Executioner’s Weekend

If paper targets came to life just once, I’d never return to the range—I might set down my weapon forever—but while they’re silhouettes of simple black on simple white, I’ll shoot until the world is out of ammo, and surprisingly the opposite doesn’t spook me:

Weekday Executioner

Nobody has ever asked me to find anybody they didn’t want me to kill. I don’t mean to complain. Unlike others in our group, I have a clear objective, but it’s not the way I’d like to be defined, as a killer per se,

Mechanical Difficulty

—Kathy, please prepare the cabin for takeoff.
—You already said that, sir. Sir? Brian?
—Is the cabin prepared?
—We’re airborne, sir.
—I’d like to hear that from Troy, please.
—We’re airborne, sir.

Proof of the World

In this 300-word paper, I will prove that the world exists, beyond a reasonable doubt, as I was assigned. 277 words to go. First premise: as everybody I know will tell you, I am to blame for everything.

Naked River

—It’s hard to look at a river and see the river.
—What do we see then, if not the river?
—We see time. We see change.
—We don’t see water flowing by?
—We see water, but only as a metaphor for time.
—I think I see water.

Hemlock Kiss

That was your idea of an apology, old man?—that preposterous collection of sophistry and insults? Did you forget you were talking to a jury of 500 farmers? Athens is still a democracy, whatever you may wish. 251 farmers can stop all debate.

The Question

His job in life, accomplished as a child with the asking of a single question, was to reconcile a mother with her daughter. Do you want to die angry at her? he had asked, oblivious to the consequences.

Trolley Problems

A runaway trolley is racing downhill. If I hurry to the switch, I can divert the trolley to another track, that is, if I understand switches. Sunlight crinkles on the storefront windows,

Knife in the Bed

We can’t just weep on paper and call it Book of Tears. We can’t just stab the book and call it Rage, but certain stories are more physical fact than art.

Send in the Barbarians

So enormous was the empire that a great wall was built to contain the indifferent citizens more enamored of regular meals than loyal to the emperor,