Summer

XVIII

The day he discovered his life imitated art was to be his last.  He tore through his novels, set his wife’s paintings on fire and took a hammer to their vinyl collection.  Later that night, he resolved to stop drinking.

The Day Before She Bled

your shirt was peach it was the day before thanksgiving the girl at the mall who cleans jewelry did not smile i did not either after that shit ass cappuccino i spent twenty six dollars at goodwill on a red dress form that came apart where the doormat would be if we had one i should not think about this imaginary baby i would only ask it to scrape out your insides as if the two of us were spending the holiday together and you were the roasting pumpkin

                                                             They Sat

You sit. Marie and Bobby and Jana and you. Sometimes you sit alone wanting to stay that way before and after you die. Forever.

And today, right now, you sit together wanting the same opposite thing.

Bio: Parker Tettleton is an English major at Kennesaw State University. He enjoys playing online scrabble when he isn't writing or fulfilling other higher priorities. His work is featured in or forthcoming from Short, Fast, and Deadly, Right Hand Pointing and elimae, among others. He blogs at http://parker-augustlight.blogspot.com/