My dad paid no attention to what I read. He said things like, "I sure am glad you like to read." Pause. "Do you have to keep every book though?" Mom had no rules. I could read what I pleased. Grandmother often repeated how when my mother was a teenager, she was always taking other …
Hidden Letters and Time Traveling Notes
My mom gave me a box set of the Narnia books when I was in the 6th grade. She wrote a note next to the beginning of chapter one. Now distractions are pecking at my brain and all these holes are giving my thoughts and stories a little too much air. I've got nothing worthwhile …
Evil Scores and Other Competitions
She was a secretary but I tell everyone she was an artist. Well, she was even if art never paid a bill. "Don't be someone's wife. Don't be someone's secretary," she said. "Or at least don't get married until after you have your college degree and never tell them you can type." I hope now …
One Death and Then Another
I could've driven the two hours to her death faster, but my dad had asked me to stop at Auto Zone on the way for a piece of plastic. "Your car will need that part for the drive back to school," he'd said. "Otherwise you'll break down on the highway." I don't think I made …
Vengeful Moments and Other Character Flaws
I wasn't a slash his tires or leave dead animals sort of girl. Yes, I could curse well enough--may he get two flat tires in a blizzard ten miles for anywhere with a bout of the stomach flu the night before the wedding--but when given the I-like-you-but speech, I said, "Okay, fine," and left. End …
Love Letters and Other Things That Didn’t Happen
You think you want that person who rejected you to be sorry. To come crawling back for you. Maybe you get over this desire and, you know, rise above it. You move on. At least, you move on until a night you can't sleep and you start rehearsing a rewritten past. You would've said this. …
Continue reading Love Letters and Other Things That Didn’t Happen
It really is October. Damn.
October is here. How many words are in the month? Not sure. My first art show--a small event to be sure but mine all the same--will arrive soon and so...I've got nothing else to write about.
What hospitals really need–more pin-ups, cigarettes, and soldiers.
Once upon a time... we took cigarettes the first time we went. One carton of cigarettes got us faster attention, and the doctor was pleased with the Camel brand. I'd never bribed anyone before and I told myself to look at it like a thank you gift. Since Bulgarian doctors get paid nothing close to …
Continue reading What hospitals really need–more pin-ups, cigarettes, and soldiers.
because I can’t think of everything
See, I'm a grown up and that means I'm tired and I read cartoons. Maybe this means I can decide I'm also a writer (which is a bit like deciding to live in a room filled with playpen balls).
This girl is not sophisticated enough.
That is NOT cocaine. He's my friend. He wouldn't do that. No, no, no. This is what I thought as I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and checked that I wasn't going over the speed limit. It was 4 in the morning and we were driving back from Champagne/Urbana, where the clubs had …
Marta Bacon 