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
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.
Read the full storyFiction
Crumbs
A short but potent piece about a woman watching her mother fall into dementia.
Read the full storyMemoir
Modes of Transportation
A stunning story of how music helped a journalist find her gender identity. Plus this line:
Read the full storyI 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.
Fiction
Black Heart
A grandfather deals with some trespassers, bascially. The grandfather in this story reminded me so much of my dad.
Read the full storyIn 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.
Fiction
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.
Read the full storyMemoir
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.“
Read the full story“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.“