My sister is a doctor who practices at free clinics, and she talks a lot about the ‘hidden homeless‘ demographic that people like Fealey (“The Invisible Man”) fall into.
Katherine Plumhoff shows up a lot around here, and this story is another one that goes in wildly surprising directions. That seems to be her superpower.
Fiction Stories
Sting
A creepy camping story with and ending that’ll haunt you. The perspective shift in this story is done brilliantly, and the ending will linger for a while.
Published in Fictive Dream
Read more by Sophie Hampton
Crumbs
A short but potent piece about a woman watching her mother fall into dementia.
Published in cease cows
Read more by Beth Kanter
Black Heart
A grandfather deals with some trespassers, bascially. The grandfather in this story reminded me so much of my dad.
In the stare-down that follows, three men stand. I hope the girls are impressed, because I am mostly amused by guys who try to look tough but don’t know which way is front of their ball caps.
Published in BULL
Read more by Erik Cederblom
Rat Daddy
A first date, some science about lab rats, and a bunch of unexpected twists.
Read the interview with Plumhoff after the story, it addresses some questions you’re sure to have.
Published in Forge
Read more by Katherine Plumhoff
Nonfiction Stories
Modes of Transportation
A stunning story of how music helped a journalist find her gender identity. Plus this line:
I wondered what kind of person listened to R.E.M. The almost-literal truth is: nearly everyone born between the years of 1970 and 1985, at least for a little while.
Published in Hearing Things
Read more by Sadie Sartini Garner
The Invisible Man
A firsthand account of homelessness in America.
“Living as minimally as I know how, I’m not making it. I’m losing weight I don’t have to lose. I quit smoking and went on the patch to save money. Alcohol is the buffer a sensitive soul needs to withstand the crimes of a race—the human race—that has proved itself ungrateful and homicidal.“
“Living as minimally as I know how, I’m not making it. I’m losing weight I don’t have to lose. I quit smoking and went on the patch to save money. Alcohol is the buffer a sensitive soul needs to withstand the crimes of a race—the human race—that has proved itself ungrateful and homicidal.“