Published in Hinged·Jan 22, 2022Quantum MechanicRomulus Rust sipped from the cut-glass tumbler. Single malt, neat. He could wait. He was patient. Infinitely patient. He soon heard the muffled thump followed by the tinkle of falling glass. There was a distant click and then the familiar whisper of complaint as the back door swung open. Romulus…Hinged6 min readHinged6 min read
Published in Hinged·Nov 6, 2021The SummitThe President of the United States sat on the edge of the bed in his stocking feet, his head in his hands. His political future didn’t even enter his mind. The next election, the deficit, even national security, they were just small potatoes in light of what was on the…Hinged6 min readHinged6 min read
Published in Hinged·Oct 23, 2021OdysseyMy first sensation was being dragged. Pulled out of the water by my collar, I was hauled onto the rocky shore. I was cold beyond any chill I’d ever felt, and my head throbbed like it would explode. Every bit of me hurt, and not just hurt. I was in…Hinged7 min readHinged7 min read
Aug 18, 2021Practicing Hopewritten by Thom Garrett; edited by Danna Colman My go-to on smaller streams is an elk hair caddis, but the choice isn’t so obvious on the Bitterroot or the Blackfoot. There are days in the early spring when it’s a tiny blue-winged olive or nothing. …Mwc Reentry6 min readMwc Reentry6 min read
Published in Hinged·Aug 14, 2021Little JackThe morning air was cool and crisp, and the allure of the fluttering black and yellow wings was irresistible. Little Jack gave chase, oblivious to the lines adults draw between this place and that, or why it was okay for him to be here, but not over there. …Short Story7 min readShort Story7 min read
Published in Hinged·Aug 7, 2021Mired-On-Misery“And a word to the wise, Mr. Andrews,” he said in a thick brogue. The wrinkled old man dropped the heavy ring of keys into my hand, and I wondered again if he had been hired for his looks just to impress the tourists. “Gates are locked for a reason…Short Story10 min readShort Story10 min read
Published in Hinged·Jul 17, 2021Opa’s Raincoat“Gramma, whatcha doing?” I looked down at her intensely curious eyes. Emily was not four. She was proudly four-and-a-half as she would loudly proclaim if you happened to forget. She and her mother, my Elizabeth, had just moved into my guestroom. I patted the sofa cushion next to me and…Raincoat5 min readRaincoat5 min read
Published in Hinged·Jul 10, 2021A Midsummer Day’s DreamMayfred Yodal slept and, perchance, dreamed. Edna shook her older sister awake. “Mayfred! Wake up, you slug!” Edna turned toward the door and shuffled forward as fast as she could with her bad hip and her walker. “We gotta get moving! That old hussy Beula Mae finally kicked it and…Lipstick6 min readLipstick6 min read
Published in Hinged·Jul 3, 2021Belladonna’s HeartThere once was a time when men and women were almost gods, and gods were almost human. One man at that time grew so in his talent as an artist, his skill as a craftsman, and his understanding as a philosopher that it was said there was no one on…Mythology6 min readMythology6 min read
Published in Hinged·Jun 26, 2021Eterni-Tea“Wakey-wakey!” With no small effort I blinked my eyes open. What I saw was somehow both comforting and disturbing. “There you are, dear. So glad you finally made it. Now, how about a nice cuppa?” She was elderly, but not old; fit, but not trim; familiar, but a stranger. She…Heaven5 min readHeaven5 min read
