By Katherine Lin 1 I am standing in the middle of a clearing. I am alone. The trees around me are silent. I think they are cold. I am cold too. My coat is at home, but I do not want to cross the Rhine again. My shoes are still wet; the frayed fabric is bleeding on blankets of red and brown leaves. The sun is bright in my eyes, making it painful to see. It glitters w … [Read more...] about Passage from the Rhineland
growing up
Mower County, Minnesota
By Grace Heimsness I’d forgotten what a hassle it was getting ready for the Christmas Eve service. “Mom!” I shouted, shoving mittens and gloves around in what used to be my sock drawer, “I can’t find my—.” “I’m in here!” she hollered before I could finish my sentence. “Where?” “HERE!” I sighed, slid the drawer shut, and followed the echo of her voice down the hallway. … [Read more...] about Mower County, Minnesota
Special
By Taylor Friedman They told me my brother has a special brain. That’s what they used to tell me, time after time. Special brain? What does that mean? Does it sit upon a red velvet throne? Is his cerebrum made of gold? How did he get it and I didn’t? Did someone offer him a free, special brain with his $20 purchase? It didn’t seem fair. If I was the oldest, shoul … [Read more...] about Special
Raisins
By Monica Kreindel When I was young I could give my grapes to anyone, and anyone could take. Four for my preschool teacher, two for each friend in my class. Ten for my stuffed tiger, fifty for my mother. And everybody wanted one. Soon the grapes started to ripen: no longer small, young, green grapes. Those, anyone could have; but these were new, brightly colored, and I … [Read more...] about Raisins
Chasing Bunnies
By Claire Keneally My rabbit Ginger was wild when I found her, one eyed, in the yard behind my piano teacher's house. She came home, stitched, to slide on the staccato tiles beneath my father's bed where she played until one day, Ginger and I found women with long hair, and short hair, as short as Ginger's, and no hair, like me. They hid, under … [Read more...] about Chasing Bunnies