The day was partly cloudy, barely in the forties, and the man had parked on the backside of Gillette Stadium where they usually parked for Revolution games. He followed the signs directing him toward the Putnam Club entrance and thought, Today the pandemic begins to end for me. Other people were coming from the glassContinue reading “Today the Pandemic Begins to End”
Category Archives: Adult Years
Murder Ward
The man’s son was dressed in his white shirt and tie and sitting at a desk in Paraguay; the man viewed him on screen through Facebook Messenger. His son coughed hard. “You sound sick,” said the man. “I’m not sick, Dad,” said Elder Laws. “I just went shopping, and they took my temperature and IContinue reading “Murder Ward”
Origin Story of a Super Hero
They were in their room changing out of regular clothes into pajamas. “The Jensens asked us to watch their dog,” said Lauren, stepping into the closet. “Obviously, you said no,” the man said. “Actually, I didn’t.” “Come on. Seriously?” “She’s hypoallergenic. Maltipoo or something.” “Great, but it’s not like you like dogs.” “I know. ButContinue reading “Origin Story of a Super Hero”
A Real Opponent
The man had been wrestling with Lindsay at least twice a week since all activities had been shut down. They took turns doing two minutes in neutral, two minutes with him on bottom, and two minutes with her on bottom. On this late morning, Lindsay was unable to escape from bottom, unable to prevent takedowns,Continue reading “A Real Opponent”
The Wormwood and the Gall
M: Does anyone actually know someone, anyone, who had COVID and got really sick or died? *** G: Hey, B! P told me your brother is in tough shape.B: Yeah. Just went on ECMO. This might be it for him.G: OMG. I’m so sorry. He can’t be very old.B: Early fifties. Like me. *** LJ:Continue reading “The Wormwood and the Gall”
Mask Off
The man stared at a spreadsheet, searching a row for large correlation numbers. He heard the office door next to his swing open. “That you, Sandeep?” the man said. “Yeah. How’s it going, man?” “Good.” The man pushed back from his desk. “All good down at Wiley?” “Same old thing,” said Sandeep. The man heardContinue reading “Mask Off”
Stop Snitching
Their cheeks were pink from the cold air, but they were both sweating from their run. “Lindsay was being a jerk, Dad,” said Grant. “Oh my gosh!” Lindsay exclaimed. She looked at the man. “He was soooo slow.” “It’s not my fault. I haven’t worked out in, like, six weeks.” “So the Missionary Training CenterContinue reading “Stop Snitching”
Homecoming
They left the minivan in central parking. The bridge to terminal A looked as it always did, with the moving walkway churning away and the “Welcome to Logan Airport” audio playing. But they were the only people on the bridge. When they entered the terminal, they were on the fourth floor, and as they reachedContinue reading “Homecoming”
No, I Am Your Father
In week three of online school with all extracurriculars canceled, they are now in episode V of Star Wars. The kids’ phones are at their sides. They have watched an episode per night–one night they made popcorn, another they made sundaes with packs from Peaceful Meadows. They have watched in chronological order, supposedly as GeorgeContinue reading “No, I Am Your Father”
Wiener Pond
He hates taking the side trails home to avoid the 20-meter puddle. Today, he has an idea of how to navigate it. He slows to a walk and starts around the edge of the puddle, his feet on the edge of the sand and water. He brushes against the thorns and sticks. At the pointContinue reading “Wiener Pond”
The Living and the Dead, by Gordon Laws 