Free-Floating Stories+

a one act play Julia, happily married, has carried a torch for her first love. Cliff, a widower, has pined for Julia as well. Over the years they have both maintained contact through Christmas cards. Cliff breaks the stalemate by calling Julia and inviting her to lunch. She sorts her feelings with her hairdresser, Billy. … Continue reading A Christmas Card Affair

A visit to Tanzania challenges Peace Corps nostalgia I climbed out of my seat and crossed the aisle to get my first glimpse of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I’d never been to Tanzania before, but I was as excited as when I went to Guatemala with the Peace Corps some fifty years ago. Of course, it wouldn’t … Continue reading Turn, Turn, Turn

See this owie on my elbow? That kid on the other team pushed me down just when I was ready to kick the ball. No fair. They blew a whistle. My arm hurt. My eyes wanted to cry. But I looked through the glass walls at my daddy. He squeezed his fists in front of … Continue reading SOMETIMES SEAN WEARS A DRESS AND SOMETIMES JEANS

An ancient Mayan ritual speaks to a modern marriage The chicken bus rocks to the right as we swoop through a curve fighting the pull of Lake Atitlan. Below. Way below. My hip weighs against a Mayan woman. She looks up. Beautiful black eyes. Like Sandra’s asking approval for her web design. Back in Chicago. … Continue reading Wholehearted Prayer

A surprise takeaway from Bushman cave paintings   “Yes, sir. What is your room number?” “2212. What the hell. Can’t you tell that from your switchboard?” “Sorry. What was your order again?” “My order. We ordered a club sandwich and chicken wrap fifty minutes ago. If it isn’t up here in the next ten minutes, … Continue reading The Eland Connection

Two seminarians, Rome, mid 60’s go on a journey at a decision point in their lives  Late September, my third year in Rome. I was in a funk. Another year of dry theology classes at the Gregorian University stretched before me. More importantly, the subdiaconate and the promise to live a celibate life loomed on … Continue reading A Watershed Vacation

Loose stones exploded like flak on the underside of Pete’s van. His wife stirred from a half-doze. “Why are we driving down a dirt road?” she muttered. “I want to get some berries.” “They sell berries right next to the highway. Why do we have to go down a dirt road?” Good question, Pete thought … Continue reading A Mile-Long Affair

A single mother sheltering from an abusive marriage on an experimental Costa Rican farm   I hate when she does that—hugs me from behind and cups a breast in each hand. But what can I do? She allows me to live on the finca as part of the commune and acts like a grandmother to … Continue reading Finca la Flor

A lighter entry…as Mother Earth News, Last Laugh, feature   “Hey, Rube, look at that man burning leaves," I said, squatting to my son’s eye level and pointing to the fire that almost singed an above-ground swimming pool. “What’s wrong with this picture?” My claim to immortality paused, thought. “He’s too close.” “What might happen?” … Continue reading Help for the Humor Deprived

It’s a long way up a 300 ft. wind turbine. But you don’t really know how tall that is until you have to ratchet yourself up the 250 rungs inside the stem of the wind flower. It’s what you call a ‘young man’s’ job. At an in-service, a couple of weeks ago, the kids called … Continue reading My Cave in the Sky