Day One at The Liberty House

Jerry keeps busy. It's the only way to keep his mind off the self-condemnation. When nothing is open in town for Christmas, (including Liberty House or any other place in any town for that matter), Shift Manager Jerry volunteers to train the restaurant's new hire, Wade, who also says he has no holiday plans and...

Fortunes

You haven't been sitting in his office for more than two seconds before your boss, Crabtrey, says, "I have to fire you, Wes." "Yes. I accept that. I was prepared." Crabtrey shuts a file folder on his desk and plops it into his outbox tray. "Okey doke. So let's not draw this out. No need...

When The Lion Man Comes

"It's not a lion," the four-year-old whispers in his tribal language. He remembers back to a few months ago when he had spotted something golden along the horizon line where the hot air appeared to vibrate. The boy had screamed Lion! and all the village elders (who are skilled in hunting) went charging into the distance,...

One Kind of Light and Another

We've all done it, at least I hope most of us have. I know I do and it surprises me (in the best way) how readily I cry when it happens. It's those times when there's no push and no pull. No distraction. Just you alone outdoors. And it is night. You tilt your head...

Grand Perspective

I find this very comforting and humbling. I believe this to be true about God. https://youtu.be/Xlf70K7yPZ8

He Had a Hat

It was at one of those swim-at-your-own-risk beaches. That's not to say it was any riskier than any other beach, but there were no lifeguards nor anyone else. The mother and her little son had the stretch of surf and sand all to themselves that day. Of course her husband's sixteen-hour work days were exhausting,...

Five Things We Should Have Done

1 Greeted a family That immigrated to this country, But we did not know they were coming 2 Greeted the needle That brought protection into our bodies By means of vaccine, But we were too busy pleading About a temporary sting And the terror from our ignorance of things 3 Welcomed the flood and the...

Fast

“My son refuses to eat,” the mother said. Even though her boy wasn’t a boy, but a grown man, that didn’t stop her from letting herself into his house and calling the local doctor for a home visit. “He says he is abstaining by choice,” the doctor explained after conducting a physical exam and consultation....

The Ease of Difficulty: A Paradox

Did we not say--‘cross our homesteads surveyed-- That we think there ought to be more? Yeah! Give us that. Give it here. Now we have it. Ok--get it away from us. Replace it all Better and new, and not as few. Discard the old. Watch. It collects dirt on the ground (Easy since we’ve spat...

Do Not Frequent My Grave

I died inside your belly, Ammi Jaan, Then went to where I'm like the swan, To eternal verdant gardens of spring, Going about however I please. I am very tall here, Ammi Jaan, And the age of thirty-three. Narywhere on my body is hair Nor in my heart are any cares. And though I'd not...