dennis scharnberg

“Not water, Linda.  No.  Water is the worst thing.”

Rubina Malcolm,  The Black Box.

They pretend as though, in repeating, they are actually inventing.

Cedric Plumm,  Calpurnia’s Dream and Other Essays.

“How bad are things out your way, Bobby?”

“Bad enough.”

Alberta Traywick,  Susannah’s Accident.

“How immense!”  exclaimed Janet, with more enthusiasm than she had intended.

Anselm Bligh,  A Collection of Miniatures.

This was Jimmy’s notion:  a US Army made up of Barbie and her “diversity” buddies—all in camo, head to foot.

Will Southey,  Government Cheese, the Novel.

He wanted to stumble.  He really did.  He felt that he had a right to stumble.

Rubina Malcolm,  The Black Box.

Every restriction of your freedom will be framed as an extension of freedom.  Is there a word for this?

Clem Tartessos,  Designing the Past.

“But how does it make you feel, Deborah?  How does the picture make you feel?”

Jane Chetwynde,  The Have-Not Faradays.

…then, suddenly, it all disintegrates into a fine pale dust and is blown away in the slightest breeze.

Pryce Cummings,  Rattle Box.

Down the hall, in a pool of light, there hung a painting.  A portrait.  A self-portrait of Lindsay, looking like the tadpole he always had been.

Corinna Sparks,  Turning to Stone.