Hiding under the cash register, ogling Vince’s crotch as he spoke to nosey Ms. Richmond wasn’t the worst way for Charlie to spend the eve of Christmas Eve. “Where is the Missus?” Ms. Richmond asked. “I haven’t been seeing her.” “Left two days ago to visit family,” Vince said with a smile, complimenting Perry Como’s Home for the Holidays, murmuring through the establishment’s speakers. “So you’re alone during the holidays?...

The Carolina sun poured through the window as Marcus Watson lounged comfortably on his sofa. It was a Sunday, and the day was all his. He sipped his beer while sitting in a tank top and shorts, watching the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels on the TV. Since his move to Beauford, North Carolina, his life had indeed started to turn around. Growing up in southern England, he believed the world was his oyster. Up unti...

Summer had arrived in the delightful Sunny Hills. Lilacs, western redbuds, globe gilias, and sunflowers were in bloom. The bees were collecting pollen, and the kind folks of the garden borough enjoyed the warm weather and clear blue sky. Along the white picket fences of Myrtle Street, a woman, fifty-one years old, with flowing brown hair, was walking home from the local grocery store, Little Pete’s. She wore a loose summe...

I lie awake, the sound of Dallas’s soft, steady breathing the only thing grounding me to reality. A stark contrast to the chaos that pulsed through the Admiral’s room just hours before. My body feels heavy, and the soreness in my muscles is a lingering reminder of the night’s intensity. The air is cool against my bare skin, but there’s a slow burn beneath that coolness—an ache that stretches deeper than just physical exha...

I awaken to a savory aroma filling the air of our suite. Dinner, I assume. Reaching over to the nightstand, I grab my phone—it reads 6:45 p.m. I rub my hands over my face; the effects of the drinks from earlier have worn off. I can hear Dallas and The Admiral chatting in the kitchen. I can’t make out their words, but the conversation sounds casual. I slip out of bed, heading for the shower, hoping to work up the nerve to...

My heart races as I hear Dallas's footsteps on the porch. The Admiral remains eerily calm, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. The door swings open, and Dallas strides in, his eyes locking onto my disheveled form. "Hey, babe," he says casually, as if walking in on his girlfriend naked with his uncle is a normal occurrence. "I see you and Unc got it in." My mouth hangs open, unable to form words. Dallas approaches, planti...

He knew he was late, or close to it, but should've been on time to catch the subway to make up for lost time since his bicycle had gotten a flat tire—his precious fixed gear. The bike slung over his shoulder, he dashed up to the elevated platform. There was one right there! He didn’t need to go far, just far enough, there was a bike shop somewhere, a quick fix and he wouldn’t be too late. The fare paid, a sigh of relief q...

“90’s goth, I like it. Too many of these people are borderline emo looking,” she complimented, sitting next to me at the bar. “Ah yeah, thanks. I just prefer the look I grew up with.” I looked at my pair of Tripps and Anarchy boots. “Same, look.” She stood up, presented herself; black miniskirt, Mary Jane boots, flannel shirt and push-up bra. “You like?” “I do, you kinda look like Jane Lane.” I laughed. “I'll take that as...

Paris, 1962 Inside Bohemia After Dark, patrons squinted through an ashen haze at the nightclub's featured combo. Stained indigo under mood lighting, a quintet of animated ebony carvings whisper-shouted wordless, haunting languages. Cigarette embers winked; wine glasses clinked; heads nodded with appreciation as notes jitterbugged in a tempo hurricane. The tenor man dismounted from the rollercoaster rush of a melody he'd r...

After Shelley's long day of classes that Wednesday—made even longer by her choice to start the day off by working out—she finally walked through the front door at around 7:30 pm. I glanced over at her and smiled as I finished plating the piping hot roasted chicken with herb potatoes I prepared for us. The timing worked out perfectly. "Hope you're hungry," I greeted her. "Starving." She started to walk to the couch and I s...

"Yo, Marcus!" I yelled down the corridor from my building's front entrance as my upstairs neighbour was waiting for the elevator. He waited till I got a little closer to reply. "Hey, Daniel! What's cooking?" "Not much." I made my way to his right and joined him in waiting for our ride. "How's Shelley?" he asked. "If you all are gonna be goin' at it again tonight, lemme know. I'll wear earplugs," he said with a chuckle. I...