“Thank you for seeing me today, doctor,” Mark said. “Not a problem, Mr. Starkley,” Dr. Brewer lifted a page on Mark’s chart. “I saw the game yesterday. Quite a performance.” “Well, you know, the camera adds 10 feet to every home run.” “So what seems to be the problem? You look healthy. Tonight’s a big game. … Continue reading
Category Archives: The Forbidden Zone
Fiction writing and poetry. Stay out of here.
A Scene of Beauty
I was reading an archived newspaper article about a demonstration of women in St. Louis in 1916, written by a woman. I found its lack of focus on the demonstration of women interesting. I pulled direct quotes out of the article and birthed them into a poem. “A Furious Scene of Beauty” 3000 women in … Continue reading
Drywall Forever
Melissa asked Marcus what he was doing. “I’m writing about drywall tonight!” He yelled it. “Why?” “I don’t miss drywall!” Melissa and Marcus’ apartment was only 600 square feet, and they were in the same room. Melissa and Marcus were not dating, nor had they ever, nor were there any feelings between the two. It … Continue reading
An excerpt from every conversation ever had, Part 2
“Why do you hate me?” “I could ask the same.” “Why do you hate me?” “I never hated someone I didn’t love.” “…” “I don’t—” “You’re an asshole.” “Yes. So are you.” Continue reading
Kate Full of Air
Ironically, the thing that gave Kate her misery, that gave her her badge to humanity, was the thing that tore her away from feeling any connection to the people around her and into a windstorm that spun ever inward. Never had she been so permeated and imbibed — over 70% of the serotonin graveyard of her … Continue reading
Party, 1602
I made a poem. “Party, 1602” It’s hot In the crowded room. I know that. In the familiar place, The solitude dissolves. Only heat, heat, heat. Heat that begins to pressurize, And the room starts to distend. Nobody feels it at first. They see each other, not yet themselves Slamming into one another and filling … Continue reading
On Being There
Being There Implies a lot. Like presence, And maybe that’s all. Continue reading
An excerpt from every conversation ever had
“I’m sorry for making things more complicated.” “Between us.” “Yes.” “You’re sorry for making things more complicated between us.” “Well I’m sorry for making it more complicated.” “Between us. You have to say it right.” “Well.” “That’s how I want to hear it.” Continue reading
Live Tonight: Wilco! A Band for Better Dispositions
Chris was depressed. So much for the subtle detail of exposition, but Chris was so massively colossally and incapacitatedly depressed that it transcended the scope of subtlety. He was so paralyzed by the informational strangulations of the Century of Wires (“Information Age” sounds too understated / academic / positive) that not even daily ear prayers to … Continue reading
A monumental change in Ted’s life
Ted the accountant walked outside into Central Park with his retinas still peeling back into his head from three hours of closed-end mutual funds, not ready for the blackbird chirping in the park. Ten years of rolling compromises made Ted a pretty dull guy, but right now a series of small changes was sucking back … Continue reading
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