Bingly Ironhart was Manchester’s most enthusiastic ironmonger—enthusiasm measured, of course, by the number of squeaky hinges he polished before breakfast. Each morning, he burst through his shop doors at precisely 6:03 am (never 6:00, for dramatic flair), straightening rows of horseshoes like they were little silver soldiers. His apprentice, young Marmaduke, tip-toed in behind him, carrying a teetering stack of coil spri...

Love At First Sight: They called it love at first sight, though neither of them believed in such things—until that bright April morning in 1981. On her porch swing, reading a well-worn paperback, Sarah watched the stranger get out of his dusty rental car. He looked lost, curious—eyes tracing the white picket fences and awnings of Maplewood’s Main Street. He paused, caught her gaze, and offered a shy wave. By lunchtime, th...

France, 1917 The mud in the trench was always there, thick, clinging, and alive in a way that made Private Edward Hale uneasy. It sucked at his boots, pulled at his ankles like it wanted him down with the others who’d never made it back to the surface. He kept to himself mostly. The other lads in his unit thought he was soft, too poetic for war. He wrote no letters to anyone and stared into the mist longer than a sane man...

The Orphanage agreed to shelter the children with no further consideration. Someone filed a petition after the stubborn incident. Curious people tried to find clues about the identity of the petitioner, but the orphanage authority wouldn't disclose the benefactor. This act of secrecy brought doubts among the people. Mila, who shares my adjacent apartment, said, "It's the father of one of her illegitimate children. You’ll...

She turned, scrutinised her profile. Dressed head-to-toe in designer couture, she was a vision of smooth accentuated curves with long, slender legs and breasts a supermodel would be proud to thrust on the catwalk. Stroking her contours, her smile widened. She felt youthful, alive. Her flawless skin was firm, muscles taut. Recently-coiffured hair cascaded down her back in show-stopping raven waves. ‘Not bad,’ she thought,...

Dining out in Edinburgh would not present an overwhelming challenge I did not think. We had left our hotel on Prince's Street and strolled down the hill towards the harbor. My lady was on my arm, a spring chill in the air, so we both wore long coats. Mine was a tan trenchcoat and matching Trilby. My wife wore a raincoat in anticipation of dampness from the evening skies. As we passed two young men coming from the opposite...

Beyond the shore, the sun descendsand paints the sky in fuchsia blendswith passion fruit and tangerineand clouds a-blush with peachy sheenmagenta ribbons flirt with blueas day departs in royal adieua spectral thrall, a final boastto brush the warm Amalfi Coastthe spritely sea consumes the lightas waters burn for coming nightand sand glows rose in lovers’ heatthere on the beach, we take our seatI wrap her with a tender arm...

A haze of amber flecked with goldthe nightly spell of Rome takes holdits citrine light gleams from our hairand our footsteps float as if on airThe ancient mischief of ancient lanesdilates our eyes, infects our brainsthe domes and columns coalesceto wink us, nudge us, urge us, 'yes'With impish looks, our hands entwineour faces flushed with golden winecoy laughter rolls in rustic streetstill in our sight, the river greetsUp...

A thousand jewels in soft arraybrush moonlit waters in sweet balletvibrant lights from red to goldenchant the river of London oldThrough the night, St Paul's commandsa ship of white, atop the landscasting awe from bridge to hallsplashing life in silver thrallBlackfriars Bridge in calm reposeOxo Tower glows like a rosetwisting lamps climb from the standsThames Clippers sail in silky bandsBy the wall, a busker playspennies...

We huddle silentlyDraped in a quilt of innocent friendshipThe warmth of our arms minglingAs we sit side-by-side in the dark roomOur faces flicker with multi-colored splashesDolled out by my bulky old TVShowing our private 'movie-night' movieBathing us in translucent excusesShe's glowing tonightEven more so than usualHer clothes are a little tighterHer make-up more carefully attendedHer hair shimmering and smootherHer chee...

The oar blades dip into the dappled glass-like waterBeneath the sighs of weeping willows, the boat glides forwardSending gentle ripples fanning across the river, shorewardTo slosh softly against the bankAcross the boat, she looks back at meHer blonde hair dances with mottled golden raysAnd on her face, glows a smile that says,there's more than the sun's warmth between usI lean back and pull the oars through the dark liqui...

Driving along the highway. POP. There it goes again, you think. Sounds like a rock hitting the side of the car. That can't be good. Might ruin the finish. This car is only five or six years old. Dammit all. Nothing to do. It's just gravel or stones along the highway. Can't avoid 'em. You let it go. Let it pass from your mind.  Days later you're heading down the highway again.  POP. What the heck. You didn't see any rocks....

It's been so lonely, you are thinking, and this happens. These simple words make you hope, it might be. You always recognize your own hope appearing. "Hello darlin'." That's what he said. He's flirting, you consider. It startles you a little. It's been awhile. At least, since it wasn't someone that was overbearing, rude. Yes, you wonder, is this one going to be rude and mean. You don't think you can take that again. The t...

Bishop’s Lounge was busy and loud and blue with smoke. I sat by myself back in a dark corner booth, contributing my share of smoke and watching Angela. She had come in with a group of work friends and they sat at one of the tables chattering and drinking wine but she seemed distracted and kept looking over at the bar. She had on a black dress to match her black bob. There was also a black wire in her black purse she didn'...

Along came MagsPeople on the street called her Raggy Maggie for obvious reasons. She was the consummate street person complete with shopping cart and collection of stuff she found in dumpsters. It was getting to be too cold to sleep outside and she needed to find shelter. The woman at the Good Shepherd centre directed her towards grandma Sheffield’s rooming house and even called ahead to make sure grandma had a bed for he...