Becoming Jewish – by John C. Mannone

            After daddy died, I watched momma slowly convert from Sicilian Catholic to Baltimore Jew when she married Mr. David Morris. I met him long before momma did, at a local pool hall where he was a ball-racker, and bald, like I am now, and he had piercing eyes. I had no idea he would become my father. […]

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The Pebble – by Rebecca Harrison

Sarah found the pebble on the beach. It was the colour of shaken clouds. She put it in her pocket, took it home, settled it on her bedside table, and went to sleep. In the morning, the pebble had grown – it filled her hands. It was as cool as wind shadows. She held it […]

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Toilet Seat Request – by Cathryn Shea

I demand that it be left down, which from then on it is and like an unspoken settlement, on it from then on piss is.

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Jono Naito – Position

I suspected my music tutors were psychiatrists in disguise. It was all in code, Mrs. Osborne’s idea. They told me, “Second position.” “Elbow up.” “Slide to extended fourth.” The cello’s neck choked me; I never held it right. The Tuesday tutor would twist me like armature wire, and I would stifle discomfort. Their corrections meant […]

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Peach Blossoms of Shangri-La

Peach Blossom Shangri-la (Tao Hua Yuan Ji) By Tao Yuanming [1] During the Taiyuan era [2] of the Jin Dynasty [3] there was a man of Wuling [4] who made his living as a fisherman. Once while following a stream he forgot how far he had gone. He suddenly came to a grove of blossoming […]

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