A New Kind of Literary Pulse

The stoplight on the corner had been broken for weeks. Westway Avenue was yellow and green at the same time, while Cherry Lane was forever red. Mabel knew this. Mom and Dad called it "the ... [+]

After another fast-paced day, the four adventurers were sitting in the bar of the Dragon’s Dungeon Inn. Suddenly, they felt a change in the air as the geometric orbs of predestination ceased thei ... [+]

Jumoke, Deji, and James are Nigerian-American students from Virginia that received a fellowship to work at a technology company in the central city of Lagos, Nigeria. They have been tasked to pitch ... [+]

              It’s always jarring to see my mother’s face on a magazine. People talk about magazines being glossy, but most aren’t. They’re nearly dull. This one screams ... [+]

I am sitting on the staircase looking out the window while the mother takes down the balloons and streamers. Painful quiet in the air until finally the gray car pulls up in the driveway. I stand up ... [+]

With the customary three raps of Gavin’s life-size StarFleet Viroblade-2000 replica, the biweekly meeting of the Beechwood Middle Intergalactic Relations Club commenced. The BMIR Club (pronounced ... [+]

Fermin Tobera's grandfather was killed by the Americans. Now Fermin is in their country. He is in California. He is there to farm cabbages.
The Americans will kill him, too.
But he ... [+]

I stared into death; death stared back. The piercing gaze of the beast pinned me. I could not move. Dare not move. Locked in its predatory gaze, my vision tunneled. I was tuned to the highest note ... [+]

a. the house you grew up in
When you close your eyes, the images, sounds, smells, all come flooding back.
It’s been years, but you can still transport yourself in an instant, across time ... [+]

Kepler sighed as he sat down at his desk. In the distance, he could hear the bell signaling the departure of the field research ships from the space station. An image of himself in the royal blue of ... [+]

The problem was that Miss Scaggsville 1999 lost her clique. Her best friends and runners-up got married late and recently moved away to be closer to in-laws and better school districts and towns ... [+]

“Martha, stop that dear. You’re being silly.” 
“Yes, mother.” I cease fiddling with my dinner utensils and look outside. I can see the gorgeous garden spread out before me; a large ... [+]

I have sat by you for most of your life. I have loved you for even longer.
 
When you were first born, it was winter. As the season passed, you grew into your rosy cheeks and big brown ... [+]

The man playing the guitar didn’t want to be famous. He preferred the street corner, ‘cause the crowds paid him no attention, and the liquor store was on the same block. Sometimes he’d leave ... [+]

With my tongue flapping in the wind, I saw that the trees I passed were black and white. The buildings were black and white; the sky was black and white; everything was black and white. I’m a ... [+]

The attic was dark and warm. Not a pleasant kind of warmth — the kind of mid-August heat that results in nothing but nausea and misery. The room was stuffy and the ceiling low, which made standing ... [+]

Chirp chirp chirp,
The birds sang outside, as they overlooked a long green field. The blades of grass grew tall, the sunlight bounced against the leaves, warming the petals of the wildflowers ... [+]

Wind whistled over the barren landscape as the boy climbed yet another hill. He paused for a moment when he reached the top, resting his legs and rubbing his hands for warmth, then pushed his way ... [+]