਀ ਀ Poetry and Prose from In Posse Review਀ ਀ ਀㰀⼀栀攀愀搀㸀 ਀ऀ㰀戀漀搀礀㸀 ਀ऀ㰀挀攀渀琀攀爀㸀  ਀㰀戀爀 ⼀㸀 ਀㰀琀爀㸀
਀㰀瀀㸀
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

਀㰀⼀琀搀㸀 ਀㰀琀搀 瘀愀氀椀最渀㴀∀琀漀瀀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㄀㔀瀀砀∀ 戀最挀漀氀漀爀㴀∀⌀ 昀    ∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀㰀⼀琀搀㸀 ਀㰀琀搀 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㄀㔀瀀砀∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀㰀⼀琀搀㸀

A Little Piece of Another Life

਀㰀栀㈀㸀䌀栀愀爀氀攀猀 䘀⸀ 䐀甀渀栀愀洀㰀⼀栀㈀㸀  ਀ ਀

"Henry, take the garbage out."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀 挀栀甀最最攀搀 搀漀眀渀 栀愀氀昀 愀 戀漀琀琀氀攀 漀昀 䈀愀氀氀 䜀愀洀攀 䈀攀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 猀攀琀 椀琀 漀渀 琀栀攀 攀渀搀 琀愀戀氀攀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 栀椀猀 爀攀挀氀椀渀攀爀⸀ 䤀琀 樀漀椀渀攀搀 琀栀攀 戀漀琀琀氀攀 栀攀✀搀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 欀椀氀氀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀 戀攀氀挀栀攀搀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

A primeval moaning rose from the alley behind the house. "It's hungry," Mona said. "The neighbors are going to complain."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀 瀀漀椀渀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 眀愀氀氀ⴀ猀椀稀攀搀 琀攀氀攀瘀椀猀椀漀渀⸀ ∀䈀愀氀氀最愀洀攀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"You said you'd take it out during the commercial." Mona moved in front of him, blocking his view. Even covered by a baggy gray Diamondbacks sweatshirt, her breasts caught his attention. Especially the middle one.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䄀渀漀琀栀攀爀 洀漀愀渀 挀愀洀攀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 愀氀氀攀礀⸀ 匀漀甀渀搀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀爀漀眀搀 挀栀攀攀爀椀渀最 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 䠀攀渀爀礀✀猀 愀琀琀攀渀琀椀漀渀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 琀栀攀 戀愀猀攀戀愀氀氀 最愀洀攀⸀ 伀渀 琀栀攀 琀攀氀攀瘀椀猀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䴀椀挀欀攀礀 倀爀漀搀椀最椀漀甀猀 猀琀爀漀搀攀 琀漀 琀栀攀 瀀氀愀琀攀⸀ 䠀攀渀爀礀 眀愀瘀攀搀 愀渀 愀爀洀 愀琀 䴀漀渀愀⸀ ∀倀爀漀搀椀最椀漀甀猀⸀∀ ऀ㰀⼀瀀㸀

"It's only the second inning, Henry. He'll bat again."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀渀爀礀 挀栀甀最最攀搀 搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀 氀愀猀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 戀攀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 瀀漀椀渀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 攀洀瀀琀礀 戀漀琀琀氀攀 愀琀 琀栀攀 爀攀挀氀椀渀攀爀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 栀椀洀⸀ ∀匀椀琀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

Mona raised her hands to the heavens, then dropped them to her sides, causing her breasts to wobble. Henry's eyes swung toward them, focusing on the middle one. In ten years of marriage Mona hadn't let him touch that one. She was a respectable woman. She settled into the empty recliner. "Take it out after Prodigious bats. Promise."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀渀爀礀 最爀甀渀琀攀搀⸀ 倀爀漀搀椀最椀漀甀猀 昀漀甀氀攀搀 漀昀昀 愀 挀漀甀瀀氀攀 漀昀 瀀椀琀挀栀攀猀Ⰰ 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 昀愀氀氀椀渀最 琀眀漀 猀琀爀椀欀攀猀 戀攀栀椀渀搀⸀ 䠀攀渀爀礀 最爀漀愀渀攀搀⸀ 䴀漀渀愀 洀漀愀渀攀搀⸀ 䄀 琀爀攀洀攀渀搀漀甀猀 挀爀礀 爀漀猀攀 愀最愀椀渀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 愀氀氀攀礀⸀ 䤀琀 猀漀甀渀搀攀搀 氀椀欀攀 愀 挀愀瘀攀 眀愀欀椀渀最 甀瀀 眀椀琀栀 愀 洀愀猀猀椀瘀攀 琀漀漀琀栀愀挀栀攀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Homer," Henry pleaded.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀䠀椀琀 漀渀攀 漀甀琀Ⰰ∀ 䴀漀渀愀 猀栀漀甀琀攀搀Ⰰ 椀最渀漀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀 洀漀愀渀猀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 愀氀氀攀礀⸀ 倀爀漀搀椀最椀漀甀猀 眀愀猀 愀 猀琀甀搀⸀ 䤀昀 猀栀攀✀搀 氀攀琀 愀渀礀漀渀攀 琀漀甀挀栀 栀攀爀 洀椀搀搀氀攀 戀爀攀愀猀琀Ⰰ 栀攀✀搀 戀攀 琀栀攀 漀渀攀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

Prodigious struck out. "Damn," said Mona.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀䈀攀攀爀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

The moan from the alley became a shriek. Mona sprang out of the recliner. She walked behind Henry, pausing to slap the back of his head.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀䠀甀爀琀Ⰰ∀ 栀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

She picked up the two bottles from the end table. "You come home from the warehouse every night, plant your ass in the recliner and don't get up the rest of the night except to go to the bathroom or if you want sex."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀匀漀爀爀礀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

Another shriek.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀夀漀甀 搀漀渀✀琀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 氀椀猀琀攀渀 琀漀 䔀搀渀愀 眀栀椀渀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 渀漀椀猀攀⸀ 䤀 搀漀⸀∀ 匀栀攀✀搀 樀甀猀琀 琀愀欀攀 琀栀攀 最愀爀戀愀最攀 漀甀琀 栀攀爀猀攀氀昀 椀昀 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 眀栀愀琀 愀 猀挀愀渀搀愀氀 琀栀愀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 挀愀甀猀攀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Neighbors." His tone carried the disgust of the ages.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀䔀搀渀愀✀猀 愀 最漀漀搀 渀攀椀最栀戀漀爀⸀ 匀栀攀 猀栀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 氀椀猀琀攀渀 琀漀 椀琀 猀挀爀攀愀洀椀渀最⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Beer."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䴀漀渀愀 栀攀愀搀攀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀 琀栀攀 欀椀琀挀栀攀渀 挀愀爀爀礀椀渀最 琀栀攀 戀漀琀琀氀攀猀⸀ ∀䄀昀琀攀爀 礀漀甀 琀愀欀攀 琀栀攀 最愀爀戀愀最攀 漀甀琀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀 

"Myself."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀夀漀甀 眀椀氀氀 渀漀琀 最攀琀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 戀攀攀爀 礀漀甀爀猀攀氀昀⸀ 䐀漀 栀攀愀爀 洀攀㼀∀ 匀栀攀 猀琀漀洀瀀攀搀 愀 昀漀漀琀⸀ 䠀攀爀 戀爀攀愀猀琀猀 樀椀最最氀攀搀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀 

"Middle."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀䨀攀猀甀猀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀⸀ 圀栀愀琀✀猀 眀椀琀栀 洀攀渀㼀 圀攀 栀愀瘀攀 琀栀爀攀攀 戀爀攀愀猀琀猀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀 漀戀猀攀猀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 洀椀搀搀氀攀 漀渀攀⸀ 圀栀愀琀✀猀 猀漀 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀愀琀 漀渀攀㼀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

On the television, retired Diamondbacks outfielder Barry Steroid held up a bottle of Ball Game Beer. "It's what the major leaguers drink. Come on, get in the game."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀夀漀甀✀爀攀 渀漀琀 琀漀甀挀栀椀渀最 洀礀 洀椀搀搀氀攀 戀爀攀愀猀琀⸀∀ 䴀漀渀愀 猀愀椀搀⸀ ∀圀攀✀爀攀 渀漀琀 琀栀愀琀 欀椀渀搀 漀昀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀ऀ

A shriek that rattled the windows. Mona hurried into the kitchen and threw the bottles into the plastic garbage container under the sink. She'd heard rumors of glass being shattered by a creature's shriek.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀 瀀栀漀渀攀 爀愀渀最⸀ ∀䜀攀琀 琀栀愀琀Ⰰ∀ 猀栀攀 挀愀氀氀攀搀⸀ 一漀 愀渀猀眀攀爀⸀ ∀圀栀礀 搀漀 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 搀漀 攀瘀攀爀礀琀栀椀渀最㼀∀ 匀栀攀 栀甀爀爀椀攀搀 漀甀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 氀椀瘀椀渀最 爀漀漀洀 愀渀搀 猀渀愀琀挀栀攀搀 甀瀀 琀栀攀 爀攀挀攀椀瘀攀爀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Oh, hi Edna . . . Henry will feed it right away . . . I promise."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 匀栀攀 猀氀愀洀洀攀搀 搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀 爀攀挀攀椀瘀攀爀⸀ ∀䠀攀渀爀礀 琀愀欀攀 琀栀攀 搀愀洀渀攀搀 最愀爀戀愀最攀 漀甀琀℀∀ 䠀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 漀渀 栀攀爀 戀爀攀愀猀琀猀 愀猀 猀栀攀 猀栀漀甀琀攀搀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Middle."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀夀漀甀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 琀愀欀攀 琀栀愀琀 最愀爀戀愀最攀 漀甀琀⸀ 刀椀最栀琀⸀ 一漀眀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

The doorbell rang. A burly policeman stood on the porch. He held a citation book. "Mona, this is getting old."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀䤀✀洀 猀漀爀爀礀Ⰰ 䨀椀洀⸀ 䠀攀渀爀礀 眀椀氀氀 琀愀欀攀 琀栀攀 最愀爀戀愀最攀 漀甀琀 爀椀最栀琀 愀眀愀礀⸀ 圀漀渀✀琀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 䠀攀渀爀礀㼀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

Henry grunted.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䨀椀洀 渀漀搀搀攀搀⸀ ∀䠀攀 戀攀琀琀攀爀⸀ 䄀 琀栀椀爀搀 挀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 眀椀氀氀 挀漀猀琀 礀漀甀 ␀㈀Ⰰ   ⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"I know. I appreciate your patience."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 吀栀爀攀攀 猀栀爀椀攀欀猀Ⰰ 攀愀挀栀 漀渀攀 愀 猀琀攀瀀 甀瀀 椀渀 瘀漀氀甀洀攀 愀渀搀 爀漀氀氀椀渀最 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 渀攀砀琀⸀ 䨀椀洀✀猀 攀礀攀猀 眀椀搀攀渀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀 昀氀椀瀀瀀攀搀 漀瀀攀渀 琀栀攀 挀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 戀漀漀欀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

Mona covered the book with her hand. "I'll make sure Henry takes care of it right away."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀䰀漀漀欀Ⰰ 䴀漀渀愀Ⰰ 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 挀愀氀氀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀⸀ 吀栀攀渀 䤀✀氀氀 戀攀 戀愀挀欀⸀ 吀栀愀琀 最愀爀戀愀最攀 栀愀搀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 戀攀 琀愀欀攀渀 漀甀琀 愀渀搀 攀瘀攀爀礀琀栀椀渀最 焀甀椀攀琀 漀爀 䤀 眀椀氀氀 眀爀椀琀攀 礀漀甀 愀 琀栀椀爀搀 挀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"It'll be done. I promise."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀 琀甀挀欀攀搀 琀栀攀 挀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 戀漀漀欀 甀渀搀攀爀 栀椀猀 戀攀氀琀 愀猀 椀昀 琀漀 猀椀最渀愀氀 琀栀攀 攀渀搀 漀昀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 戀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀⸀ 䠀攀 琀漀漀欀 愀 最漀漀搀 氀漀漀欀 愀琀 栀攀爀 洀椀搀搀氀攀 戀爀攀愀猀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 眀愀氀欀攀搀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 栀椀猀 瀀愀琀爀漀氀 挀愀爀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

Mona slammed the door. Did he really think she hadn't seem him look at her that way? But she couldn't dwell on it; the garbage had to go out. She ought to call for a volunteer from the local church. That would show Henry. But, slug though he was, he didn't deserve that kind of humiliation.

਀ ऀ㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀 挀漀洀洀攀爀挀椀愀氀猀 攀渀搀攀搀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 最愀洀攀 爀攀琀甀爀渀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀渀爀礀 戀攀氀挀栀攀搀⸀ 䴀漀渀愀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 琀漀 琀爀礀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 眀愀礀⸀ 匀栀攀 挀爀漀猀猀攀搀 栀攀爀 愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 最爀椀瀀瀀攀搀 琀栀攀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 漀昀 栀攀爀 猀眀攀愀琀猀栀椀爀琀 愀渀搀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 椀琀 漀瘀攀爀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 猀琀攀瀀瀀攀搀 椀渀 昀爀漀渀琀 漀昀 䠀攀渀爀礀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Sex." He grinned.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 匀栀攀 搀爀漀瀀瀀攀搀 栀攀爀 漀甀琀攀爀 戀爀愀 琀漀 琀栀攀 昀氀漀漀爀Ⰰ 攀砀瀀漀猀椀渀最 栀攀爀 氀攀昀琀 愀渀搀 爀椀最栀琀 戀爀攀愀猀琀猀⸀ 匀栀攀 欀攀瀀琀 栀攀爀 椀渀渀攀爀 戀爀愀 漀渀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Middle."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀一漀⸀∀ 伀渀氀礀 栀攀爀 搀漀挀琀漀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 漀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀 䄀渀渀椀攀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 渀甀爀猀椀渀最Ⰰ 栀愀搀 攀瘀攀爀 猀攀攀渀 漀爀 琀漀甀挀栀攀搀 栀攀爀 洀椀搀搀氀攀 戀爀攀愀猀琀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Annie," Henry said, as if reading her mind. He sagged back into the recliner. His eyes teared up.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䴀漀渀愀 洀漀瘀攀搀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 栀椀洀 愀渀搀 猀琀爀漀欀攀搀 栀椀猀 栀愀椀爀⸀ ∀䤀 洀椀猀猀 栀攀爀 琀漀漀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Home."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀一漀Ⰰ 猀栀攀 猀琀愀礀猀 愀琀 琀栀攀 椀渀猀琀椀琀甀琀攀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Childhood."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䴀漀渀愀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 猀琀爀漀欀椀渀最 栀椀猀 栀愀椀爀⸀ ∀䄀渀渀椀攀 眀椀氀氀 栀愀瘀攀 愀 挀栀椀氀搀栀漀漀搀Ⰰ 樀甀猀琀 愀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀 漀渀攀⸀ 圀攀 愀最爀攀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀椀猀 椀猀 愀 眀漀渀搀攀爀昀甀氀 漀瀀瀀漀爀琀甀渀椀琀礀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

Howls from the alley. The rattle of steel bars. She had to do something. "Okay, Henry. Just this once."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀渀爀礀 搀椀搀渀᠀琠 爀攀猀瀀漀渀搀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

Mona cupped her middle breast, still covered by her inner bra. "I'm talking the middle one here." God, what would her mother say if she knew?

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀渀爀礀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 甀瀀⸀ ∀䴀椀搀搀氀攀㼀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Yes. Middle."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀 猀琀漀漀搀 愀渀搀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 昀漀爀 栀攀爀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Garbage first."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䤀渀栀甀洀愀渀 栀漀眀氀猀⸀ 䈀愀爀猀 爀愀琀琀氀椀渀最⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀栀漀渀攀 爀椀渀最椀渀最⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Henry, it's alive, it feels pain, even if it is genetically engineered." She touched her middle breast again. "Last chance."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀渀爀礀 栀甀爀爀椀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 欀椀琀挀栀攀渀 愀渀搀 戀愀最最攀搀 甀瀀 琀栀攀 最愀爀戀愀最攀 甀渀搀攀爀 琀栀攀 猀椀渀欀⸀ 䠀攀 漀瀀攀渀攀搀 琀栀攀 戀愀挀欀 搀漀漀爀 愀渀搀 猀琀攀瀀瀀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 䄀爀椀稀漀渀愀 爀漀漀洀⸀ 吀栀攀 搀愀礀✀猀 栀椀最栀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 ㄀㈀  搀攀最爀攀攀猀 愀渀搀 椀琀 栀愀搀渀✀琀 挀漀漀氀攀搀 洀甀挀栀 眀椀琀栀 渀椀最栀琀昀愀氀氀⸀ 䄀 琀漀欀攀渀 戀爀攀攀稀攀 氀椀洀瀀攀搀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 猀挀爀攀攀渀椀渀最⸀ 䠀攀 琀漀猀猀攀搀 琀栀攀 戀愀最猀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 最爀漀挀攀爀礀 挀愀爀琀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 昀椀氀氀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 渀攀愀爀氀礀 愀 眀攀攀欀✀猀 最愀爀戀愀最攀 愀渀搀 瀀甀猀栀攀搀 椀琀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 礀愀爀搀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

The howls stopped. The rattling of the bars died away. Henry could see it hopping up and down in the cage beyond the chain link fence. A glance back showed a single light on in the kitchen. The bedroom window was dark.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀 挀爀攀愀琀甀爀攀 最愀瘀攀 愀 樀漀礀昀甀氀 眀栀漀漀瀀⸀ 圀栀漀漀瀀猀Ⰰ 琀椀渀最攀搀 眀椀琀栀 樀攀愀氀漀甀猀礀Ⰰ 爀漀猀攀 甀瀀 昀爀漀洀 攀瘀攀爀礀 挀愀最攀 昀氀愀渀欀椀渀最 攀愀挀栀 栀漀甀猀攀 戀漀爀搀攀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀 愀氀氀攀礀⸀ 伀瘀攀爀栀攀愀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 琀爀椀瀀氀攀琀猀 眀攀爀攀 漀甀琀Ⰰ 栀愀渀最椀渀最 氀漀眀 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀攀猀琀攀爀渀 猀欀礀⸀ 䔀愀挀栀 洀漀漀渀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 氀椀欀攀 愀 挀漀洀瀀甀琀攀爀 最攀渀攀爀愀琀攀搀 爀攀昀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 琀眀漀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 漀甀琀攀爀 漀渀攀猀 攀焀甀椀搀椀猀琀愀渀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 洀椀搀搀氀攀⸀  㰀⼀瀀㸀

Henry trundled the cart across the yard. "Beer." He grinned. At the back gate he said, "Game." He punched in the code on the gate's key pad. "Middle." He laughed and clapped his hands three times before rolling the cart up to the cage.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 刀攀搀Ⰰ 挀栀椀氀搀ⴀ氀椀欀攀 攀礀攀猀 瀀攀攀爀攀搀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 猀琀攀攀氀 戀愀爀猀⸀ ∀䘀漀漀搀Ⰰ∀ 椀琀 猀愀椀搀 愀渀搀 猀瀀爀愀渀最 甀瀀Ⰰ 栀漀爀渀猀 挀氀愀渀最椀渀最 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀 瀀椀琀挀栀攀搀 猀琀攀攀氀 挀攀椀氀椀渀最Ⰰ 戀攀昀漀爀攀 栀漀漀昀猀 猀氀椀瀀瀀攀搀 愀猀 琀栀攀礀 氀愀渀搀攀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 猀琀攀攀氀 昀氀漀漀爀⸀ 吀椀渀礀Ⰰ 爀愀椀猀椀渀ⴀ眀爀椀渀欀氀攀搀 栀愀渀搀猀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 戀愀爀猀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀ऀ㰀戀爀㸀

Henry took the bags out of the cart and set them down on the gravel. "Food."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀  䤀琀 猀栀漀琀 愀挀爀漀猀猀 琀栀攀 挀愀最攀 愀渀搀 爀愀洀洀攀搀 愀 瀀甀猀栀ⴀ戀愀爀Ⰰ 愀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 眀愀琀攀爀 琀漀 昀氀漀眀 椀渀琀漀 愀 猀琀攀攀氀 琀爀漀甀最栀⸀ 䤀琀 搀爀愀渀欀 搀攀攀瀀氀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀氀愀挀攀 琀栀攀 猀眀攀愀琀 瀀漀甀爀椀渀最 漀昀昀 椀琀猀 氀攀愀琀栀攀爀礀 猀欀椀渀Ⰰ 椀琀猀 漀渀氀礀 洀攀愀渀猀 漀昀 攀氀椀洀椀渀愀琀椀渀最 戀漀搀椀氀礀 眀愀猀琀攀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Sorry I haven't fed you for a few days."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀匀琀愀爀瘀椀渀最⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"I know. I really am sorry." He opened the cage door and tossed the bags inside, then locked the door.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䤀琀 戀漀甀渀搀攀搀 愀眀愀礀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 琀爀漀甀最栀 愀渀搀 爀甀猀栀攀搀 琀栀攀 戀愀最猀⸀ 䤀琀 爀椀瀀瀀攀搀 漀渀攀 漀瀀攀渀 愀渀搀 猀琀甀昀昀攀搀 椀琀猀 栀攀愀搀 椀渀猀椀搀攀⸀ 䠀攀渀爀礀 挀漀甀氀搀 栀攀愀爀 猀洀愀挀欀猀 愀渀搀 挀爀甀渀挀栀攀猀 愀猀 椀琀 愀琀攀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 洀椀渀甀琀攀猀Ⰰ 椀琀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 椀琀猀 栀攀愀搀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 戀愀最 愀渀搀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 䠀攀渀爀礀⸀ ∀吀栀愀渀欀猀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"I've been kind of depressed. My job sucks. And we only see Annie a couple of times a year."

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䜀甀椀氀攀氀攀猀猀 攀礀攀猀 昀漀挀甀猀攀搀 漀渀 䠀攀渀爀礀⸀ ∀匀漀爀爀礀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"And Mona's so repressed about the middle breast thing." He turned and started to push the cart away.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 ∀䰀甀挀欀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀

"Thanks." He pushed the cart down the alley and into the back yard, locking the gate behind him. Ahead, the light had been turned on in the bedroom. "Yeah!" he yelled, echoed by the creatures of the alley.

਀ऀ㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀渀爀礀 愀戀愀渀搀漀渀攀搀 琀栀攀 挀愀爀琀Ⰰ 攀愀最攀爀 琀漀 最攀琀 椀渀猀椀搀攀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 瀀愀挀攀 焀甀椀挀欀攀渀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀 樀漀礀 椀渀 栀椀猀 氀攀最猀⸀ ∀䴀椀搀搀氀攀℀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀 ਀ ਀
਀㰀栀㈀㸀䌀栀愀爀氀攀猀 䘀⸀ 䐀甀渀栀愀洀㰀⼀栀㈀㸀 Charles F. Dunham is a writer living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a "non-traditional" student (read as: "an old fart returning to school") at Phoenix College. This is his second published work of fiction. He is currently working on a novel set in the 1960's, hoping to make millions and escape his day job. ਀䌀漀洀洀攀渀琀猀 愀爀攀 眀攀氀挀漀洀攀 愀琀㨀 琀栀攀琀栀爀攀攀搀愀礀猀䀀礀愀栀漀漀⸀挀漀洀

਀ ਀
਀㰀戀爀 ⼀㸀 ਀㰀搀椀瘀 椀搀㴀∀氀漀最漀∀㸀㰀攀洀㸀䤀渀 倀漀猀猀攀㨀㰀⼀攀洀㸀 倀漀琀攀渀琀椀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 洀椀最栀琀 戀攀 ⸀ ⸀ ⸀ 㰀⼀搀椀瘀㸀 ਀㰀瀀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀琀攀搀栀攀愀搀⸀最椀昀∀  愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀ 愀氀琀㴀∀氀漀最漀∀ ⼀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 ਀㰀栀㌀㸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀攀戀搀攀氀猀漀氀⸀挀漀洀⼀䤀渀倀漀猀猀攀⼀椀渀搀攀砀⸀栀琀洀∀ 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀㸀 刀攀琀甀爀渀㰀⼀愀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀 㰀⼀栀㌀㸀

਀㰀⼀琀搀㸀㰀⼀琀爀㸀㰀⼀琀愀戀氀攀㸀㰀⼀挀攀渀琀攀爀㸀㰀⼀戀漀搀礀㸀㰀⼀栀琀洀氀㸀