Posts Tagged ‘ Prose ’

“Black Balloon,” by Autumn Bettinger

Apr 20th, 2025 | By

The balloon hovered in the living room. Its string drug along the ground, the black latex beginning to rumple around the knot. It was supposed to be funny. But the half-deflated party favor reminded Amy that she was apparently over the hill, at forty. At least, according to some people.



“Beef 9000: The Future of A.I.-Powered Fast Food Drive Thrus,” by Matthew Blasi

Apr 20th, 2025 | By

Citizens—or should we say, friends! Because that’s what we are, friends, all of you in your major or minor metropolitan centers that we are addressing, and we, Speed Grub Inc., makers of the best-selling A.I. Blender “The Obliterator,” and the world’s first A.I.-controlled hair dryer, “Crisp Xtreme,” are excited to bring you our latest innovation, the world’s first A.I.-powered fast food drive thru: “Beef 9000!”



“Moth or Man?” by Carrie R. Hinton

Apr 20th, 2025 | By

My name is Mothereal Mandible, but most just call me “Moth Man” or “Oh my God, what the fuck is that”. Of the two nicknames, I prefer the former. 

When I was younger, I was in all the gifted programs. I excelled in fostering terror and distress. They told me I was going places—wild, exotic places. West Virginia, Eastern West Virginia, the whole state was going to know my name.



“Thirteen Worms Were Killed During the Digging of Your Grandmother’s Grave,” by M.C. Schmidt

Apr 20th, 2025 | By

I’m not equivocating because, obviously. She was a gardener, though, right? She won that flower thing at the community center back in ’87 and then again in ’93? Now isn’t the time, but there are almost certainly legions more, dead from the pitiless blade of your grandmother’s trowel. I know, I know, I know I shouldn’t bring it up here.



“Partisan Weather Reports,” by Joe Aultman-Moore

Apr 16th, 2025 | By

Looking ahead to conditions this week, there is a normal and natural cycle of heat waves in the South and Midwest as an undocumented surge of fronts moves across the US-Mexico border on Sunday, the holy day of the Sabbath.

On Monday, regions in the South will experience another series of northern atmospheric aggressions with cold fronts bringing thunderstorms, high winds, and oppressive government overreach. After an initial series of ineffectual left-leaning frontal bands passes through, a strong high-pressure system, conservatively estimated at 1029.3 millibars, will make the American weekend great again.