story in three frames

The Meeting Place. TWENTY-FOUR. — If the Truth Fits Val never expected to see a car on the stretch of overgrown road where she walked with the dogs. Sure there was a highway within hearing range, but the world was moving way too fast to make the subdued sharp right through the trees to the…

The Meeting Place. TWENTY-THREE. — The weather vane at the peak of the tin roof spun in rickety circles as Val lit the candle next to the small bottle into which some years ago she had pressed some bits of dried rose petals, lavender, a tiger’s eye pebble and an equal measure of baby oil…

Got to Be Some Changes Made by the Staple Singers plays against a dark screen a full 30 seconds before a giant 1960s television set fades in with snowy fuzz cushioning flashing images lasting only seconds at a time: Bewitched’s Sabrina twitching her nose, Nat King Cole singing Moon River…

The buzz of spring is all around. Unfortunately, right now that means a leaf blower. I’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed with an anxiousness in my tummy that seems almost in tune with that wretched machine. What of wind chimes and waterfalls? What of bird song…

Earth Day 2023 Love is the first law, and I try to keep it. It’s meant facing my demons down to the bone and giving myself a chance at redemption. On good days, I’ve been able to dream of a world where no one is hungry and children are safe…

The Meeting Place. TWENTY-TWO. — It wasn’t that she had run out of money. She hadn’t. It was that she had run out of patience. For city living, for all that abundance of movement and metal. For all the scheduled events that drew her eye but not her heart. Phoebe had intuited the arrow with…

The Meeting Place. TWENTY-ONE. — The wind kicked up and the chimes oonged and ahnged in accomplished notes for a few seconds. Lucille and Gypsy trotted in tandem to their mistress as she pulled her primrose fleece a little tighter against the dipping sun. The mockingbird gave an evening reprise as Val blew the pastel…

the right to rest to lay down diversion whatever it is the right to follow dragonflies to listen for what lives beyond the money changers retreat is both NOUN and VERB SOLID and LIQUID RESPITE and STRATEGY look all ways retreat. retreat. retreat.