Short, Fast, and Deadly
Issue Six
Edited by Joseph A. W. Quintela
17 January 2010
Featuring:
Nell Azuri
Eric Bennett
J. Bradley
Paul Lewellan
Joshua Schroeder
Copyright © 2010 by Individual Authors
All Rights Reserved
Pool Girl Hard Times
Jack’s wife sucked on a Coke. "96˚ and no shade." Jenna’s yellow tank top clung to her nipples. "Cleaned five pools." "And lost your bra." "Bra?" She looked down. "Oh," she laughed. "Who was pool number five?" "Old Man Milton." "Four?" "Nate and Sara. A couple brokers." "Three?" "A new client. Night manager at the Cineplex. I’ll think he’ll be a regular." Jack clenched his fist but said nothing.
by Paul Lewellan of Bettendorf
Sex. (With Apologies to Stephen Dixon)
Desire.
Confusion. Worry. Apprehension.
Inspiration. Perspiration.
Touch. Glance. Movement. Whisper.
Touch. Press. Grab. Grope. Kiss. Rend.
Wait.
Lead. Follow. Private.
Open. Push. Pull. Force. Close.
Desperation. Shirt. Pants. Skirt. Underwear. Bra.
Eyes. Mouths. Arms. Legs. Waists. Torso. Breasts. Erection.
Excitement. Desire. Bites. Groan. Pant.
Pendulum. Acceleration. Affirmation.
Satisfaction.
Pause.
Denouement.
by Joshua Schroeder of New York City
Confusion. Worry. Apprehension.
Inspiration. Perspiration.
Touch. Glance. Movement. Whisper.
Touch. Press. Grab. Grope. Kiss. Rend.
Wait.
Lead. Follow. Private.
Open. Push. Pull. Force. Close.
Desperation. Shirt. Pants. Skirt. Underwear. Bra.
Eyes. Mouths. Arms. Legs. Waists. Torso. Breasts. Erection.
Excitement. Desire. Bites. Groan. Pant.
Pendulum. Acceleration. Affirmation.
Satisfaction.
Pause.
Denouement.
by Joshua Schroeder of New York City
The Kama Sutra of the TSA
Search my cavities, find
the letters of your first name
twined to a clock; I swallowed
the hands.
by J. Bradley of Orlando
the letters of your first name
twined to a clock; I swallowed
the hands.
by J. Bradley of Orlando
On a Snowed-in Train
Playing truth or dare on a snowed-in train, the 20-year-olds gasped to hear the list of places we had slept together. As if they had invented sex involving park benches, trees, and dark stairwells smelling of piss. As if, prior to the 80’s, people mated with decorum in small beige rooms.
Later, when they slept, we lengthened our list by one.
by Nell Azuri of London
The Kama Sutra of Elizabeth Lambert
You will wear my elbows
like promise rings, walk scalped.
When we're done, you will not know
which is a hickey or a bruise.
by J. Bradley of Orlando
like promise rings, walk scalped.
When we're done, you will not know
which is a hickey or a bruise.
by J. Bradley of Orlando
Inception
"I swallowed a squid," Nora announces. The family sits stunned. "I was swimming in the ocean when I gulped down sea water and now there are certain swells in my stomach." Three months prior, she bought a bikini. Wow! The umbrella-boy thought so too. He donned sunglasses and kept adjusting his shorts. Six months after Nora swallowed a squid, her water broke. All I could think was Nora’s having an octopus-baby.
by Eric Bennett of New York City
