Lush Life by Richard Price 5 min @ Dark Horse Espresso Bar on Spadina It was a soft sound, barely human sounding. Roger thought not even the smaller human could make a sound so small. Her whisper soft grief echoed in his ear. He cradled her head against his chest and felt her pain in his limbs. She had fallen against him weeping and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her. Roger wondered if she had met Read more
TABULA RASA I took Latin in tenth grade. I have no idea why, but probably at my father’s behest. I use this word generously. The course wasn’t completely awful, I discovered my favorite phrase and philosophy: Tabula Rasa. A clean slate. I abused the term generously. Mistakes, gaffes and major embarrassments were banished from memory. I didn’t just erase the flaw from the page, I ripped the page from the notebook, crumpled it and Read more
Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan 8 min @ crafted on ossington Beulah May never figured it. How could you know a body sixty years, and then never know the moment, the one moment that they were gone. Right here the same bed they done shared every night. Beulah May always knew Johnson would go first but she figured if she was with him she’d know the moment, whether sleeping or awake. But he just Read more
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman 8 min in bed Under the bed is full of my dead hair and clouds. I wonder how long I will have to wait here before Miss comes to rescue me. It would be more comfortable if this was a week that Marisol came, the wood would smell like lemons and my nose wouldn’t tickle. Miss likes it better when Marisol comes after she has all her people friends over. Read more
A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan 8 min. @ The Mascot on West Queen West Sheila had kept the hair wrapped around the little carved figure for two weeks now. She was careful to make sure she removed it from under the pillow when she got up. Rico would curse her grandmother and their “swamp magic” if he found it. Two more weeks. She never felt it while she slept and wondered Read more
I’m sitting on my tailbone, legs splayed, face slack with boredom, but my cells are taught and prepared. I’m holding my breath ever so slightly wondering what the first line will be. Am I going to say it? Is it going to come from her? All I know is that I am in detention. This is the opening moment of an improv bit. As my partner and I play out the scene for the next five minutes, Read more
Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens 5 minutes @ crafted on ossington “Holy mother of god! She’s lost what’s left of her mind!” Serena’s words exploded out the cell phone. Catelin regretted having it on speaker hone. “I think it’s perfectly reasonable for me to throw myself a party and register for gifts!” their mother interrupted. “God knows your gift won’t cost anywhere near the price tag of the twins’ baby shower and Carly’s baby Read more
Every morning, as part of my quest for conscious living, I give thanks that I’ve woken up. It’s a good Jewish thing to do. According to paternal accounts my blood is one-quarter to one-eighths Jewish, but this is just a detail that gets thrown around when we’re talking about the family tree. I learned about the daily prayer of gratitude from a Rabbi I met at the yoga studio in Los Angeles. My spiritual path Read more