NONFICTION

Brendan Bouffler. "The Café Latte Guide to Bad Karma ."

"In spite of having lived in the Land of the Free [Refill] for the last five years and having been forced to listen to too many requests from elected leaders for someone's god to bless America, I've never been a terribly spiritual person. Recently, though, I’ve started to wonder if the Buddhists are on to something with their concept of Karma."

Kelley Cousineau. "Wax On, Wax Off."

"Every year, right before bathing suit season starts, the conversation invariably turns to the same subject: what to do about the pubes? "Should I tuck ‘em in, shave ‘em, wax ‘em or wear a sarong and forget the whole thing?"

This is a decision no one can make for you. It’s between a woman and her God."

FICTION

Michael Hulme. "In the Absence of Evil."

"The heavy-set, spectacled journalist and the freckled photographer ambled across the metropolis, through streams of carefree pedestrians walking unafraid. They stopped outside a bar; the journalist checked his watch and pushed thick-framed glasses back onto the bridge of his nose.

"No point being early, Peter. Quick drink?""

Alex Keegan. "Riot at Halifax Town Hall."

"I know it's not black but it's so dark brown it's almost black, I reckon, and anyway it's not the colour of the tie that matters, is it? It's me being here to say my goodbyes to Tom (and to Jenny, and Cedric, Peter, Margaret, the four dogs, the parakeet, and the traffic-warden who was passing)."

Stan Lyness. "Seven Counts of Lying to a Federal Investigator ."

"Look, I know why you're here and you can just turn off the damned recorder and don't even worry about taking note of possible lies because I'm not dumb enough to lie to a federal investigator. Why are you writing that down?"

Adam McGrath. "Resignation."

"Firstly, and on a personal note, my language. Although I firmly stand by my voiced suspicions regarding the canine nature of your maternal lineage and your copulation with same, I can appreciate that my use of the vernacular in conveying my opinions may have been unsettling."  

Jose Tungol. "Four Possible Personal Ads."

"Since I know I'll be in New York soon, I realized that I don't know too many people there, especially the female variety. So I decided to join an online dating service and I've come up with four possible ads."