Flash Frog
Small. Brightly colored. Deadly to the touch.
Category: Uncategorized
The Substitution of Air in Different Climates by Rosie Garland & Meg Pokrass
Linda A very sweet exchange student, Inge from Holland, came to live with us the year we both turned fifty. I thought it would be good for us. At first my Bob grumbled. But soon enough, he was offering to help, giving Inge practical… Continue Reading “The Substitution of Air in Different Climates by Rosie Garland & Meg Pokrass”
I Do Not Want to Live Without You by Cathy Ulrich
The motel with its raggedy bedspread and tottering TV that only plays 17 channels, two of them Spanish, and a swimming pool near the parking lot all concrete deck and swim at your own risk and we are swimming at our own risk, broken… Continue Reading “I Do Not Want to Live Without You by Cathy Ulrich”
Pattern Seeker by James Cato
By most accounts, there are very few similarities between a dead frozen bear and a high school wrestler watching porn in the bathroom stall before a match. But as I gazed at the former, splayed in the frost, I couldn’t get the latter out… Continue Reading “Pattern Seeker by James Cato”
A Pondering of Velocity When You’re Too Scared to Move by Tommy Dean
My son stands at the end of the driveway, the tip of his rubber soles balancing in the shadow between roadway and cracked cement. Safety an invisible line I think, I demand, I can control by saying, “Be careful”, but the wind, the universe,… Continue Reading “A Pondering of Velocity When You’re Too Scared to Move by Tommy Dean”
What We Call the Dead Girl by Christina Tudor
The dead girl once lived on Beach Drive in a suburban neighborhood surrounded by oak trees, and she would die on Victory Street one town over. The dead girl came from a good family with a backyard that stretched out wide. The dead girl… Continue Reading “What We Call the Dead Girl by Christina Tudor”
The Brick by Alexandra M. Matthews
The brick lived in the bottom of my daughter’s owl backpack, which sagged on her eight-year-old frame. She carried it to school every day, promising me it stayed in her bag. Not even Ms. Henley will know it’s there, Imogen said. Though as soon… Continue Reading “The Brick by Alexandra M. Matthews”
Playing House by Holden Wright
“I dreamt last night you killed me.” This was the first thing I’d said to him all morning, and it came through a mouthful of eggs. Jack stood by the counter, slathering butter, then jelly onto his toast. “That’s ridiculous,” he said. His dark… Continue Reading “Playing House by Holden Wright”
Witnesses by Jan Stinchcomb
By the time Mom has disappeared under the sheets, surrendering to an eighties’ playlist heavy on Depeche Mode and Talking Heads, it is too late to reel her back. She has seen everything, all the tragic secrets of time and microbiology. As she rolls… Continue Reading “Witnesses by Jan Stinchcomb”
Komodo Island, Now Serving Lemon Cake by Lindy Biller
It started with a school project: Tell the class about your favorite animal. For most of the kids in Zoom kindergarten, this meant explaining what they liked about pandas or badgers or giraffes. Then my kid told them about Komodo dragons. Cannibalism, venom glands,… Continue Reading “Komodo Island, Now Serving Lemon Cake by Lindy Biller”
Happy Now by Claire Taylor
He says it meant nothing, but the image won’t disappear. His face pressed to the wet between her legs. How was it? Don’t tell me. Yes, tell me. No, don’t. Maybe the three of them—bad idea. But maybe? She would have preferred something cliche.… Continue Reading “Happy Now by Claire Taylor”