Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Word Catalyst Magazine--July Issue Posted

A snippet from my column this month:

Loser Takes All

"I'll stay." Clyde shot Jasper a look, one of those looks that cuts through like a knife. Even softened by the shadow of his white fedora's brim, the eyes shot bullets.

Jasper looked away. He didn't want to show how his heart was thump-thumping like the vibration of a thousand horses galloping. He dropped one hand over his chips and pushed the entire stack into the pot. "I raise you, and I call," he murmured.

The boy shifted in his seat. His Sunday-go-to-meeting pants itched his tiny behind, and the suspenders cut into his shoulders. He longed for his everyday dungarees...and he dreamed of home. Swatting a fly from his face, he hunkered down to watch the men. The round table gave him a position of equal importance to them.

Clyde and Jasper were in a deadlock, eyes resting on each other, each refusing to look away. Jasper's skinny frame held rigid against the other man's stare. A man who threw all his chips into the pot needed that. He had to look strong, unflappable...a winner. His mustache under normal circumstances would twitter when he felt nervous. But he had the presence of mind this time to hold it steady, even though it itched to move. It was like holding back a colony of ants on the run.

"Are you really going to bet all your chips at one time when the prize is so important?" Clyde's expression of outrage reached across the table like slaps to the face. Read more...

7 comments:

  1. Leave it to the boys to bet on something really serious! A life or chicken good one!

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  2. I happy to see another story from you. Tt is amazing how peoople will use the strangest things to make decisions.

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  3. I think this one just became my favorite of yours... This was so poignant. And I loved the line about holding back the ants for trying not to twitch the moustache. :)

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  4. Anonymous5:33 PM

    Hmmm, I didn't know I had a second profile... wierd. Here's me again. LOL
    Oh and PS, congrats *again* you championship hogs! :) :)

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  5. Oh, you Philadelphians! Some day, far far away into future...far away...you might have a championship team...

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  6. Anonymous7:53 PM

    LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL I should unsubscribe from you for that. Snort snort snort!! :)

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