Archive for December, 2006
Wednesday, December 27th, 2006
Brewster Deux
by Andrew Koop
I’m always cautious of that hand as though I might crush it — a small bird — through carelessness. Yet, that so-called hand is the least vulnerable thing about him; it twists my sweaty palm like a loose doorknob.
I’m a chameleon. My face reflects what it sees. What I feel — my hand [...]
1 Comment » - Tags: brewster, koop by Andrew Koop
Friday, December 22nd, 2006
Gen Eric (supplement)
by Max Mauney
Gen Eric v.2.0.2 (optional install)
… Caleb effortlessly connected owner and car as he imagined the lot and continued to recover from the evening’s run.
The sage green minivan belonged to Belinda, the clerk in payroll. That one was easy to match up. The giveaway was the whimsical plastic soccer ball designed [...]
2 Comments » - Tags: Mauney by Max Mauney
Thursday, December 21st, 2006
Gen Eric
Gen Eric: Selected Short Stories of Self-Loathing v.2.0.1
Having finished another jog, Caleb collapsed into his car. The vehicle bounced as his substantial weight fell into the driver’s seat. Waiting for his breathing to return to normal – or, at least, until he stopped gasping for oxygen – Caleb let his mind sift through the various [...]
2 Comments » - Tags: Mauney by Max Mauney
Monday, December 18th, 2006
Class Act
by Andrew Koop
The room was more or less crowded — an ambiguous shifting seminar…like the post office. Professor Jonesborough was lecturing on the inverted pyramid as the backbone of newspaper.
“Your assignment…ahemmm, is to write an article that demonstrates this technique. And I want to be pulled in — knowing all the big facts in that [...]
2 Comments » - Tags: higher-ed, koop, specificity by Andrew Koop
Sunday, December 17th, 2006
Whitey McNice
by Andrew Koop
Whitey McNice sat behind the thick newsledge. She always arrived a few minutes before her co-anchors. The stylist stood behind her; he was winning over her blonde loose-ends and putting the finishing touches on her eye make-up. The bags were hard to conceal — too many genuine sleepless nights. News was wearing on [...]
1 Comment » - Tags: journalism, koop, media by Andrew Koop
Friday, December 15th, 2006
American Boardstand
Dropjaw slid onto stage — his brakes locked up on ice. The glare off his shades blinded the front row. He was about to bring the house down.
It would come to be known as How Dropjaw Stole Christmas. His rendition of Jingle Bell Rock had the ladies fainting. His fingers danced nimbly on the keys [...]
1 Comment » - Tags: koop, stage-presence by Andrew Koop
Tuesday, December 12th, 2006
Jolly Uncle Sam
by Andrew Koop
Samuel Chairstraddle hopped into his 1990 GMC Jimmy and cranked the engine.
“Please start; com’onnn…baby, START!”
{WRiii, WRiii, chik, chick, vwirrrrr, VROOM}
Sam crossed himself and looked up to where he supposed the heavens were; he blew a kiss. Resting his arm behind the passenger headrest, he backed quickly down his icy driveway — checking briefly [...]
No Comments » - Tags: economy, holidays, koop by Andrew Koop
Saturday, December 9th, 2006
Circus Train Effect
by Andrew Koop
Two deaths minutes apart. Chaotic chatter erupted under the hot circus spotlights. Ringmaster doubled as a medic; he tended to Uza. Her head still lay on the hard packed straw while her limbs convulsed. He knew it was a lost cause the moment he saw the fall, but protocol was protocol. A troop [...]
No Comments » - Tags: circus, koop, moustache by Andrew Koop
Friday, December 8th, 2006
Circus Train Wreck
by Andrew Koop
Victor Slammenstein was upset. He had been a member of the Jungefrauzen Family Circus for over twenty years — marrying into the family when he was a youth of 16 years. The circus was his life — his wife never shaved her face weekdays or on Saturday. He’d given up a promising career [...]
No Comments » - Tags: circus, family-business, koop, moustache by Andrew Koop
Thursday, December 7th, 2006
Platelettes
by AJ Koop
It was slate black outside — the only light came from cars whizzing past the house. But, it was bright inside…too bright even for a birthday party.
She had been drinking since just after lunch. Her tight top clung to her amazing bust like reynolds wrap with matching skin-tight black pants and too much [...]
No Comments » - Tags: birthday, drama, koop, whiskey-related-violence by Andrew Koop
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
Hobby Tits
Tom looked up, raising his eyebrows, his reading glasses balanced on the end of his long, but round pointed nose. His pencil fell to the floor. “Well, I-I uh, uh, I think they just sell toys overthere.” Despite the studder he rambled confidently and seemed satisfied as he ended his words with a [...]
1 Comment » - Tags: buddy, glenn-scott, hobby, Tom by Buddy
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
Heft
I have stood in the same spot of this store every day for 16 years. I love watching people, their shopping habits, the way they interact, and what they buy. I now look forward to seeing some of the regulars. Even though I don’t know most of their names, I feel [...]
3 Comments » - Tags: Mauney by Max Mauney
Tuesday, December 5th, 2006
Thanksgiving
That was the year – my twenty-fifth – in which I realize ambition’s connection to success – at least in terms of greater society’s definition of both – was overrated and overstated. Everything is relative; that’s really true. And know what else? Expectations. It’s all about expectations. And I’m expected to take three pills [...]
2 Comments » - Tags: chicago, dave, family, wisconsin by Dave Weiss
Monday, December 4th, 2006
Self Help
Andy and I met at a self-help seminar. He was a fellow beat-nik, (the mo-hawk was a dead give-away) who was there to research a hot lead for inspirational characters for his up coming novel. I opened conversation with a question:
“What shoe size do you wear?”
“Um, I don’t know what kind of impression you may [...]
1 Comment » - by Juawon Scott
Monday, December 4th, 2006
Grease
Bobatruscent was new…but, not really. Actually, every conversation gravitated back to some other place he’d lived.
“When I lived in Rhode Island, I knew this kid named Skinks. We’d come out the house and see ol Skinky outside poking his head through the fence and we’d chase him down the block. Always caught ‘im. We’d pistol [...]
No Comments » - Tags: breakfast, cooking, cuisine, koop by Andrew Koop
Saturday, December 2nd, 2006
Cover Charge
by Andrew Koop
Overcoming Adam Chapter
Sharise accelerated to 80 as she spoke loudly into her cell phone. “I’ll meet you at Club Paradise; it’s much better,” she said. “I’m not hungry. I just ate. We are going to have a fabulous time,” she said with emphasis. “Ok, ok.”
She hung up the phone and honked at the [...]
No Comments » - Tags: excerpts, koop by Andrew Koop
Friday, December 1st, 2006
Steakhouse
by Andrew Koop
I was a scared skinny kid in a green apron.
“What’s your social security, hun?”
“…My what? I’m sorry…”
Fran’s frizzy bleach blonde hair smelled like cigarettes. Heavy mascara added to the weight of her bagged eyes. Her gnarled coffee teeth jutted out slightly forming a wicked grin.
“Your social security card? There’s a number on [...]
1 Comment » - Tags: cooking, cuisine, koop, work by Andrew Koop
Friday, December 1st, 2006
Memory Lane
by Andrew Koop
A Chapter
Charlotte sat in the front of the bus. She looked around, assessing her surroundings. She hated the bus and hated herself more for losing her license. Its funny how it all worked out. I knew he’d been letting that bitch drive my car, she thought.
Her anger shifted back to herself. I can’t [...]
