Parakeets Fly East The summer had been wet even by London’s standards: six weeks of damp. Birds flew close to the ground all summer, pinching the food crawling high in the soil. But that day the weather was good. Jackson opened the fridge. ‘You want one? A cider, or something.’ Rita stood in the other […]
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Better Things A postcard of a bear. I flip it over and read Dave’s writing (It’s me! Missing you.), then drop it behind the coffee machine, a space normally reserved for brown envelopes and CVs. Sandra sprays and wipes the empty tables for the second time this hour, while I gaze through the front window
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The B Word They found the dead badger on the side of a country lane. Miss Breeze coughed and called the field class to order. ‘The life cycle of Calliphora Vomitoria,‘ she said, gesturing with her arms, ‘commonly known as the bluebottle fly, revolves around a corpse.’ The class gawped. ‘Take a closer peek. What
Letters to Constance Mayfair: April 27, 1814 Dearest Constance, The excitement of our arrival in London cannot overshadow my continued despair that you shall miss this season. I petitioned Mama without end during our long days in the carriage, yet she persists in her view that I must present first. Most unfair! Though you shyly
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Weather Proverbs, Explained “Mare’s tails and mackerel scales Make tall ships take in their sails.” She’s studied the weather and knows about clouds which is why her lips are thin and tight. She does not want to tell him about the promotion. Tonight, she will prepare a nice dinner, but chop the onions too quickly.
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Forget Me Knot Peter walked around for months with a hole in his head, leaking out thoughts before anyone noticed. His granddaughter Maisie was the first to spot it. ‘Grandpa, I can see clouds in your head.’ Giggling, she tried flicking them away, which made Peter feel a little vertigo. ‘Oh my, is that why I
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POV: YOUR BOYFRIEND IS SICK He was breathing through his mouth all night, nose thick, feverish, and radiating heat. So, you’ve had time to think. Chicken soup it is. You get up, get washed and dressed, and go to work. You’ve left medicine and a steaming cup of Lemsip by the bed with a schedule
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Love Languages Forecasters failed to predict the mid-autumn blizzard, what with all the climate chaos. So the husband was late clearing leaves this year. Maybe he was distracted at work. Maybe turning forty affected him more than he thought. Yardwork was usually his love language. Once he realized his error, he jumped to the task
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The Immaculate Heart of Mary (Steel City, 1910) Magda descends on Polish Hill like so much of the metal whose siren song lured our fathers and grandfathers away from their matki and motherland. Within a week, she is selling newspapers on the street corners. Within two, she has us organised. We wear our brothers’ clothing,
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Letters to Einstein December 1902 Novi Sad Darling Albert, We had a daughter, just for a day. I don’t know whether to be relieved or to allow myself a tiny ache of sadness. My mother’s tongue is sharp with disapproval since I brought disgrace upon her. She berates my father, on the hour, for encouraging
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