment

Sweetlessness

Posted on October 4, 2017 by sputterpub

Del knew something was up the minute Annie walked through her door. There’d been foreshadowing in their phone conversation, and there was also thirty-two years of experience. “I need your bathroom!” Annie declared as she darted toward the toilet. Her … Continue reading →

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Hard Ass

Posted on September 27, 2017 by sputterpub

“You never know what you’re going to do, until you’re confronted with the situation.” How many times has Del heard this? Why do so many people say it? In Del’s case, and in that of some others, it just isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Fiction | Leave a comment

Pre-Verbals

Posted on September 6, 2017 by sputterpub

“Have you talked to your father lately?” “No,” Aggie sighed. “You know how he is – he’ll answer when I call, and he responds to texts or emails, but he never initiates.” “I’m sorry.” Aggie understood that Del’s phrase wasn’t … Continue reading →

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Sociology

Posted on August 23, 2017 by sputterpub

It was about a quarter century ago, when Del got sued. The subpoena came as a total surprise, but she understood the complaint, somewhat, after she got past the scary solemn phrases. A client had undergone a pension audit, and … Continue reading →

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Matt’s Mind

Posted on August 16, 2017 by sputterpub

When the phone rang at 8:30 last Thursday night, Del hesitated before answering. She was tired; she didn’t want to talk to anyone. Her mother is nearly 92 and Del would definitely speak to her, but the caller ID on … Continue reading →

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Sis and Cass

Posted on August 9, 2017 by sputterpub

Our dog came to us one year old and already named Sue. Within a month she revealed herself. Sue was a creature of sea-level allergies. She repelled fleas, but reacted negatively to 36 other (mixed blend) insects. We know this … Continue reading →

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Sweet, But Not Real Bright

Posted on August 2, 2017 by sputterpub

“Joy’s kind of like a retriever: sweet but not real bright.” My husband said that to our daughter, and she told me. To put the scene in perspective, they are not young: 68 and 40. I was shocked. I’d never … Continue reading →

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D.O.M.

Posted on July 26, 2017 by sputterpub

Del’s an attractive person, but no one would accuse her of beauty. Her facial features are on the large side: not chiseled or refined. She was born a brunette in a culture that favors blondes. She grew hands and feet … Continue reading →

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