Turn, Amaryllis, to thy swain…Alex Van Buren sang the old part-song under his breath. Prancing a coltish crow-hop at the start of each phrase, he seemed a tall, fledgling golden palomino; simultaneously graceful and awkward, with a pale mane of healthy hair and promise of strength to come. Casual observers noticed and smiled. Balmy weather… Continue Reading
Cut Crystal
The last time I saw my father, he was sitting in that huge wing-chair of his with a glass of “the good stuff” in his hand; “the best stuff money can buy,” he said; as usual. Even then, so many years after my coming-of-age trip to Israel, I was still focused on the crystal tumbler… Continue Reading
Oh Maggie
Wake up, Maggie, wake up! The little girl cried out to her mother; loud enough to be heard but not to shock. She climbed on the windowsill and opened the blinds to deliver her message. We’ll miss the bus and be late for school again if you don’t. Oh-h-h, her mother groaned, tossing a forearm… Continue Reading
Look Out!- Part 3
Lilly read slowly and methodically and forced herself from one sentence to the next. The accident was described in enough detail to make it clear a loose bolder on a hairpin turn was responsible. One climber was a local Frenchman who’d suffered no injuries. The other was a young American on his first trip to… Continue Reading
Look Out! – part 2
It was a revelation to find that she and Simon had a lot more in common than their passion for climbing mountains. Realizing their attraction to each other had much to do with the pull of shared values and dreams only added to the magnetism. Lilly’s parents said a healthy assault of adolescent hormones played… Continue Reading
Look Out!
Part One of a new short story … In Professor Penn’s usual style, they stayed in a tiny, inexpensive, but lovely out-of- the way spot in Germany near the Rhine river. There were no tourists, and only fishermen and laborers in the vineyards to talk with. At the end of a tiring day of climbing… Continue Reading