Tall. Elegant. Southern. Gentlemanly. Kind. Principled. These are the words that come to mind when I think of my stepdad. Late. The man was always …
Fish Bowl by Esha
I saw death for the first time when I was 8. She was beautiful and isolated, floating upside down in a fish tank at a …
Little by Maddie
“Shower caddy and soap—” “Check.” “Desk light, pillowcases, notebooks—” “Got it.” “Socks, glasses case, portable radio, my quote mugs—” “All present.” “Okay…” Harper Little released …
Brooklyn Weekends by Nicole Vetrano
I spent my weekends in Brooklyn with Dad, where he had an apartment near a Hasidic neighborhood. It was a couple of blocks away from …
The Hiding Place by Rachele Farrugia
It’s not my fault. It’s not like I had time to study, or even do any homework. It’s not like I wanted to fail seven …
Bus Ride by Amanda Talbot
It was I who survived and you who died. You sat across from me, Daddy, with your shades low for protection. The bus clumped on …
Man of the House by Lydia Suffield
The boy died when he was walking home across the estate he’d walked across a hundred times before. It was a blade, a mistake, an …
The Tooth Makers’ Daughter Is Apprenticed by Katherine Fallon
Father taught me that teeth bloom like flowers, spiraling outward from a tight bud. Or like a lady’s skirt mid-dance. But he showed me with …
Mirrored Skirts by Katy Gale
The skirt sways just below my knees. It is old and ragged and carries a scent that reminds me of father — safe and familiar. …