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Elephants of the HoanibA Love AffairFrances Valdes  (c) Copyright 2025 by Frances Valdes |
 Stumpie's herd. Photo courtesy of the author. |
In
my dreams I see Stumpie. I see her where sand dunes gather at the
base of mountains. I see her amongst small herds of springbok and
oryx grazing on green bushes. I see her majestically walking, slow
but assertive, along the dry riverbed. A walk saying 'I am the
largest mammal to walk this planet, you will move out of my
way'. . . .
More...
The Terror of the IslandSabaha Amir Rana (c) Copyright 2025 by Sabaha Amir Rana |
 Photo by Basile Morin at Wikimedia Commons. |
There
it finally is. Our island. Our very own island. It looks beautiful
above the waves of fog, but there are still questions to be answered;
Why have we gotten it for only $5? Why did the brokers meet dad in
secret? These thoughts are rushing through your brain. . . .
Loved First: A Fathers War For His DaughterDerick Blakes (c) Copyright 2025 by Derick Blakes  |
 Photo by Ari Dinar on Unsplash |
This
is a true story of fatherhood, regret, and redemption. As a young man
struggling to become the father I never had, I lost my daughter
Dakota to silence and misunderstanding. This chapter from my life
reflects both the cost of absence and the power of a father's
intercession to redeem what was nearly lost. I offer it in hope that
it speaks to parents and children alike who are still reaching across
the wounds of time. . . .
Central MemoriesLucian W. Dressel Fire excapt tube from the second floor of school. Photos courtesy of the National Archives. (c) Copyright 2025 by Lucian W. Dressel |
 |
 |
. . . It
was the only time
I ever saw our grade school principal cry. It was a perfect day in
early June and the last day of school. My class and I had just
finished the 6th grade. I can't exactly say that we had "graduated," since they didn't have graduation
ceremonies for grade schools in those days, at least not in Granite
City, Illinois, in 1952. But we were moving up none the less. We were
going to be with the "big kids" next fall. We would be
going to Central Junior High School. . . .
More...
Jesus at the Rite AidJewel Beth Davis (c) Copyright 2025 by Jewel Beth Davis |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
I
walk through the aisles of the local Rite Aid in Dover. Convenient
but high priced and crammed with marketing ploys: bright lights and
primary colors, much like McDonald's. Signs jump out at me
like animated electronic waves grabbing onto me to distract from my
goal. . . .
A CandleShaik Yasmeen (c) Copyright 2025 by Shaik Yasmeen |
 Photo by lafabse at Pixabay. |
This
piece is a spoken letter in the third person, capturing a journey
through emotional turmoil, burnout, and the quiet act of choosing
oneself. It was written as an honest outpouring after surviving a
traumatic experience in 2022 and dealing with the emotional weight of
family expectations, anxiety, and personal heartbreak. . . .
| Lessons
From a Monocotyledon Priye Gift Johnson (c) Copyright 2025 by Priye Gift Johnson |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
The rain is at its peak. As a living being whose source of income depends greatly on this mad, sometimes infuriating and unpredictable weather. I might as well want to consider taking some extra lessons at weather forecasting. But I don't. Instead, I just discover that the gift of weather-reading naturally springs up on its own like the lean yam tuber that chooses to grow inspite of the leaking pipe soaking it daily underneath my kitchen sink. . . .
This Is How I WorryAdeoluwa Deborah Mercy (c) Copyright 2025 by Adeoluwa Deborah Mercy |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
I
know I'm a worrier.
But not the usual kind.
I don't worry that my "s" lacks the perfect curves after I submit my exam answer scripts. I don’t fret that my e's sometimes look like c's or even i's without the dot. I don't even worry that my hair's been loosened and unmade for like 5 weeks thereabouts. And I don't worry that I might fall or miss a step when I choose to walk on those narrow concrete coverts instead of walking on the actual road.
Dad Didn't Appear In SearchFrank Edejoro Miller (c) Copyright 2025 by Frank Edejoro Miller |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
If
not for late Grandma Martha, I probably wouldn't be writing
this story. And if I did write it, it would have taken a very
different form, perhaps something like the success stories of Samuel
Eto'o, Didier Drogba, Mohamed Salah, Nwankwo Kanu, or any other
African who rose to fame and fortune by showcasing exceptional
talent. . . .
Dinner Under The DownpourNimisha Ajaikumar (c) Copyright 2025 by Nimisha Ajaikumar |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
"The stupid tiffin guy has cancelled our dinner," my roommate barked, slamming the door of our shared bedroom in Pune.
I massaged my temples. "How will we fend for ourselves?". . .
Return To Teal LakeJames Flanigan (c) Copyright 2025 by James Flanigan |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
For
sixty years, I harbored a desire to return to Teal Lake in the
Northwoods of Wisconsin. I wasn’t sure why. Was it to evoke
memories from my past? Was it to find something I was looking for?
Perhaps something I had lost. . .or maybe never had. Regardless
of the reason, I kept a return to Teal Lake on my "to do"
list for six decades. . . .
Biography Of A Tenacious PersonRaman Kuppuswamy (c) Copyright 2025 by Raman Kuppuswamy |
 Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons |
My
father-in-law used to be an affable person, but he could be menacing
when dealing with his suppliers. His suppliers were poor
plantain-growing agriculturists. My father-in-law used to buy bananas
from these suppliers and sell them on a commission basis. Perhaps due
to his uncheerful occupation and his fixation on business supremacy,
his attitude towards his suppliers was intimidating. So, it was not
surprising that most of this brigade hated my father-in-law. . . .
PopsAl Simon, Jr. (c) Copyright 2025 by Al Simon, Jr. |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
I
come from a generation of getting spanked when I was a kid. My dad
never spanked me, but he did make me cry once.
I
wanted some candy one day and the smallest he had was a 50-cent
piece. This was in the early 60s, and you could get 2 pieces of candy
for a penny. I'm sure Dad told me not to blow the whole 50 cents, but
I did. . . .
Awakening The FutureAn EssayPlamen Vasilev (c) Copyright 2025 by Plamen Vasilev |
 Wheat field, Bulgaria. Image by Zhivko Dimitrov from Pixabay |
As
I stand on the precipice of what feels like an irrevocable change,
the weight of our climate crisis presses heavily on my heart.
The
Earth,
our shared sanctuary, is not merely a backdrop for human activity but
a living, breathing entity that has nurtured countless generations. . . .
Trap DoorHenry Herreman (c) Copyright 2025 by Henry Herreman |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
One
autumn Saturday I couldn't find anything to do. My brother
and my friends were all busy, and I was desperate. I put on
my jacket and walked over to Jefferson School. Maybe there
would be someone to play with. Alas, there was not a soul
around. I was about ready to head for home when I remembered
something.
Tucked
in a bay behind the school, where no one could see it, was a fire
escape. My friends and I had been planning to climb it for a
long time, hoping to get on the roof of the school. We were
never able to because there was always someone hanging around. There
was no one now! . . .
An Underwater AdventureRita McDermott (c) Copyright 2025 by Rita McDermott |
 |
I
love to travel. I live for one adventure to the next. I especially
love tropical islands with crystal clear, turquoise waters and white
sandy beaches. I love coral reefs and the colorful fish that dart
from one hiding place to another.
Each year I plan a great adventure to a new destination with budding excitement about what awaits me there. In 2018, I decided to travel to the land of Belize. My cousin, as well as a most suitable travel companion, decided to join in on the experience.
| Color
Codes Oleg Daugovish (c) Copyright 2025 by Oleg Daugovish |
 Perception of colour by subjects affected by different types of colour blindness. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
Taking after John Dalton, I see colors differently than ninety percent of the people. Such a gentle disability, it calls for challenge and heart-felt ridicule.
| Act Oleg Daugovish (c) Copyright 2025 by Oleg Daugovish |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
The
cars in the sluggish Los Angeles traffic clog the lanes around us
like blood clots in the arteries of a sick patient.
"I'm bored." My eight-year-old Sofie whines from the backseat. "Can I have your phone?"
"No. Mom uses it for directions, but I can tell you a story." I insist. . . .
| Things
I Inherited From My Mother That Money Couldn't Buy Ezeh Charity Ogechi (c) Copyright 2025 by Ezeh Charity Ogechi |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commonsy. |
The
first language I learned wasn't English or Igbo. It was
silence.
Not
the kind that comes when the generator goes off in the middle of a
Nollywood film, or when the house is still before dawn. I mean the
heavy, deliberate kind--the silence that lingers in a room long
after words have been swallowed. The kind that my mother mastered so
well it might as well have been stitched into her wrapper.
| Not Every Nigerian Is Hustling For
Visa Ezeh Charity Ogechi (c) Copyright 2025 by Ezeh Charity Ogechi |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commonsy. |
"Are
you still in that country?" The text came with a laughing emoji,
but it didn't feel funny. It landed like a slap-casual,
condescending, final. I didn't reply. What was I supposed to say? "Yes, I'm still here. Still trying. Still believing." Would
that even make sense?
| The
Most Beautiful Things Debra Jo Myers (c) Copyright 2025 by Debra Jo Myers |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
My whole body was filled with excitement. I put my coat over my pajamas and ran to the car. When I was a little girl just over three, my baby brother was born. Daddy woke me late at night and told me it was time for Mommy to go to the hospital and for me to go stay with Grandma Gigi. They had gone over the plan with me. When the time came, Gigi would watch me, and we would make my favorite blueberry pancakes while we waited on the baby. I've treasured that feeling, as it is my first real memory. It is often how we are feeling at a specific time that triggers our memories. All it takes is just that one thing.
|
1960 Ezra Azra (c) Copyright 2025 by Ezra Azra |
 Photo by Djembayz courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
In
1960, the White Afrikaner undemocratic racist Nationalist Government
of South Africa was at its cruelest against all non-White South
Africans. That Government took over from the racist White British
Empire authorities in 1948. . . .
Finding Redfish LakeJac Roberson (c) Copyright 2025 by Jac Roberson |
 Photo of Redfish Lake Lodge courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
Traveling the vast western states has
always been
desirable and enjoyable for my family. Just driving from one
beautiful location to another makes any trip worthwhile. We were
always on the lookout for the next trip's destination. Our
family first visited Redfish Lake several years ago with our children
while taking an extensive vacation from Austin, Texas. We always
took summer trips to the mountains and the West to escape the heat
and humidity. . . .
More...
A child of a military man, I suppose so--that's me. We moved,
A Leather Coat and a ShotgunRoger Pagel (c) Copyright 2025 by Roger Pagel |
 Photo by Anna Evans on Unsplash |  Image by Emilian Robert Vicol from Pixabay |
A child of a military man, I suppose so--that's me. We moved,
like every three years--during my formative years,
whatever that is supposed to mean.
The Chaotic Mix of Love and PrincessesSubha Safayet Shizda (c) Copyright 2025 by Subha Safayet Shizda |
 Photo courtesy of Ebay. |
Growing
up, I was always surrounded with dolls, toys, books, clothes, candy.
I always had whatever I wanted right at my fingertips. I just had to
say the word, and there it was. Anything and everything a child's
heart could wish for. I was my parents' only child, and they
wanted to give me the world, so walking into the house was like the
entrance to a toy shop--huge, colorful, and filled to the brim with
cars, Legos, plushies, dolls, kitchens, dollhouses, coloring books
and whatnot. It was anything and everything a child could wish for.
| Treasure in the Attic Vivienne Holtzhausen (c) Copyright 2025 by Vivienne Holtzhausen |
 Photo by Karin Chantanaprayura at Pexels. |
We bought the farm when Andre retired. Our lifelong dream - a house in the countryside, mountain views, space for livestock and to grow our own fruit and vegetables. A bonus was that there was a large two bedroom cottage on the property which we could convert into a guest house to generate a small income.
The cottage was a bungalow with a low, pitched roof. At the back of the building there was a door into the attic, about twelve feet above ground level. We tried every key we were given but none would open the door. . . .
More...
ConscriptedAin't Having No More Fun Jac Roberson (c) Copyright 2025 by Jac Roberson |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
Everyone’s
life is different. My life is one of those. I've had many
great times in my life, primarily meeting and marrying my wife. We
were married for almost 54 years when she died of heart failure. We
adopted two children who gave us the greatest of pleasures. Three
grandchildren added to those pleasures. Of course, many other things
and people have added to the better times of my life.
Nothing To FearPamella Laird (c) Copyright 2025 by Pamella Laird |
 Image by Michael De Groot from Pixabay
|
. . . . I
was spread-eagled, face down on the dining room floor--but why? I looked
at my watch, 2.14 am. It was dark and I was frozen. The last
I recall was going through to the study to sit at my computer and
finish a story that seemed anxious to be told. But that had been
around 8 o'clock the previous evening, when even though it was
getting late, I'd felt so well and full of energy. . . .
Travels With My FriendBarbara Wood (c) Copyright 2025 by Barbara Wood |
|
My husband died, but dwelling on that is still painful. I was lucky to meet Chris, who is my travelling companion and he makes me laugh. He is a little eccentric. I think he was born in the wrong era as he likes everything that's old: old films, old books, old furniture, old hotels. I like old, characterful hotels too, but I always have to check the star rating before he books as the days when I didn't mind 'roughing it' are long gone. . . .
|
Spot The Gorilla Ezra Azra (c) Copyright 2025 by Ezra Azra |
 Photo by Charles J. Sharp at Wikimedia Commons. |
In
2023 a travelling Circus Company resurrected itself after an absence
of six years.
During
those dormant years the Company had been reconstituted into being the
world's largest Circus free of animal acts. It was,,
probably, also the world's first commercial Circus ever to be free of animal acts. . . .
probably, also the world's first commercial Circus ever to be free of animal acts. . . .
The BreadwinnerBarbara Wood (c) Copyright 2025 by Barbara Wood |
|
The
Breadwinner was my father who died in 1988. A few of the
anecdotes from his early life were told to me by Dad himself, but
most came from my aunties who all loved him very much. They told me 'Fred was special', but I already knew that. . . .
A Journey Of Hope And GratitudeSwabrah Nabuuma (c) Copyright 2025 by Swabrah Nabuuma |
 Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich at Pexels. |
Swabie
is an accomplished graphic designer and a
journalist based in Kampala
City in Uganda.
Born and raised in the vibrant city of Kyazanga
Lwengo, Swabie
developed an early
passion for creativity. She attended the university
of Islamic university in
Uganda where I
purchased a degree in mass communication. Specializing in graphic
designing and anchoring, where she honed her skills in
both
traditional and digital forms. . . .
The VisitorsFrank Wiener (c) Copyright 2025 by Frank Wiener  |
 Photo by James St. John at Wikimedia Commons. |
The deer who visit me never
announce their arrival in advance. Approaching silently in an otherwise
noisy, invasive, and discordant world, they seem to arrive out of the
clear blue, acting as if our bird feeder serves as their personal
drive-up, fast-food window. From where do they come? What dangerous and
deadly roads have they crossed to reach my backyard? . . .
|
Triskaidekaphobia Ezra Azra (C) Copyright 2025 by Ezra Azra |
 Photo by aleksandar-cvetanovic at Pexels |
Triskaidekaphobia
is the name of the traditional fear of the number thirteen.
This is a fear that is found in persons world wide, from pre-Christian times to the present. In these times of advanced rational Science in high civilizations, it is still easy to find modern buildings that skip the number thirteen in the numbering of rooms, and entire floors of rooms. . . .
This is a fear that is found in persons world wide, from pre-Christian times to the present. In these times of advanced rational Science in high civilizations, it is still easy to find modern buildings that skip the number thirteen in the numbering of rooms, and entire floors of rooms. . . .
What Is Buried Beneath The Scattered RemainsKelly Maida (c) Copyright 2025 by Kelly Maida |
 Photo by patrick-nizan at Pexels |
I
was 17 years old. Filled with life. I loved to dance. In fact I used to
take dance lessons as a child. I would constantly turn on the music and
dance and swirl around . I felt my life was full of possibilities. I
have always had a vivid imagination. I used to be a very trusting
person. Our whole world can change in the blink of an eye. . . .
Call Me By My NameOluwaferanmi Fadayomi (c) Copyright 2025 by Oluwaferanmi Fadayomi |
 Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash |
"O-lu. . .O-loo. . .Oluwaf. . .The teacher's voice echoed hesitantly in the classroom. My heart pounded and my hands shook. I raised my hand before they could finish, before my name became unrecognizable. "It's Farrah" I muttered, trying to keep my voice stable, sealing away the name my mother gave me. . . .
Together We CanManisha Sharma (c) Copyright 2025 by Manisha Sharma |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
The
morning air carried a cool promise of spring as I joined a group of
volunteers at the Meadoway for an Earth Day cleanup event organized
by the TRCA (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority). Meadoway is
Toronto's ambitious urban green corridor, a beautiful stretch
of green space in the city where wildflowers grow, bees buzz, and you
can hear birds sing instead of traffic. . . .
| The
Frank Stockton Dilemma: The Lady or The Tiger Teddy Toofi Biney (c) Copyright 2025 by Teddy Yoofi Biney |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
Short
stories are not just supposed to be brief. They need to have
intriguing titles, an excellent hook, and teach a moral or two--hough
this isn't
always necessary. Titles like "A Very Old Man With Enormous
Wings," "Hills Like White Elephants," "The
Nutcracker and the Mouse King," and "Twenty-six Men and a
Girl" are excellent examples of memorable ones that stand out. . . .
| Toxic
Positivity in an Age of Positive Thinking and False Happiness Teddy Toofi Biney (c) Copyright 2025 by Teddy Yoofi Biney |
 Photo by Vash Choi on Unsplash |
. . . .If
you've watched the 2015 American animated movie Inside
Out,
you'll notice that it subtly addresses themes that are closely
related to false or fake happiness and suppressed emotions. The
protagonist, Riley Anderson, becomes emotionally mature only when she
embraces the full range of her emotions or personalities--Joy,
Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger. . . .
Angels In BloomKelly Maida (c) Copyright 2025 by Kelly Maida |
 Photo by Javardh on Unsplash |
There once was a beautiful
home that looked like a witch's cottage. I almost missed out on
this home . You see I was looking in a particular area. But sometimes
in life fate steps in and lends us a hand. One day after looking at
homes, my realtor showed me a home that just appeared on the market.
I took one look at it and I knew right away I was interested. The
events that happened next were extraordinary and forever life
changing. . . .
| What Goes Around Comes Around Bheka Pierce (c) Copyright 2025 by Bheka Pierce |
 Photo (c) 2025 by the author. |
In
southern Africa, serving in the Peace Corps in Swaziland in the early
1970s, I found the love of my life, a Danish lass, whose outer and
inner beauty were joined into one. We married, taught together in a
bush school built by her father, took a walking tour up Africa, made
it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, and eventually settled in
Denmark, where we raised two children, and worked together at the
Copenhagen International School for twenty years before ALS took her
from us. . . .
More...
Four Animal StoriesIshani Ganguly (c) Copyright 2025 by Ishani Ganguly |
 Photo courtesy of Bethany McCarter at Wikimedia Commons. |
When
people speak of wild encounters, they often imagine roaring beasts,
jungle trails, or eye-to-eye moments with danger. But some encounters
are quieter. They pass like shadows across water, and yet they
remain--deeply, permanently. I didn't go looking for dolphins
that morning. I was simply present--and perhaps, that made all the
difference. . . .
| Memory - The Light Of Other Days
Eva Bell
(c) Copyright 2025 by Eva Bell
|
 |
In Charlotte Bronte's words "A memory without blot or contamination must be an exquisite treasure."
Most
people treasure memories of happy events - marriages,
birthdays, days of love and laughter, conjuring up emotions of events
gone by. Many prefer to forget memories that are sad and bring tears
to one's eyes. But sometimes we never realize the value of
incidents until they become a memory. . . .
Monkey BusinessNimisha Ajaikumar (c) Copyright 2025 by Nimisha Ajaikumar |
 Photo by Tobias on Unsplash |
During
the summer vacation of 2015, I temporarily left my Dubai school
behind and returned home to Kochi, hoping to escape the scorching
desert heat. My dad, always up for an adventure, decided we should
take a family road trip to Thekkady, a forested town in Kerala's
Idukki district. . . .
When Nature AttacksGeorge R. Frost  (c) Copyright 2025 by George R. Frost |
 Photo by Stefanos Nt on Unsplash. |
When Nature attacks,
we are usually the losers especially when we are facing a massive
ferocious creature, but in my encounter, the creature was far from
massive or all that ferocious, but it turned out make quiet an
impression, nonetheless.
Spending my time, residing and wandering the redwood forests around the Russian River, my encounter with a truly wild animal occurred in the middle of Santa Rosa, California. . . .
BittenSarah Hinson (c) Copyright 2025 by Sarah Hinson |
 Photo by Andreas Staver at Pexels. |
. . . Sarah and her friends often went camping on the weekends. They were young, recently graduated from high school, and the town they lived in provided little to do for people who were not yet of drinking age. However, the high desert hills of Arizona provided a myriad of ways to get away and get lost. There were back roads that would take you to other small mountain mining towns hundreds of miles away. Sarah and her friends loved this one particular camping spot by a creek with a fire pit in the center of pine trees, that seemed to form a circle. . . .
Don't Sell The Ring Just YetAlbert W. Caron, Jr. (c) Copyright 2025 by Albert W. Caron, Jr. |
 Photo by 21849078 on Pixabay. |
A simple gold band. Given with unconditional love on our wedding day. With a promise to care for one another in sickness and in health. Until death do us part. Little did we know then, that our vows spoken years ago, would be taken literally years later. . . .
My Wife Says That I Am The Master Of The First ImpressionMorf Morford (c) Copyright 2025 by Morf Morford |
 Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay |
It
is not a compliment.
One of the dimensions of marriage few of us consider is how much your partner reflects on one's identity, character and values.
My identity and character, apparently, at those memorable and irreplaceable "first" meetings, might be a little "too memorable". . . .
One of the dimensions of marriage few of us consider is how much your partner reflects on one's identity, character and values.
My identity and character, apparently, at those memorable and irreplaceable "first" meetings, might be a little "too memorable". . . .
Elsie and EdithMother and Daughter KangaroosDeidre Williams (c) Copyright 2025 by Deidre Williams |
 Watercolor (c) 2025 by Deidre Williams. |
"You've
got to be kidding me," I told myself, looking out through the
screen door. Two furry shapes tottered in the morning sunlight.
"Kangaroos? Here?"
I
took a step onto the wood porch, dew cold seeping through my naked
toes. "Hello there," I said softly, my own voice shaking
with thrill. The larger one, dark brown back, white stomach, lifted
her head and opened sleepy eyes to gaze at me. Her companion, a less
rich grey, glanced around behind her leg. . . .
My Encounter With A Red FoxPlamen Vasilev (c) Copyright 2025 by Plamen Vasilev |
 Photo by Mashin Rostislav at Wikimedia Commons. |
The
sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm
golden glow over the dense underbrush of the forest near my home.
It was early autumn, a time when the leaves turned from vibrant green to a patchwork of fiery reds and oranges, carpeting the ground in a soft, crunchy layer. I often found solace in these woods, a refuge where I could escape the chaos of daily life and immerse myself in nature's beauty.
On that particular evening, however, I was about to have an encounter that would stay etched in my memory for years to come. . . .
More...
Raccoon BabyErika MacNeil (c) Copyright 2025 by Erika MacNeil |
 Photo by Chief Trent at Wikimedia Commons. |
"Mom! The car door is open! They're inside! Quick!"
I blunder through layers of groggy sleep and manage to fumble open the tent zipper. Clawing my way out into the inky darkness lit only by a half moon, I stumble off the tarp, slick with pre-dawn dew.
I
can hear them foraging through the contents of my car, and my stomach
lurches as I picture the inevitable scene I'm about to enter, the
lingering stench of rotting food and animal scat emanating from the
driver's side of my ravaged SUV. . . .
HwangeRoger Funston (c) Copyright 2024 by Roger Funston |
 Photo by Per Arne Slotte at Wikimedia Commons.. |
The
radio crackles in a Zimbabwe language (Shona). Our driver and guide,
Mayeso says, "A cheetah had been spotted by another guide.
It's a ways from here. We'll have to drive quickly. Do
you want to go?" Hell yes. So we race through the Hwange
Forest Reserve on narrow dirt roads. . . .
More...
Obedience TrainingMarcia Chang Vogl (c) Copyright 2025 by Marcia Chang Vogl |
 Photo by Olga Andreyanova at Unsplash. |
I
was the proud owner of a golden retriever named Goldie. He
came
to us as a five-month-old puppy. As he grew into an adult
dog,
taking him for walks was a challenge. An eighty-five-pound
woman is no match for an eighty-five-pound golden retriever who
decides he wants to take her for a walk. It does not matter
which end of the leash you are on. . . .
What Is It With Squirrels?Deon Matzen (c) Copyright 2025 by Deon Matzen |
 Photo by Christine Matthews at Wikimedia Commons. |
Yes,
what is with them? This type of event happens almost daily around
the island where I live. I know that it isn’t limited to this
area because I have seen it elsewhere as well.
Why do squirrels and chipmunks decide to cross the street just when I am driving by? Why do they turn around and try to go back instead of just crossing? Why do they turn around several times before I almost run over them? I am always afraid to look in the rear view mirror for fear it is now lying broken, or worse yet, thrashing wounded in the street.
Why do squirrels and chipmunks decide to cross the street just when I am driving by? Why do they turn around and try to go back instead of just crossing? Why do they turn around several times before I almost run over them? I am always afraid to look in the rear view mirror for fear it is now lying broken, or worse yet, thrashing wounded in the street.
Are they like dogs that chase cars and bite at the tires? Are they trying to bite my car tires?
Excerpt
|
 Photo courtesy of Stockcake. |
Great
Falls, Virginia, 1951-2000
Eleanor
Walcott reacted with predictable discomfort to any attempt to bring
nature into the house. Indoor plants were rare, though Eleanor tried
and failed many times to raise anemic little avocado trees on
windowsills and in tabletop pots.
It
figured,
therefore, that in Wyatt Walcott's lifetime the family owned
few pets. Typically, Eleanor and her daughter preferred cats and
would nuzzle and eventually lament a succession of them, one or two
at a time. The guys naturally leaned toward dogs (Wyatt's
paternal grandfather had raised purebred Scottish terriers), but the
women gently vetoed any suggestion to own one until 1962--by
then Charlotte had moved out and married--when a family friend's
gorgeous tan whippet bore a prizeworthy litter. . . .
To The Stranger At The Grocery Checkout Counter Who Showed Me Who I AmMorf Morford (c) Copyright 2025 by Morf Morford |
 Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels. |
At
72, I have met a lot of strangers--some friendly, some
menacing, and one or two that never emerged from sleep or maybe a
coma--but they were my travel, or everyday life companions for
a glistening moment or two. . . .
Among the Deer: Life in CanadaLexi Simpson Photos (c) 2025 by the author. (c) Copyright 2025 by Lexi Simpson |
 |  |
When I was seven years old my family made the move to a smaller, more rural town in western Canada.
Our house was settled right in front of a forest where people would frequently go walking or hiking, and the trails led deep into the woods and up to lookouts and other interesting areas.
Growing up here I've had quite a few encounters with wild animals. . . .
No Bad DaysMorf Morford (c) Copyright 2025 by Morf Morford |
 Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels. |
A
friend of mine had an adult daughter, about 25, who had been
diagnosed with breast cancer.
And
that, after her diagnosis, was her life philosophy - "No
Bad Days".
I'm
not the type to make proclamations or announcements like that.
The Bear At DuskA True Wilderness Encounter In New Brunswick Karen Pojasek (c) Copyright 2025 by Karen Pojasek |
 Photo by Mike Bender/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Wikimedia Commons. |
The forest held its breath as we moved through the golden light of late afternoon, our boots whispering against the carpet of fallen leaves. I was seventeen that autumn, still new to the vast wilderness of New Brunswick, and every excursion with Michial, my host father, felt like stepping into another world. . . .
A Race Against ExtinctionRachel Ann Crafton (c) Copyright 2025 by Rachel Ann Crafton |
 Image by nickyduplessis28 from Pixabay |
Rainforests
stretched for miles. There were no deserts, there was only land
covered in masses of greenery, in thick fields of vegetation. Then
the cooling and drying came, vast tracts of lush life shrinking and
shrinking. On these plains, long-legged, speedy predators stalk their
prey. They race, a blur of gold and black, they jump with muscles
coiled, and they tear with claws outstretched. Survival has won for
them, and lost for their prey. . . .
Best In The WorldDevin Meireles (c) Copyright 2024 by Devin Meireles |
 Photo by Student News Agency at Wikimedia Commons. |
. . .An
extended family member begins the story. They tell a lot of stories,
such is an islander trait, but this one stands out from the others. I
listened closely as they told me about a time when the island was
inconspicuous. A little wonderland that was discreet for so long.
Distant from its mainland counterpart, and the rest of the world, it
was compelled to make its own way. That’s the island way. . . .
Mouse OverboardMarsha Porter (c) Copyright 2025 by Marsha Porter |
 Photo by Ralph at Pixabay. |
It
was a sunny summer morning with a gentle breeze to postpone our usual
100 degree heat. The beauty of my sparkling turquoise pool water vied
with that of the cloudless blue sky above. As I went about my weekly
pool shock treatment ritual, I was temporarily distracted by the
gentle hum of a large dragonfly zooming over my pool. . . .
|
An Act Of Kindness
Dale Fehringer (c) Copyright 2025 by Dale Fehringer |
|
This is a story about baseball and about Willie Mays, one of baseball's greatest center fielders. It's also about kindness and faith in your fellow humans. It's going to take a little while to get to that second part, so I ask for your patience. I'll get there. . . .
|
Aftermath Dreams October 1, 1985
Sarah Byron
(c) Copyright 2025 byValerie Byron
|
|
Why
do I allow myself to relive those times? The World War II years from
1939 to 1945 pale and are of no consequence compared to the
shattering of my illusions, the ruin of trust, the loss of the man I
idealized, his rejection, my despair. . . .
In The Mouse's HouseEudell Watts (c) Copyright 2025 by Eudell Watts |
 |
I was blessed to spend the first twenty years and more working alongside and with my father. He was a commercial waste hauler. He taught me how to work. He taught me how to treat other people. He taught me honesty. Most importantly he was one thing a lot of my friends growing up did not have. He was there for me. . . .
The Day A Sea Snake Spared MeCaroline Muiruri (c) Copyright 2024 by Caroline Muiruri |
 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
I enjoyed living in the Gazi Bay town, at the South Coast of Mombasa. The Swahili dishes, rich culture and proximity to the sea filled me with joy each day. While staying there, I decided to make a habit of taking a stroll each evening, right at sunset. The air in that coastal village always carried the scent of salt and mangroves. I used to stroll through a familiar route that cut across some green labyrinth of white mangrove.
One particular afternoon, I decided to take a different path. . . .
More...
Ahmed's parting shot came soft-sounding, yet loud and raucous. "How can you break what is already broken?"--an adieu I held close to my heart. It niggled at my mind in a way that had me in my feelings, like the song Stranger by Simi, which I always played on repeat. As days crept into weeks, this adieu revealed itself to be the acme of memory. The last bastion of our star-crossed love. . . .
October 2024 had me battered, a husk clawing for air after a grueling year. Work was a merciless churn--emails piling up like unpaid bills, a boss who'd shred my reports for sport, and an emotional drift that left me unmoored, staring at walls when the laptop finally dimmed.
I was drowning, but I'd always been too stubborn to sink completely. Emily, my sister, knew it. . . .
Breaking ShardsSandra Uche Delumozie (c) Copyright 2025 by Sandra Uche Delumozie |
 Photo by Michael Gill at Wikimedia Commons. |
Ahmed's parting shot came soft-sounding, yet loud and raucous. "How can you break what is already broken?"--an adieu I held close to my heart. It niggled at my mind in a way that had me in my feelings, like the song Stranger by Simi, which I always played on repeat. As days crept into weeks, this adieu revealed itself to be the acme of memory. The last bastion of our star-crossed love. . . .
The Squirrel That Stole My LunchSubham Rai (c) Copyright 2025 by Subham Rai |
 Photo by Charles James Sharp at Wikimedia Commons. |
October 2024 had me battered, a husk clawing for air after a grueling year. Work was a merciless churn--emails piling up like unpaid bills, a boss who'd shred my reports for sport, and an emotional drift that left me unmoored, staring at walls when the laptop finally dimmed.
I was drowning, but I'd always been too stubborn to sink completely. Emily, my sister, knew it. . . .
| The
Future Is Predictable Ezra Azra (c) Copyright 2025 by Ezra Azra |
 Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
. . . .I have never had a cat as a pet. For the first twenty-nine years of my life I had never seen a domestic cat. And so when I was six years old a peripatetic part-time fortune-teller predicted that sometime in my future a cat would save my life, all my family members at that table having a tea-break were skeptically and dismissively amused. . . .
An Observation On Baby RabbitsLeaving The NestKelly Wionzek (c) Copyright 2024 by Kelly Wionzek |
 Photo of baby cottontail courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. |
Several days ago I had the privilege of stumbling upon a nest of baby cottontails. Although having fur, the ears were short and they were blind.
Leaving them be, only checking their progress occasionally, we verified that the mother was feeding them during the night by leaving twig patterns on the nest. Over the days, she seemed to leave the yard later and later in the morning until one day she did not leave at all. . . .
Letter To Vanessa
Sarah Byron (c) Copyright 2025 byValerie Byron |
|
My
late mother, Sarah Byron, was born in the East End of London in
1911. Her stories and memoirs are colorful and richly
embroidered with detail that I find amazing that she recalled so late
in life. Below is a "letter" - but more of a memoir -
that she sent to my 13 year old daughter, Vanessa, in 1985. . . .
| When
The Gods Are Paying Attention Bheka Pierce (c) Copyright 2025 by Bheka Pierce |
 Image by beauty_of_nature from Pixabay |
Did
the driver of
the oncoming SUV, an elderly man whose forehead barely cleared the
steering wheel, see the little girl in her yellow dress and matching
hair ribbons? He was coming at speed, perhaps hoping to beat the
light a block beyond.
It was only by chance that I was here on the sidewalk in Copenhagen. Hard rain during the night had drowned my plan to mow the backyard. Instead, I cycled to the bank to get a hundred-dollar bill for each of my kids back in America. I'd tell them--as always--not to spend it all in one place. . . .
The Black DressLoukia Janavaras (c) Copyright 2025 by Loukia Janavaras |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
One
of my favorite photos from childhood is of my mom and me in Corinth,
Greece in the summer of 1971, the summer I turned two. She went back
to Ancient Corinth, her hometown to see her dying mother
my yiaya (grandma)
Vasiliki who was in her late 70s and took me along so I could meet
her for the first and last time. All the years I had seen this square
photo with its crisp white border tightly sealed inside an acrylic
photo cube, I never knew the secret it held. . . .
Guides In GardensLoukia Janavaras (c) Copyright 2025 by Loukia Janavaras |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
After dropping off my husband Andrew at his work headquarters, I decided to drive the rental car to Central Park and check out the Japanese Garden. This was our first trip to San Mateo, California so I wanted to explore and had the luxury to do so on my husband's work trip. I felt grateful for such an experience. . . .
Winter Days Of
Old
James L. Cowles (c)
Copyright 2025 by James L. Cowles |
|
A special time, one of a kind, a long, long time ago
A real tree, lights, tinsel bright, outside, the fluffy snow
Days of youth, the truest truth, with the world aglow
A real tree, lights, tinsel bright, outside, the fluffy snow
Days of youth, the truest truth, with the world aglow
Dear Mr. BluLoukia Janavaras (c) Copyright 2025 by Loukia Janavaras |
 Photo courtesy of the author. |
How
is it possible that you've been gone seven months? Seven months
today, in fact. And every month on the anniversary I tell myself I am
going to write you a letter. But the muse has not been with me of
late. Well, that plus the little voice of reason in my head that
says, you aren't really going to write a letter to him, are
you? Come on, really?. . .
What's Happening?Bonnie Crandall (c) Copyright 2025 by Bonnie Crandall |
 Image by rony michaud from Pixabay |
What's happening? . . . Something weird. But what? . . . What do I do? . . . WHAT IS HAPPENING!
I had just returned home from leading a workshop and my PowerPoint overload was giving me a serious headache. So, I grabbed a bottle of over-the-counter pain meds and popped two into my mouth. A few minutes passed and I could feel the medication taking hold. But it wasn't what I expected! My eyes felt as like they were trying to push out of my head. My tongue was suddenly too big for my mouth. My throat was swelling, and breathing was becoming very stressful. I knew I was in trouble, but couldn't understand why! . . .
| We
Are Family Karen Radford Treanor
(c) Copyright 2025 by Karen Radford Treanor
|
 Photo of the house on Elm Street courtesy of the author. |
"Family"
is a fluid concept these days. Perhaps it always was, outside the
confines of the conservative media.
An
acquaintance recently became the father of an adorable and
much-wanted baby girl. The event should be an occasion of
congratulations and best wishes, and so it is, except for a sizeable
majority who don't think he deserved the chance to be a parent,
due to what they term his 'lifestyle' and 'ungodly
behaviour'. . . .