Disquiet

The smell of smoke and burning plastic wakes me up. Avoiding panic, I get out of bed and check the stove and the refrigerator and the air conditioning. The house sits quiet in the dawn sunlight. Quickly close the windows. Outside in the parking lot ash falls around me. A tension in my forehead begins to grow from the smell. My eyes scan the disquiet, gray sky for the source.

No. 101

Asleep

Windows down, the calming sound of ocean waves crashing carried him into sleep. The easterly wind came through the open windows, cooling him, forcing him to pull a blanket up to his chin. Carried along it came the shrieking cry of a mountain lion. He sat up quickly, heart racing, sweat breaking out on his forehead. The follicles on his arms contracted, sending goosebumps down the flesh. Through the rear window he looked out at the mountains, trying to determine the location of the mountain lion. Instead only the stars greeted him.

No. 095