HERO
By Himself, C.E. Ayr
Times change.
The floodlights still illuminate the night sky.
The crowd still roars as once it roared for me.
But no more.
The sound echoes across the water to where I sit, feet wet, in my little boat.
I think back to the good times when I was the city’s hero.
When everyone loved me.
When she loved me.
As the dampness reaches my knees I recall faces smiling, doors opening.
And I remember the mistakes that were made.
Followed by scowls, and impassable barriers.
And she said goodbye.
The lights go out abruptly.
The darkness closes over my head.
***
LONG DISTANCE CALL
by Margaret Leggatt - Lake Macquarie, NSW, Australia
‘Hello. Zack speaking.’
‘Hi, honey. It’s me. I’m going to be late.’
‘What’s happened?’
‘Well, I had such a long list of pickups. I travelled miles. The professor’s so particular about what he wants, but I did my best, and I’ve collected some great specimens. I’m sure he’ll be satisfied.’
‘So what’s the hold-up? You haven’t lost a specimen again, have you?’
‘Oh no – all sedated and secure. The problem is, these streets all look the same at night; I can’t remember where I parked, and now the portal’s closed and I’ve missed the last transporter beam out of here.’
***
THE MEET-UP
By Dale Rogerson - Boucherville, Quebec
It was supposed to be for a light lunch. Neither was hungry, so they had a drink: water for her, soda for him.
They sat at a table and exchanged pleasantries. He
asked questions, his gaze intense and she felt like he was reading more than her words. She felt the tension build and squirmed in discomfort, feeling totally exposed, yet strangely excited.
Before she knew how, he made her feel things she never imagined.
As he left her, dazed, yet lit up, he said, “You’ll see, this will play out in your head all day.”
He was not kidding.
***
I SAW IT
By Kent Bonham - Olathe, KS. USA
My last trip to Spain won me a date with Alicia, an actress-model I had been trying to go out with a long time.
We walked arm in arm through the dark streets, like in the movies!
Pigeons flew from the ground, almost on cue.
I turned to kiss her lovely face.
A pigeon swooped down, pooped a nasty on my white pants.
Startled, I spun around, knocked Alicia into a fountain. Her skirt flew over her head … and “Victoria” shared ALL her “secrets!”
“C’est la vie,” I said.
She slapped me. She thought I said, “Se la ví.”
***