Category Archives: Fiction

In Memoriam

Posted on December 14, 2016 by sputterpub

It was a bit after 4 PM on the third Friday in October. The sky was clear and there was little traffic. In fact, my ex’s Toyota and the Jeep that hit him were the only vehicles in sight. The … Continue reading →

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Dishwasher

Posted on December 7, 2016 by sputterpub

We talked to Cindy first. We arrived and went straight to the dining room; we were into big salads and iced tea when she found us. In five minutes she was complaining about Beth. “I shouldn’t be talking like this,” … Continue reading →

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What Goes Around

Posted on November 30, 2016 by sputterpub

Mom is 90 and she hasn’t a tremor in her limbs. Her mind is still sharp and her memory is as good as ever. She complains about all the meds, but there are only nine (and as far as I … Continue reading →

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Rambunctious

Posted on November 23, 2016 by sputterpub

Americans are childish. Vigorous, energetic, imaginative. And impulsive, petulant, whiny. We invented standup comedy and most of the entertainment business. We created superheroes and archvillains and comic books. We spread the Internet. We changed audience brains, but not for the … Continue reading →

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Plot Line

Posted on November 16, 2016 by sputterpub

Janet and Bill Martinson hail from somewhere near Casper, Wyoming. I suspect they got those scholarships to Harvard because there wasn’t much competition from their little state. Neither of them ever struck me as brilliant. They’re not both Martinsons any … Continue reading →

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Who’s Your Mama?

Posted on November 9, 2016 by sputterpub

My friend Meg had an awesome mom. Hildy was the only mother I knew of whom I approved. And I approved of her so much I wanted her for myself. I would have shared her with her own kids. I … Continue reading →

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Uncle Upset

Posted on November 2, 2016 by sputterpub

My Uncle Burt is a character. He’s now in his late 80s but he acts half his age and moves like he’s 67. I guess he’s always been hyper. The man’s nickname was Sudden in his family of origin. He … Continue reading →

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Dung

Posted on October 26, 2016 by sputterpub

I ran into my neighbor Anne yesterday. We hadn’t seen one another in a few days. I was out two evenings ago and she wasn’t around last night. So I hadn’t yet heard the latest. About Bertilda. The latest is … Continue reading →

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Neighborhood News

Posted on October 19, 2016 by sputterpub

We have a new neighbor and we hope we’re about to lose the old one. Jerry’s friend Jennifer moved in. We didn’t know Jerry had a significant other. We don’t know that now. He described her as a cousin when … Continue reading →

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Mad & Max

Posted on October 5, 2016 by sputterpub

The family greeted Madison and her boyfriend with open arms, but it wasn’t long before some of us started wondering. We tried to attribute their idiosyncrasies to cultural differences – her island upbringing, their Southern California-ness, youth – but we … Continue reading →

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