Keeping Secrets

“Don’t tell your mother,” whispered Harold, sweeping up porcelain pieces as Jacob walked in.

“Gee, Dad, she’ll explode when she finds out.”

“That’s why I ordered a replacement.”

When the doorbell rang, Carrie raced to the door.

“Did you order anything?” she asked Harold who happened to appear alongside.

“Yes I did,” he mumbled. “I’ll open it in my office, after my next Zoom meeting.”

At dinner, everyone gathered in the dining room. Carrie glanced at the China cabinet.

“Strange,” she uttered. “I’m certain that figurine has blonde hair, not red.”

Jacob turned his head the other way to smile.

From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs

Krystyna is a writer of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. She resides in Edmonton, Canada.

Caramel Sauce

“Sweet,” Dad said, licking his lips.

“Different,” Mom added.

We were seated in the dining room for Thanksgiving dinner. Mysixteen-year-old brother wanted to showcase the skills he had masteredin a culinary arts course.

“Wait!” he exclaimed.

The rest of us watched him taste the meal before him. An expression ofbewilderment spread across his face. He ran back to the kitchen andreturned.

“I emptied out the wrong pot,” he conceded. ‘The caramel sauce wasmeant for apple cake.”

“So what is left for the cake now?” Dad asked while Mom and Irefrained from laughing.

“Turkey gravy.”

From Guest Contributor Krystyna Fedosejevs

Krystyna writes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

Try Again

He buys a supermarket flower bouquet and, pecking her cheek, gives it to his wife in the kitchen. She throws it in the trash can after he goes to work the next morning. Again. He buys white roses from the subway exit vendor, and gives them, with a hug, to his wife in the living room. Into the trash can after he goes to work. Again. He gives a pink potted orchid, expectantly, to his wife in the dining room. The orchid sits on a bedroom table the next morning when the wife lies in bed with the trash collector.

From Guest Contributor Gerald Kamens