Benjamin Chandler

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Sean King

Paulo Srulevitch

Emily J

Sam Becker

English

"I'll have a Grandma's Uncle Fish." I blinked at the customer. "You got it," I said & turned around to grab a glass. I'd never heard of a Grandma's Uncle Fish cocktail before. I snuck a peek at our cheat sheet, a list of drink recipes we keep behind the bar, but it wasn't there.

I moved a few bar things around, looking busy, but secretly I scrutinised the punter with shifty little glances in the huge, gilded bar mirror. She was easily three metres tall and wearing a stovepipe hat with an airhorn attached to the front. No doubt she was here to kill me.

I wish I’d never publicly rebuked the Valkyrie Princess. I could have simply declined her advance in a polite way! But my big mouth got me in trouble again, and now there is a price on my head.

I should have went on, just as father told me to do. I wonder if the people of Valkyrie will have mercy over my heart.

Staying here in Valkyrie may no longer be an option. If the people don’t accept my explanations… If they start to come after me, I’ll have no choice but to flee. I thought back to the lessons my father taught me. Should I hide? Run? Fight? I would know soon enough.

I knew the moment I heard a knock at the door that I had outstayed my welcome. It was the butcher, the mayor, and a soldier who crassly invited themselves in. I served tea ahead of our difficult conversation. By the time voices were raised the poison had done its job.

The Valkyrie's Last Drink

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Alex Ramir

I pushed the mop back and forth slowly as I circled near the door for a third time. I eyed the lock. They should’ve known better than assigning a former locksmith to mop in the prison laundry. That door was all I could think about now.

It was like giving candy to a baby. I wouldn't have to exert energy too much to get that door open, or maybe it's a trap!

Taking candy from a baby is easy, giving them candy is a different story. Nothing they can choke on, nothing too large for them to hold, they tend not to like sour things, and babies shouldn’t have too much sugar anyway. I told you it wasn’t easy!

My roommates tell me I overthink. Like on Halloween. "Just give 'em the Milky Ways!" they say, but they don't understand. The candy must match the costume. What ghost would ever eat Skittles? Frankensteins & Tootsie Pops do not mix. And if you hand out Butterfingers to a dinosaur

you might as well kiss your fingers good-bye. Everything in life must be methodical. What would life be if I didn’t match my socks to the color of the week? Why even bother if you’re not going to arrange the food on your plate in size order? Don’t get me started on coordinating

I retracted my hands from the bandsaw. Had I lived a decadent life full of artistic pursuits? I looked down at my mismatched socks covered in sawdust and collapsed under the weight of my shame. My accuser pulled me to my feet. “Just kidding,” they said. “Now finish my birdhouse!”

From A Jailhouse to a Birdhouse

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Physics of Gaming

Logan Pengelly

I smile as every strike hits his body, I could kill guilt knowing that the plan was going correctly I was able to wipe away the guilt I feel for hurting him.The boy gasps out"Why me?" I give him an answer,"Don't worry im not going to kill you, I just need enough of your blood to

extract enough antibodies to start synthesizing a vaccine. The beating and pain brings the strongest ones out, you see. Of course I’m a real scientist! I’m a certified gemologist.

I always add the "certified" bit to really convince the listener. I mean, who would trust an uncertified gemologist? I wouldn't. You shouldn't. They could misidentify your amethyst as fluorite and then you'd really be up schist creek without a paddle. That's a little stone joke.

Covid is now a stone. Anti-vaxxers regret. The CovidChart online chart spiked so high that you needed to scroll up to see it. Covidrock is the new sucide game. And you are out to

As I thought of all the ways our world had changed since 2020, I tried to calm the panic rising in me. It was no use remembering how it used to be and wishing fruitlessly to return to a normalcy that would never again happen. All I can do now is focus on the survival of my kids.

I hugged them close that night, putting all fears of contagion out of mind. Winds and dust swept over our encampment. Air raid sirens whined faintly in the distance. Before drifting off I kissed each kid on top of their head. What has not killed us must make us stronger.

The True Vaccine to Covid

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Enrique Arnold

“Inhale through the nose, hold for 3, slow exhale through the mouth.” I began trying to remember the soft voice of the woman on my morning mediation app. It was no use. I opened my eyes and hit the steering wheel with both fists. There was nothing that could help me relax now!

I decided instead to amp myself up. I shoved the "High B.P." tape in the deck & the dissonant opening notes of "We Have Explosive" boomed from the speakers. THIS was how to start a Cannonball Run! I knew I'd be 1st to Pearl's Deluxe Burgers in San Fran & win the $100,000, unless

the contest happened to be limited to vehicles that traveled on roads or had wheels. My two legged strider could cross most solid terrain at a high speed. It self-piloted while I could read, nap, or dream in my impact hammock. Westward Ho!

I sat in my strider anxiously awaiting the horn to start the race. I ran through my checklist one more time. Food. Mapping backups. Warm clothing for the mountains. Just as the countdown began, there was a frantic pounding on the hatch. “Let me in!” a familiar voice shouted.

It was Eibon. …At least that’s what one would say if they were going by appearances. Well, and his voice, and his height. Everything matched except for a scar under his chin. “Who are you?” I shouted.

The creature caught me staring at its chin and leapt toward me. I reached into my satchel and pullet out my last defense. It clawed at my face before collapsing under the shock of my taser. "Eibon is gone," it said sleepily, a waft of frosting in the air. "I am Cinnabon."

Cinnabon

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Zoe Becker

Jerry glanced down at the photograph in his hand, then back up again at the woman sitting alone at the back of the cafe.

“That’s the one,” he thought and reached into his pocket to get his taser. “Can’t be too careful. The file says she’s dangerous.”

All at once a blinding light coursed through the space. Jerry and the woman froze. And then a creature appeared, seemingly from the air itself.

Jerry spun to face the creature, firing the taser at its leathery chest. The creature disappeared in a second blinding flash. Jerry faced the woman. “Who the hell are you?” he asked. “Nobody you want to know,” she replied with a weary sigh.

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