In Conversation

Overalls

2011-03-21T10:31:00.001-07:00

His reputation was that of a troubleshooter. When he showed up at a site it was a sign that someone had pathetically screwed up. He solved problems because margins of error had been eclipsed. It was lonely work that he bore well. He had figured out his balance long ago and when he shed the overalls he became unrecognizable.

Blue toenails

2011-03-09T06:16:00.001-08:00

At first she didn’t recognize herself and mistook the image to be that of her mother. The similarity surprised her. Indeed, it had finally happened, a slow turning, like a mermaid walking onto dry land…she had become her mother. She saw the strength and sure footedness so she found her childish ways easy to kiss goodbye.

Jamaica Braids

2011-03-06T14:31:00.001-08:00

The stolen piece of shade was the best perch for viewing the town. Blending in naturally she watched the earnest, the motivated, the leering and the unsuspecting pickpocket victims. She tried to stay neutral and mind her own business like grandma always said. But there was no harm in burning down the fools with her stink eye glares.

The slow walk

2011-03-02T19:15:00.001-08:00

Her plan was to walk there directly. Not be distracted by the wafting smells of hot lunch from the streetside stalls or the lady with her new shipment of dresses from Florida for sale. The soles of her feet slid closer to the gungy pavement with every step as the sweat beaded in places that wouldn’t cool down fast. She stopped for a drink. While gulping back the sparkling sweetness she glanced down the road and saw him coming fast

Rooftop

2011-02-26T04:43:00.001-08:00

Truth be told, she was losing patience. He promised her a castle and instead she was living in the cold concrete foundations of a dream. He spent most of his spare time planning the next steps, the upper level, but it was really just turning out to be a good place to have a rum and contemplate tomorrow’s weather. She sighed and decided to join him.

Puleeeeeze!

2011-02-24T13:22:00.001-08:00

Pleeeeeeeeez! His eyes were sugar glazed as he leaned precariously out of the shopping cart. She thought about the possibility of a screaming child and the embarrassment made her sweat. She maneuvered the rickety three-wheeled cart around the corner into the ice cream aisle and mentally made plans to come alone next time.

Boats

2011-02-21T10:54:00.001-08:00

He was glad they wouldn’t go out today. The sea was choppy and the old boats were damp with overnight rain. The sodden wood smell was something that would unmistakably remind him of his father forever. He sat in the land bound hull and cried for the first time, overcome with memories. Then his toddler son clambered in beside him with his tangled reel of fishing line and he smiled through his tears.

Fried Fish

2011-02-19T16:30:00.001-08:00

He hauled it to the last stop of the day. His arms ached maneuvering the hard turns and the diesel stench had built swarming his head and making his eyes water. He tricked his senses by dreaming of the fried fish dinner and the soft-armed hugs waiting for him at home.

Two Scoops

2011-02-10T10:24:00.001-08:00

Her patience was everlasting. She never questioned what she did for the family business, what was expected of her and how she delivered what was required. But now her mind conjured its own wishes and dreams. Motivation would push her to success she could never have imagined. For the moment though she perfectly balanced two scoops on a sugar cone.

The Floaties

2011-02-07T18:38:00.001-08:00

She tried to feel her god given strength of responsibility. At least she didn’t have to watch them swim anymore. The noise alone had left her buzzing and weak. She wondered if making lunch was a good idea now before they got cranky. But first she scooped up the floaties and with expert passive aggression punctured one with her fingernail.

The resort had forbidden it

2011-02-03T12:44:00.001-08:00

She snuck out driven by curiosity. The resort had forbidden it but to come this far and not adventure through the truth of this country seemed remiss and stung her sense of responsibility. Though her eyes saw one thing, others around her saw something else, a stranger oblivious to their ways. She blithely drifted and rounded the corner narrowly escaping danger.

The Fat Man

2011-02-01T19:24:00.001-08:00

He perched precariously and settled into the uneasy balance. It was the perfect view, pleasing to the eye on many levels. He skipped his regular lunchtime risking the noonday sun to take it all in. On Monday he’d be back at his office desk.

Night Calls

2011-01-27T09:23:00.001-08:00

He was ready for that Saturday night.

Cherry Ice Cream

2011-01-25T18:56:00.001-08:00

He had never seen her focus so intense. What began as a shrieking discovery had become serious. She stared at the creature, willing it to make a move. Her breath measured as she tried not to disturb it. But the time moved too slowly and she impatiently made a grab for it. He caught her hand and distracted her with the promise of cherry ice cream.

Geometry

2011-01-25T18:49:00.001-08:00

She pretended it was no big deal but her heart sank. Her wonder with nature took a turn as she made the connection to man and animal. She picked up the offending material, that potential fish killer, so benign on land, so lethal in the ocean, and gripped it so tightly it cut her hand. Thus began her lifelong passion as keeper of the seas.

38DD

2010-12-09T19:35:00.001-08:00

They thought they were so smart and little bit cheeky. It had been confiscated and no one person would take responsibility for the naked girl. The teacher kept her stern face on but inside she giggled at the thought of seeing this same picture, or variations of it, repeatedly over her 30-year career. She made them stay in for recess.

The Warrior

2010-12-06T18:01:00.001-08:00

The past was difficult to imagine. He absorbed the two dimensional description of his ancestors, their pride, courage and valour. Looking at his people’s history, where he came from, overwhelmed him with a sense of cultural duty. He would transform his superficial life and adopt the confidence of a warrior.

401

2010-12-05T07:54:00.001-08:00

He had done it a hundred times with tunnel vision. The mind numbing commute had thrown him into grayness daily. Today his haze of thoughts dissipated and he took in his keen surroundings. It unexpectedly cleansed his consciousness and he smiled in the stillness of it. He walked in the door beaming and it was returned by all.

Condo Heaven

2010-11-25T16:38:00.001-08:00

She bravely smiled and tried hard to accept her new home. The appliances were shiny and new, the wall to wall carpet was white and fluffy, the bathroom had modern fixtures. This impressed everyone. But the sink was in the wrong place, her bed faced the bathroom door and she had to crane her neck to see blue sky. Most of all, she missed her garden terribly.

The Spoon

2010-11-24T08:52:00.001-08:00

His eyes glazed over as he sat at the table alone. His siblings long excused, were off and playing Wii while he felt chained to the dining chair. “There are starving children in Africa,” he was reminded. Contemplating this, he wondered if oversalted, stinky, cold soup could possibly be appealing to anyone. After making a long list in his mind, he squeezed his eyes shut, put the bowl to his mouth and gulped it back. He licked his lips and felt grateful for the first time.

Tracks

2010-11-18T15:06:00.001-08:00

It was initially hard to relax into it. To let go of the details worming though his mind took massive effort. Every exhale released the backlog of documents, the emails to be returned, the presentation that went wrong. He mentally packed it into the filing box in his mind labeled “pressure’” and focused on going home. It could all wait until Monday.

Circuit Board

2010-11-17T18:43:00.001-08:00

He had to get her attention. His words meant nothing when he tried to speak to her and she was blind to the subtleties of his actions. It was as if they were communicating in a different language and living cultures apart instead of under the same roof. His last act of desperation was to cut her off from her life. It maddened her enough to face him and finally listen. They found they had more in common than they thought.

Hanging In Wires

2010-11-13T17:10:00.001-08:00

He fully intended to do it today. The anticipation brought sleepless nights so he repressed the anxiety and bolstered his confidence in defiance. But the guys saw through the false bravado and taunted when he bailed. It wasn’t the first time and he would have no choice but to stay and watch. Tomorrow was another day, he reminded himself, and it was.

Father Doesn't Know Best

2010-11-12T16:37:00.001-08:00

He wanted to celebrate his legacy. Now that his father was gone he could see the beauty in the decisions he had made with his concretely logical mind. The family business wasn’t for him, his father knew that and nonetheless encouraged his passions as he struggled to understand them. He realized now that they had not been so different. And with that he had no qualms about changing the recipe for his pasta sauce.

Everyone Was Doing It

2010-11-11T10:07:00.001-08:00

Everyone was doing it. The timing made perfect sense. Had she known what she was in for she might have been more practical about her decision to have kids. But she had woeful misgivings about the way things were turning out, the overwhelming feelings of guilt, a life peppered with fatigue and yes, she admitted it quietly, jealousy. She sank into these new emotions, felt them keenly, and moved to the next stage of utter love

The Glass Ceiling

2010-11-04T09:16:00.001-07:00

The grand plan had only lasted so long. He frantically tried to find someone to blame for the inconsistencies in the material that had ultimately led to the calamitous leak that was now affecting the entire structure. His building, his dream, his potential for fame, now dashed. He stood surrounding by superiors, inwardly horrified and did some fast thinking. With a face of ultimate cool he presented an elegant solution. It was all back on track again.

The Heat Of Her Sweat

2010-11-04T06:45:00.001-07:00

He was glad she was home. He had waited patiently for her to return from her daily run, looking forward to the heat from her flushed cheeks with the flavour of sweat still clinging to her body. The ache to crush her into him was at the top of any possible list of anticipatory events today. But she was still doing her stretching and wanted nothing to do with him at the moment. He’d have to wait until tonight.

Black Spider Red

2010-10-31T18:27:00.001-07:00

He lived and died by the motif. The design was his, a childhood scribble turned into self-branded logo. It marked all that he had done, this evolution of passion and art governed his lifestyle. To him it signified killer strength and solo tactics. Sadly, once a year, it’s meaning was lost to all.

Cheers Chappie

2010-10-25T13:21:00.001-07:00

"Well, we have rum, and Pepsi, and ice - let's see how that goes", he said. This was his memory of his favourite Uncle instructing him on fixing cocktails. Ever the host, dapper and unruffled, defining old school charm with his brand of savvy cool. Since he hadn’t inherited this attitude, he studied and learned it. The day he passed away, his tears mingled with the liquor as he made a drink in his honor.

The Mens Room

2010-10-22T10:29:00.001-07:00

It was easy to look at it critically now that it was over. She felt no shame in what she had done. It was dirty but it was part of the experience. At least she could say she finally did it, performing fully, to the best of her ability. One-upping herself, she thought it might be better to use a non-bleach cleanser next time.

The Phone Booth

2010-10-17T11:14:00.001-07:00

She repressed her natural inclination to call them. It had been months since she left home. She had her reasons, though time had forced them to evolve and in the spaces of silence she could hear their protests. The need to speak weighed on her, but embarrassment made her keep walking. Maybe tomorrow would be different.

Overpass

2010-10-14T09:31:00.001-07:00

The reminder rose on a daily basis. Inconsequential to other drivers, it heralded memories that she refused to abandon. Their young courtship had grown from lusty love into maturity. The bridge represented days of palm pressing strolls, secrets told, promises made, and a connection that would last a lifetime.

The Masked Men

2010-10-09T14:46:00.001-07:00

Their passion was symbiotic. The creations came only from this supreme collaboration, born of fraternal blood but made from sweat and frustration. He had tried individually with less than satisfactory results, now he went along with everything he suggested caving to his internal limit. Feeling his resentment build to a frenzied level, he found that sipping on a Slushee was the only way to temper it.

Concert

2010-10-06T12:18:00.001-07:00

The live show absorbed him. Fantasies he had created in his headphone mind were nothing like this. They were flatly black and white compared to the multi sensory gift he was now receiving. He was abducted by the sway of sound and light and gave in wholeheartedly. When it ended his soul was the richer for it.

The Stinky Truck

2010-10-03T14:08:00.001-07:00

It was the city. He could rhapsodize about the sounds and it’s scents, swaying any non-believers. He declared it wasn’t for the faint of heart, implying that he, of course, was of strong stock. But this morning’s delivery of a charred, earthy smell was assaulting. His nostrils flared and he bee-lined for Starbucks.

The String Bikini

2010-09-29T10:00:00.001-07:00

Her shape, her skin, her softness, her warmth. They fit him well and they were one. A feeling he could never get used to because it seemed so corny, but it was real. It was the passion of knowing her so intimately, where to touch her, where not to, and the phenomenal sense that it was equal and would be returned in tandem. Then he stopped thinking and let his mind follow his body.

Mister Bear

2010-09-27T10:15:00.001-07:00

This he recognized. This beacon toward home, his third place this year. Blurry eyed he dragged his reluctant feet and heavy head toward this new thing, afraid of what surprise awaited him. It was a different configuration, but still his belongings. Material possessions never felt so good. He flopped on the mattress and cuddled Mr. Bear.

The Cherry Pie

2010-09-24T19:25:00.001-07:00

Sodden to the bone she struggled to keep positive. Her soul was flimsy and fatigued overwhelming her slight frame. It was like a sweat filled, chest crushing bad dream, this road full of wrong turns. Friends distanced themselves afraid of her bad luck. But the universe was merely teaching her a lesson. Her life would soon be cherry pie.

The Jesus Lady

2010-09-22T11:13:00.001-07:00

She was a guide for those that were lost. With the motivation of certainty that is how she perceived and conducted herself. Finding errant sheep was easy, people with nothing to lose were apt to be followers. But being a leader was tiring and after her allotted time she got back to her high score on Tour of Duty.

Chinatown

2010-09-17T10:51:00.001-07:00

She loathed her father for making her do things his way. His thrifty habits had the opposite effect on her. She liked to spend, to shop and was an unabashed materialist. She turned her eye to survey the superficial improvements she could make to the dismal scenario. She would show him. And to her surprise, he would love her for it.

Window View

2010-09-15T13:44:00.001-07:00

The air conditioner blasted across her face uselessly. Her heart seemed to make her body pump out sweat in places she never thought possible so she twisted and turned the air nozzles to dry the nooks and crannies. She wasn’t sure whether she was going to throw up or if her heart would simply jump out of her throat. It was the first time she was going to see him in the flesh.

Concrete Building

2010-09-13T09:01:00.001-07:00

When he was out in the open all the armor fell away. Life in the concrete canyon made him hard, it was etched in his youthful face, tensed unnaturally along his lanky biceps and wound his insides tightly. He was nervous about getting to know this new person within himself. Part of it was freeing, the other absolutely terrifying. He unclenched his fists and took a deep breath.

Motorcycle

2010-09-12T12:27:00.001-07:00

It represented a lifestyle that even he had to admit, was long gone. Less pleasing than it had been in the past, he clung to it regardless as the last vestige of old times. He tried to justify hanging on, but came to the conclusion it must go. Surprisingly, he didn’t even cry when it was sold. The seduction of the shiny well oiled machine was over.

Window

2010-09-10T12:54:00.001-07:00

It seemed like a good arrangement at first. She wanted to be close by in case of an emergency. But the idiosyncrasies of practically sharing living space was oppressive. The natural call to revert to childhood battled with her adult sensibilities. And conversely, he fought against their new roles just as vehemently. She also refused to get him a sub sandwich at 2 in the morning

The Blue Pool

2010-09-05T13:01:00.001-07:00

The invitation to immerse herself was delicious. Once in, she felt she could go forever and relished the smoothness glide over her. Her guilt at leaving them behind dissipated as she experienced a rebirth of her independence. It was short-lived, a creature with inflatable wings splash landed on her and she laughed.

Headphones

2010-09-04T17:05:00.001-07:00

Consciously he slunk into his own world. The ability to disengage from the rest of the world took supreme focus and special hardware. He insisted that his journey be music sodden otherwise it was worthless. Now he was in the zone.

Lappy

2010-08-31T12:55:00.001-07:00

It was his first. He recalled the all-nighters, pouring his thoughts into its circuitry, pizza crumbs in the crevices, indiscernible streaks across the screen, and then a long life as a glorified coffee table. Now she said he had to get rid of it, it sounded like an ultimatum, but he knew better than to fight for it. He couldn’t stand someone else having it, so he picked it up and took it to his mother’s basement.

Ipad

2010-08-28T17:17:00.001-07:00

He was desperate to get a leg up. It had been tedious trying to convince colleagues and family that he was worthy, talented and intelligent. His desire to clamber and climb had become a lifelong distraction and he wasn’t going to stop now. If this didn’t do it, he’d have to invent something else. His Trekkie sense tingled transporter

The Cop

2010-08-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

He knew they would look. Pride surged from his chest as he paraded by in machine bellowing convoy. He had wrangled a childhood passion and made it his. But the pressure to maintain this stance, the prestige, the expectations, was a burden. And to top it off, he preferred croissants to donuts.

Pig Truck

2010-08-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

There was a time when he wanted to hide what he did. Now he saw no shame in it, it was a noble profession after all, one held down by his namesakes for generations. He understood it was offensive to others. He was dealing with death and people turned a blind eye to that. In blocking that out, he too became invisible. And that he struggled to overcome.

Espresso

2010-08-21T04:58:00.001-07:00

He wanted to focus on what she was saying but his mind had other plans. Her voice was imperative, wanting, demanding. Blocking it out could not only be blamed on his fatigue. Her tone was red with no hint of compassion and it made him forget why he loved her. Then suddenly she stopped herself, stroked his hand, and he looked up adoringly into her eyes.

Shopping Cart Lady

2010-08-17T18:30:00.001-07:00

She had been pretending for years now. Her identity as matron was over and she was deep in denial. She continued to bake and cook for a family that didn’t exist. Ghosts at the Sunday dinner table. And with the pies laid out on the table she dug into the tub of ice cream accepting that she had to move on.

Wrenches

2010-08-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

It was Dad’s private space. Why this was a secret was baffling to a little boy. With sneaking, innocent eyes he understood it in a literal way. As an adult he saw the true myriad meanings of his time spent here, why he needed to get away. For his father, this was enough to temper his soul. He had inherited it now and he knew just what he’d do.

Lakeview

2010-08-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

Breathe. This was universally easy, a mantra, he had been told. Carted up here to relax, forced into it, he sat in the proper position and tried to do so. The surroundings were appropriate, picture book some might say, but it belied his noisy mind. The mental cacophony drowned out the calm his eyes took in. He gripped the bottle pressing on his palm with its dewy coolness and took a swig. That helped.

The Basement Poster

2010-08-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

He cringed every time. His brother was intolerable and it embarrassed him when friends walked in. He amped up his weirdness to the hilt when he had an audience. It was clear he didn’t want to be identified with everything the family name brought. He embraced the black sheep stigma. Yet he refused to move out.

Parking Meter

2010-08-01T05:05:00.001-07:00

She cursed city life.

Red Truck

2010-07-29T12:42:00.001-07:00

He waited for his parents while staring out the back window of the parked car. Dreaming of becoming older he imagined the things he would do; drive shiny trucks with pretty girls in the front seat, wear cut off T shirts and mirrored sunglasses while leaning his arm out the window, feel the breeze rustling through his hair. Everyone would look and he would beam back. Then his sister whacked him in the head with her Barbie bringing him back to the stifling heat of the back seat.

The Couch

2010-07-28T05:26:00.000-07:00

She was embarrassed when the morning illuminated things. Feeling kin to this clique had weakened and her strength to strike out came in clarity after her tequila haze. Though the evening’s revelry had seemed bonding it now reeked of superficiality. Dragging the night’s knots out of her hair with her fingers, she walked out without saying goodbye.

The Wire

2010-07-24T09:23:00.001-07:00

Mama made her stay in again, confined to her room. How could she possibly understand her desire to see him? She explained to her friends, it was an electric connection, like a movie where the boy meets the girl and he gets her with a single steely blue-eyed stare. There was nothing she could imagine more than being pressed against him under the humidity of that heavy summer sky. She considered a high wire act to escape.

Hubba Bubba

2010-07-24T05:10:00.001-07:00

She snuck out again without them noticing. She developed a sound technique that involved taking out her own garbage and eating copious amounts of gum. Mints didn’t work, Hubba Bubba was her trick, it’s fragrance hung heavily in the air, her own personal cloud of sickly sweetness. She wasn’t the only one hiding smoke breaks. She spied on him before deciding the skulker would become a comrade.

Night Car

2010-07-21T06:20:00.001-07:00

They had made a pact. If she were ever in trouble, no matter what time, she would come and pick her up. The phone call had seemed nonchalant, few words were exchanged, but it was clear and she fumbled for her keys with her bleary midnight eyes. Through the traffic free nighttime drive her mind wandered to the worst scenarios for a teenage girl at a sleepover. Her mind was put at rest when her pajama-clad daughter got in and announced that she had forgot her stuffie.

The Pisser

2010-07-16T17:24:00.000-07:00

He pulls his car over deciding for once not to let beauty pass him by. Leaning against the cold metal he gazes out across the green lumps of hills rolling far beyond his view. Absorbing nature he takes in the colours that had careened by him on the highway. Some seem natural in their place, others are so bright, as if they are fighting against the stalks that bore them. Then he takes a piss and keeps driving.

pure passion and utter horniness

2010-07-14T12:57:00.001-07:00

They felt the need to make it a covert operation. The image they presented to the rest of the group was of respectable gentlemen of a bygone era, doting and doddering in full effect. But they snuck down to the basement in fanatic droves. The posters sparked memories of forgotten lives: the camaraderie in army barracks, wives long gone, and yes, pure passion and utter horniness. Turns out they this was just what the men at the retirement home needed to carry on

Paper Bush

2010-07-14T12:51:00.001-07:00

The days were indiscriminate from one another. While change was inevitable and her conscious mind knew the day would come, it was impossible to see past what was presented on the grueling daily basis. Her eyes glazed over the interminable wait. The bigger question was whether the change would come based on outside forces or from within herself. She had her answer but she wouldn’t discover it for many seasons yet.

Tacos Esquador

2010-07-09T05:51:00.001-07:00

The thing was she didn’t really want other people to know, to stare, to silently question and judge. Her life at home, cloistered indoors, was admittedly comfortable. That was becoming obvious each time she took a step outside where she endured a world of sidelong glances. She wanted to shrink inward, to become something she wasn’t. They hurt her feelings and her excursions became less. In any case, the restaurant delivered.

Dog butt

2010-07-09T05:41:00.001-07:00

He was her bestest friend. While everyone else was up in the grown up world, high above her head in their fog of words, he was always here, ready for a cuddle or to give her face a lick. It was their own little smelly world, his breath, her diapers, and she liked it that way. But he did not and wanted a moment’s peace from her fingers poking places that hurt.

The Brothel

2010-07-06T09:35:00.001-07:00

She stood stiffly wondering how long it would be. She clutched her purse as if holding a shield and decided to wait as is. Being alone she drew on her childhood game of frozen statue. She didn’t blink or move an inch. Certain, after the dragging minutes, that she would not only beat her own time, but her brother’s too. Then the receptionist snapped in, breaking her stillness, and said it was her turn.

Clown shoes

2010-07-05T10:28:00.001-07:00

She couldn’t contain herself. The excitement bounded out of her and startled him. She was caught up in a glee that made her feel childlike, as if her heart was singing a song she forgot. The release was intoxicating for her. For him, he found one more reason to love her more.

Tractor mural

2010-07-02T13:18:00.001-07:00

The noise was getting worse. No matter how they tried to pretty it up, the dirt and the heat were oppressive. The grit got into the bedsheets and their clothes. The children were constantly scratching their scalps. He held his breath as his wife fake smiled her way through it. But the company had promised a better life and he had to wholeheartedly espouse and accept it. He prayed they would be true to their word.

Lips

2010-06-28T12:03:00.001-07:00

No one expected this from him. He was about to unleash a part of himself long subverted and at this point, bursting for release. What was once tentative and fragile was now mature, ripe and heavy. The consequences, of which he well knew, would be dire. His inner war had been conquered. He would be true to himself.

Day for night billboard

2010-06-25T14:05:00.001-07:00

The bus seat vibrated beneath her tired body. The physical and mental fatigue she usually felt after the shift had spared her tonight. Unconsciously lunging along with the gearshift, she felt alert. Maybe it was the excitement of what she was coming home to. With those high hopes she looked out as she passed through the candy glowing city at night, her mind fastened with anticipation.

Haircut

2010-06-22T18:19:00.000-07:00

This was his big break. There was no shame in working your way up he thought, the limelight couldn’t be very far off, the prestige, the glory. Foolishness. He looked around, really took it all in, he realized there was no way to survive the thrumming din of the environment. The speakers blared with its unbalanced bass and the machines blew less hot air than the incessant chatter of the hen-like women. He registered the failure light blinking in his mind, in fact it glared red. He had no choice but to plot his escape.

Birds on the road

2010-06-21T12:10:00.001-07:00

Her withered eyes stared down at the pavement. She rarely looked up anymore, she figured she’d seen it all at this point and felt no need to watch the parade skirt by. Part of her wished that anything would come and her take her by surprise, sneaking up in the shadows, but no one came close. The sun’s reflection still gleamed onto her downturned face, igniting her eyes within their wrinkled orbits. All was not lost.

The Skirt

2010-06-17T14:21:00.001-07:00

Everyone stared at my mama. It wasn’t until I got older that I understood those looks. Old women crooked their eyebrows and young women held on to their man. And the men, all types, could not help but crane their necks to gawk or if they were classy, sneak a subtle glance. Mama remained blissfully ignorant. It was an immaturity I came to know that was laden with far more than her girlish attire.

Light flare

2010-06-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

He lay stunned trying to piece together the murky night. Drinks with friends, fights with strangers, it was hard to recall what barely seemed real. With extreme need to focus he forced himself to think of what was important, it was supposed to be family, he knew that but all he could see what was in front of him. With his briefcase still in his right hand grip, he dragged himself upright with difficulty and shrugged off any embarrassment. He honed into his beacon and stumbled towards it.

Fashion show

2010-06-13T18:51:00.001-07:00

It was a Faberge egg of a world and he was finally part of its stunning inner pattern of jewels. He was there, the centre of attention, all eyes on his work. Proving he could reach the heights he had watched others achieve felt good. The harder work was to come in buffering the reaction that would attack him on all sensitive fronts. He knew this and guarded his feelings with the exercise he had perfected, by repressing and shoving them deep down. It was needless, his creativity would rise above it.

Oz poster

2010-06-11T18:22:00.001-07:00

His innocent eyes widened. To discover that fairytales aren’t true, the tooth fairy doesn’t exist and Santa is a fat man at the mall was just too much. It was the final learning curve that pushed him into repugnant reality. He now knew that everything came with shades of grey and multiple levels of truths and lies. His point of view of life, being able to see the other side of things, would become a talent and a strength.

Daytime umbrella

2010-06-10T19:33:00.001-07:00

They had dragged him here unwillingly. He understood every good reason to come; the grandchildren would have opportunities never afforded to him. He stood by as his children slaved away to give the younger ones any and everything. The so-called opportunities had soured into spoiling. They were brats. It was an imposition that he tolerated.

Slippered man

2010-06-09T18:39:00.001-07:00

Had it been a good life? He wasn’t so sure. To everyone else he seemed accomplished, if he was truthful to himself, it was over compensating that had got him that far. The early traumas had spurred him to do better, but still lived within him like it was yesterday. Now that he had no real power to live up to, they cobbled him. It would take a mysterious turn of events to take him by surprise and realize that he still had more to give.

Walking under king bridge

2010-06-08T13:30:00.001-07:00

Being asked to show someone the proverbial ropes was a notch down. Changing her outlook just made her feel foreign and out of place; her face, a mask with its plastered on, outlined smile, her clothing like semi soft exterior of a cockroach, chaffing as she tried to keep it together. With her position being usurped she thought hard and fast about her next moves. And they were to be deadly.

CBC cityscape

2010-06-06T19:32:00.001-07:00

Cheerfully she embarked on her day with eagerness. In the face of city cool she wore her excitement on her sleeve. Other colleagues, also like her, from far-flung small towns, faked it like they had spent their lives here. They pitied her positivity and hid their hunger and desire to be the best. It was easy for her to spot the chinks in their armor, and with this knowledge she ploughed forth to win.

Gun poster

2010-06-02T17:06:00.001-07:00

It was seductive. People would respect him like this, carrying the ultimate accessory. They would have no choice but to take him seriously. Reinvention could do it, he thought, but it would be a lot of work. He frowned thinking of the serious commitment involved. And lazily talked himself out of it.

Suede boots

2010-06-02T17:03:00.001-07:00

She hated waiting and doubted he was worth it. Minute by minute led to further fuming. No one wants to stand around and her mother once said ringingly “never wait longer than 15 minutes for a man”. Other men were starting to look at her funny, slyly trying to make eye contact. She got madder, shifting her weight from leg to leg, trying to take a diffident stance. As he rounded the corner, sweating while he rushed, she melted and instantly forgot how she had steamed.

Tulip

2010-05-30T18:14:00.001-07:00

She lay there as inert as possible, holding her breath but observing it all. It was her favourite spot, the one where she felt alive and in colour. This view eclipsed any fear and ugliness that had tried to find it’s way in. The beauty of it, textural and layered, bright and elegant, was her reminder.

Clothesline

2010-05-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

He carefully surveyed what was destined to be his. The excruciating years of taunting and teasing, of hiding out in the dark corners and enduring bottom of the barrel status had ended. The scrappy gang of boys had grown up, most had left, he had stayed, begrudgingly at first, then with subdued acceptance. It had come slowly but the keys to the kingdom were finally his.

The urinal

2010-05-19T14:35:00.001-07:00

It was a mistake bringing her here. He could barely smell the perfume in her hair anymore, just the acrid scent of men. That would not impress her. He stole a look at her face and saw that luckily she was ensconced in being with him, which was appealing. If he could get her out before she realized it he could delete this awkward moment and illustrate that she meant more. She knew that and never held this mistake against him.

Fan in front of face

2010-05-18T13:32:00.001-07:00

She spent most of her time acting invisible, seeing herself in black and white. Hours were spent contemplating her bearings as she watched the rush of colours streaming by every day. It was starting to look desirable to jump into this river of life where the rest of the world seemed to be, but she remained cautious, occasionally dipping her toe in simply to test the temperature. When it felt right she stepped in. Her colour returned and she never looked back.

Creepy manaquin boy

2010-05-17T04:13:00.001-07:00

He had left suddenly and silently. She picked up as best she could, running things with unconscious control. Numbness seized her like an evil puppeteer’s hand, forcing her way though the darkness. As the grip released she found joy in hidden moments of humour and soon others caught on making life breezy and bearable.

1970s playboy

2010-05-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

He shrugged off his possessions without a second thought and faced his future with resolve. He thought his visual attitude toward life would be enough but he found he needed to support that. He shamefully hid the discrepancies since it glaringly clashed with the personality he was creating. That's what started all the trouble.

High heels

2010-05-07T10:47:00.001-07:00

Things might change if her saw her this way, primped to the nines. Her desperation faded, as she owned this new self-presentation it to a point that she easily absorbed. The difference was empowering and she liked the power in the feminine sway it gave her. He instantly became less important.

Buildings and sky

2010-05-05T08:51:00.001-07:00

Nothing would keep him down. The sky gave him that sign everyday and it was how he passed his time in a positive manner. These glimpses let him dream away while locked down in the concrete bunker that had been his hold for far too long. His mind went beyond the block walls to call up these images and imagine his future. It was a simple thread through the complicated web in which he dwelled.

Airplane

2010-05-03T13:20:00.001-07:00

They had advanced much further than She ever thought possible. If only they knew how close they really were it would likely hobble their progress. They enjoyed the striving, the adventure of discovery and the press toward the unknown. Like fish swimming upstream, it had become innate. She let them have that knowledge, keeping the pure discovery of herself hidden.

Sloan backyard

2010-04-29T12:35:00.001-07:00

Some people strained for a perfect life. She helped them keep the surface neat and clean, dust-free, fingerprint-free, stress-free, emotion-free, still and stagnant. He liked it, but she could tell the wife was on the verge. She had compromised her soul away and it was only a matter of time before she admitted to who she really was. And this wasn’t it. At the end of the day, it wasn’t her business. She had a job to do, for now

Daisy

2010-04-26T18:48:00.001-07:00

She was blind wandering around under her own personal halo of grey. It felt selfish to be mired in one’s own problems, of that she was aware, and it guided her toward an unexpected shard of beauty. She picked one and stuck it behind her ear. It pierced the grey nicely.

Mindful meditation

2010-04-26T18:45:00.001-07:00

He pressed her into doing it. She told him she had pursued it though in truth her search was lamely done. She preferred to sort things out on her own and resented this issue of ultimatums. Of course, he was trying to help her, help her so the way could be paved for his admittance. It was all he wanted. This was his final stab at getting her back.

Part 6

2010-04-19T13:57:00.001-07:00

She would spend her life saying she didn’t mean to do it. But the dark truth would always be seeded within her, gnawing away over what she had done and the destruction it had caused. At times she mentioned it as a funny anecdote, no one had died after all, it was a child’s accident she claimed, so it fell out of her mouth like a joke. Her intent got her what she wanted, which was admittedly childish at that point, to go live with grandma and eat rhubarb pie every night.

Part 5

2010-04-16T12:55:00.001-07:00

He stared dead-eyed at the broken life. Numb didn’t even cover it, it was pain and hurt covered in darkness. Gutted and otherworldly, he stood within, without belonging, wondering who he was now. Within the veil of opportunities he considered recreating himself and starting anew. They would treat him for shock afterwards.

Part 4

2010-04-13T17:53:00.001-07:00

She wondered whether she’d fallen asleep with a cigarette again. It wouldn’t have been the first time. The TV was on loudly when the fellow in his army uniform yanked her off the couch. She thought it was that recurring dream again, the one on that fiery night of bombs in London. He fooled her because of his helmet. She had to admit, that senior’s community in Lauderdale that her kids wanted her to move to was looking better and better.

Part 3

2010-04-12T09:45:00.001-07:00

The job was his second wife, his mistress and lover. It encompassed his soul and entire being in a way that overwhelmed even he, to which he responded by maintaining the wall he built around it. It was impossible to explain it to her that it would never be easy to leave, though she pressured him constantly. This morning he rescued a little girl trying to get back in, and saving her made it all worthwhile. He could breath today and maybe attempt to describe the satisfaction.

Part 2

2010-04-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

She still had sleep in her eyes and rubbed them in her childlike way, to ease the stinging, her other hand firmly grasping her big sister’s flannel shirt. The adults kept asking if she was okay. She was fine, but Bear wasn’t and who would get him out. It was easy to disappear, so she ambled down the alley toward the back door to get Bear.