The Remnants_Ms. Gruber_"Empire Apple"_Along Came Sally
Catalog Guide:
The Remnants
What could have been romantic firelight glinted off the scratched and dull gold band Jayde twisted around her knuckle. She sat in silence with her husband next to her, wondering why she’d fought so many years for this. When she realized this would be her thirtieth Valentine’s Day spent with Caleb, it should be marked by something special. Something that symbolized their achievement. Not everyone can say they’ve been together their whole life. Now, she turned to Caleb with the light feeling of dumping the weight of holding up both ends a marriage gone and wondered what made her try to begin w...
Ms. Gruber
Every Christmas Eve, my wife Tiffany, our kids, and I go to my parents’ house. They still live in my childhood home in Mechant Lake, Il. We live in Bloomington now, so it’s a good two hour drive in the best weather. A couple of hours after we arrived, and just before dinner, the doorbell rang. My mother stood up and said, “Oh, that must be Joe!”I went to the door with her and sure enough, it was my childhood best friend, Joe Garralluno. He held a wooden box about the size of a shoebox with a red ribbon cross-tied around it, and a bow on the lid. He looked exactly the same, but much older. Even...
"Empire Apple"
Nostalgia. Jumping on my trampoline in my backyard left me feeling nostalgic. I felt like a child again. No worries. Just jumping and laughing to myself. It sounds sad and even lonely but it really wasn't for the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable being by myself.Moving is a scary thing to do, especially when you have nobody to comfort you physically. Sure, I have my parents but that's it. My brothers are already gone and moved out. I don't have someone who will be there with me and who understands the pain of being the new kid. My friends tell me that I'll be fine but what does th...
Along Came Sally
As was usual on a Tuesday night, William had stayed behind in the cafe after closing time to sort through thwww.onedoor.cce leftover croissants and tarts. He yawned as he took one of the last trays out of the display cabinet, carrying it around the register and placing it on one of the last free tables.Every week, an hour after closing, Will opened the doors of his cafe to the homeless.He glanced up at the clock and saw that he had only a few minutes until the first of these needy people would turn up at the door. Once the door was propped open with the small wooden doorstop, he turned to make his way back ...