curls of orange peel

steeped in vinegar

washing soda and pristine cotton rags

attended by long-sleeved rubber gloves

inside an unsullied plastic bucket

all fresh as a yet to be opened diary

sentinels of cleansing await

sink piled high with half-promises

a minefield of abandoned shoes and solo socks

trenches of unfolded laundry

Spring cleaning expectations

swirl the drain counterclockwise

every ...

A musical theatre junkie and a synesthesian walk into a bar? Jewel and Archie’s love story sounded like a setup for the worst punchline ever. Archie smiled at the patron on his left who glared in response. Embarassed Archie concentrated on the program in his lap. Actually they did meet in a bar, they met during an online group anxiety/depression therapy session. Archie was more of a lurker than a ...

Vroom, vroom, the engine’s roar echoed along the once tranquil arches of the Apollonian. The trustees shifted uncomfortably around the boardroom table. Strife nestled among the first editions. At the head of the large oak table, Bunny Winterbottom glared impressively. Bucky Fairchild gazed upon the Founder’s gilded portrait looming over the trustee committee. Binks Ladyfingers buffed his monocle w...

Gnarly spindles

Mitochondrially dense

mighty muscles

Contracting and releasing; contracting and releasing

You know no one wants you here

Liver and left kidney talk shit about you all day

Gallbladder skipped town

Lazy bastard Pancreas is MIA

Uterus abandoned me long ago,

Taking my favorite ovary

And I’m still here

Broken and shuddering

Counting each beat

At the first slap of morning

And don’t tel...

Banana trick, to ring up the price code for a cheap item, like a banana, instead of a luxury item during self-checkout.

Shopping with Pretty Reckless80 was more than I ever dreamed. I couldn’t wait to shove my smoking hot footage in Emma’s smug little face. Emma said that a dime like Pretty Reckless80 would only be interested in me for my coin. But I had already Venmo Pretty some spending money a...

“But I’m hungry,” Hornswoggle muttered.

Daisy banged her head on the bulkhead in surprise. Hornswoggle the Protector had lightning fast speed, but terrible timing. With an angry nod, Daisy reminded her protector that the ink blackness of Captain Blood’s watery dungeon was no place for tomfoolery. Hornswoggle’s stomach grumbled in reply. They continued army crawling to freedom. No point in rousing...

“This is why I stopped online dating. The freaky meat bags I’ve met would knock the breath out of my body if I had any left. You’re blessed with your Stanley,” Agnes said.

“I know, but don’t let him hear that. Ghouls may laugh at seances but there is no better way to find a nice, stable human to haunt. Kenny, do you have any chains in burnished brass. It’s the holidays, love,” Grimhilde said.

K...

buds after a frost

Falling like reckless lovers

Beautiful failures...

The door bell chimed. Elvis scratched at the stubble on his chin. A customer entered dragging a heavy burlap sack. The scent of dead funeral flowers bloomed in the customer’s wake. Elvis sighed. Looks like we got a live one here, Elvis thought.

“Welcome to Grave Decisions . How’s your day going?”

“Terrible, not that anyone cares,” the customer snapped.

The customer waited for sympathy that wo...

“Well it is like a car accident you know? Once I was walking to my friend’s house and I stepped between two parked cars. Suddenly this car raced up the street and clipped one of the parked car. Like a bat out of hell. The parked car lurched back. The bumper missed me by inches. Heart in my throat, I jumped back.

“Boom! The boom was so loud I felt it in my bones. White or silver, I couldn’t iden...