Short, Fast, and Deadly

Short, Fast, and Deadly

Issue One

Edited by Joseph A. W. Quintela

13 December 2009

Copyright © 2009 by Individual Authors

All Rights Reserved

Featuring:

Olivia Dresher

Bruce Harris

Helen N. Levin

Jessica Rigney

Molly Elizabeth Rydzel

Joshua Schroeder

 

Special Thanks:

Dan Raflin (Who, damn well, knows why!)

Kaolin Fire, GUD Magazine (For inspiring "Sneak Peaks")

 

Dedicated To:

L

Alex

Told him I'd marry him if he'd skin his cats for a wedding dress. Painted gangrenous wounds on his face. Fought his ex cuz I told her her red short-shorts made her look like a teenage hooker. Talked him into tattooing my name on his heart. Told him I'd do the same. Laughed in his face.

Made him come with me to get a tetanus shot. Buy tissue cuz I cried. He told me he still loves me.

I really hate those fucking cats.

by Molly Elizabeth Rydzel of Los Angeles

It Doesn't Matter

It doesn't matter who says it,

as long as it's said.

The way the wind says it,

or a waterfall.

by Olivia Dresher of Seattle

Masks

Life is a mask hiding death.

Death is a mask hiding life.

by Olivia Dresher of Seattle

One Hundred Dollar Eggs

He finished his coffee and was ready to go to wherever guys like him go. The waitress wore two buttons. One had her name and a yellow smiley face. A bright blue "Can I Help You?" button clung to her too tight white uniform. The check revealed a zero balance. "On me," she said. He carefully arranged the bacon under two uneaten egg yolks. He got up, undid his belt a notch and pulled a crisp C-note from his wallet.  

by Bruce Harris of Scotch Plains

Sister

broken open over bread wine rain

outside the window

you said you felt guilty all the time

I said never

we took notes on bones

by Jessica Rigney of Maili

Wish For Clear Sky

He arrived wearing his bomber jacket. "Are you flying tomorrow?" she asked. "No, I’m just ready for the seasons to change," he replied. She didn’t say anything after that, instead, willed her face to express thought: "I’m so glad you’re staying." Or so she hoped. No matter how hard she let her face say what she should have just spoken, her consistently bland expression was vapid. There’s no hope after that.

by Helen N. Levin of New York City

Scene, Untitled

"Fuck you, asshole."

She wasn't giving me any leeway as she tore me down once again.

"You're ruining my life and your patronizing, patriarchal fantasy about why our relationship ended is poisoning the world. I don't understand why you hate me with such a rage, but I'm not going to let you destroy me."

I chewed deliberately as my cheekbones turned hot in despair. I didn't want to cry in this vegetarian restaurant.

by Joshua Schroeder of New York City