by Chris Antenen
“Got change for the machine?” Mel Cooper pulled a crumpled bill from his pocket.
Sven jerked his head toward the door.
Mel got his change inside the store, pulled a Dr. Pepper from the dispenser, and stood at the edge of the porch, drink in hand, looking over an array of life-size wooden birds. He chose one of them with his free hand.

by Kathleen Lewis
The phone rang and she answered it. It was her mother.
“Meriweather, I hope I’m not calling too early.”

by Tom Honea
Even for a week night the crowd had not been good. None of them seemed to understand music. Warren did things with the guitar that he knew none of them had ever heard before. He played Jimmy Rogers railroad songs in a four–four beat, played it again in an eight–four beat.

by Clinton Van Inman
REPLY TO BLAKE
Poor William you were not the first.
That invisible worm that flies by night

by Glenda Barrett
Unlike Molly, the neighbor woman
who runs to our house for protection
the minute she sees a storm cloud,