Author Archives: susan

CHANGE COMES TO WILLOWBROOK DRIVE Word Count: 487 It is an unusual Tuesday morning in this neighborhood of town. People move along like spiders with their prey. Mrs. Smith is in her nightgown with her shell of jacket for propriety, … Continue reading →

THE MATTRESS Word Count: 317 It was silly to worry about it, to feel shame. This she told herself again and again before finally deciding that they absolutely had to buy a new mattress set. The problem was not with … Continue reading →

THE FOOT (for Hank, with love and understanding) Word Count: 529 Mr. Zefferelli kept his amputated foot in a wooden box stored on a shelf in his closet. It had been cut off just below the knee because of an … Continue reading →

THE WOMAN WHO COLLECTS CHERRY PITS Word Count: 780 The woman who collected cherry pits wore woolen skirts all year around. She wore nylon stockings rolled down and knotted at the knee the way everyone’s grandmother’s mother did at one … Continue reading →

THE RAINDROP IN ITS MOMENT Word Count: 253 She said, “This morning I watched a single raindrop suddenly lit up by the rising sun. It flickered like a firefly, clinging to the tippity-tip of a new grown spurt of branch. … Continue reading →

THE THING ABOUT PEACHES Word Count: 486 He struggled up the three stairs and into the kitchen, the screen door banging shut behind him. She was standing at the stove, stirring a huge steaming pot that came almost up to … Continue reading →

LOVE IS Word Count: 365 The girl’s name was Maricela and the man’s name was Cruz. They were the only two people in the world. Every day Cruz would bring Maricela a gift, some small something that had caught his … Continue reading →

AFTERMATH Word Count: 353 I told them that I saw Russell’s face in all my dreams. That like a wax doll he shows up at a party right in the middle of a living room. He’s sitting on the couch. … Continue reading →