Animal Mouths
It was a surprise, really, that we both wanted them—the twin ceramic dogs that live on top of the china cabinet. Will and I have inherited many things between…
The Last Voyage of Captain Black
His ship was the pride of the Liverpool yards; her sails, taut in the favorable trades; her belly, stuffed with African rosewood fit to win the favor of the…
Sudden Bigger Lady
She tells herself dickhead’s gotta go because she is everything she is and more without his dirt hands sweat stink licorice breath hot like fire Come ere baby you…
Cottonmouth
In the beginning is the fish stink, a padlock pinched through a doorlatch eye. When I’m eight years old, my mother lifts the hem of her nightshirt to show…
Clara Schumann Washing Dishes
Sometimes I think of all the people I’ll never know. Even now someone is kneeling. Not worship, but praying for a line to follow. My life is full. Seven…
Salamander Fiction Contest 2024 Results
Winner "Exit Strategies of a Great Squirrel Army" by Michael Welch From judge Kevin Wilson: What begins as a wonderful examination of the dynamics of work, the main character Andre…
Optimize Optical
A sting. A swell. A white light. “Easy,” Dr. Gray says, patting my arm. “Let them adjust.” Warm tears bury their bodies in the pits of my ears. White…
The Graveyard, the Garden
They forgot to take a clock with them, and when they came up from under the earth all the clocks had stopped. They had no spaceman suits but managed…
Red on Yellow
Satan was in the sunset the night Jaiq didn’t come home. Earlier that day, Liv, Jaiq’s mother, left work at 2 pm instead of 5. Under normal circumstances, her…
Come Tomorrow
Every house in the village looked identical, which made it difficult for Diya to decide where to knock for help. In the absence of any distinguishing features—a worn jute…
Cicada Song
Rock, Paper, Scissors would have been easier, Rob thinks. Because after he gives Andy a quick rundown of the rules of the game, Andy asks, “Does everyone count? Mailman?…