Category: Book

“Well, wanna go see if there’s any old person games to play? Pretty sure there’s some dominoes or Cribbage. There’s at least gotta be a deck of cards,” Mitch offered so that they didn’t dwell on the subject any further. “You think that old Nintendo is still around?” Jodie perked up. “Don’t see why it…

It’d been years since Mitch pulled onto the winding old dirt road that led to the house; when he was a kid, he swore that it was several kilometers long, but it only measured a hundred meters from end to end. Driving through an overgrown patch of big bluestem grass, and the tips of which…

For the week and a half leading up to the trip, Jodie took the opportunity to point out every single tree around Monument that changed color. Her enthusiasm was visceral when the temperature dipped into the low 50s, not only for the long weekend ahead, but because she could begin to wear what she referred…

Mitch’s brain hit the ground and splattered into a million chunks; if he reached up and touched the side of his face, he might find blood gushing out of his ear canal and dribbling down his jawline. Of course, were that the case, present company would probably alert him. “Oh, that’s cool,” Jodie nodded. “Where’s…

By the grace of god or some higher power, Mitch was granted freedom from the sling. Never had he been itchier in his entire life than right then, and he nearly scratched his forearm raw after he left the hospital. “We should celebrate,” Jodie declared that evening as Mitch listened to a Black Rebel Motorcycle…

Sitting by the exit was a small wastebin, nearly full of small paper cups and used tissues. As Mitch passed it, he discarded the one that he clutched for the last 45 minutes, and it felt like letting go of a security blanket. He lingered on the front steps and fidgeted with the edges of…

“I’m not gonna-” The followup words could not be dislodged from his throat, and a explosive “Fuck you!” was all he managed, his chest tightening once the words were spat. “Why would you say that? Why the fuck would you say that?” “Because you explicitly told me to warn you when you start doing this,”…

Jodie turned to Avi and cheerfully declared, “That went well.” While they conversed, Mitch snuck over until he was by Jodie’s side. He waited until there was a lull before asking, “Is there any way that I can help out tonight? Since, y’know, the camera thing.” “Dude, just take it easy. Enjoy the show.” Jodie…

Before the set of tapings that evening, Mitch treated Sandy to an anime movie that he was unfamiliar with. While they waited in the concessions line, she explained that Studio Ghibli was Japan’s version of Disney “but better”, and he took her word for it. “Still can’t believe that you’ve never heard of Spirited Away,”…

“Who’s-” he muttered while turning the corner, then stood frozen in the doorway. The last thing he anticipated was Avi, dressed only in gym shorts with his ass in the air, face pressed to the ground, and light sheen of sweat built up on his skin. On the TV was a woman in spandex, doing…