When My Father Died…

When my father died,
I didn’t know how to grieve.
Only yearning and yearning,
As a little child,
Unable to articulate,
the reason I was left behind.

-Sammie Oh

The Majority (Tuesday Tiny Tale)

“I trust you all have carefully considered the proposed amendment,” said the President. “If there are any further comments and concerns, please speak now.” He looked around expectantly. A few dozen council members sat in cushioned pews before him.

One member raised his voice, “It’s about time we made the change! We need to be at the forefront of these kinds of issues and set a higher standard.”

“Absolutely,” another praised. “I honestly don’t know why we waited so long.”

“It’s the right thing to do,” said another.

“Only close-minded fools would disagree.”

And on and on it went until almost half the crowd had a chance to share some comment of approval.

The President raised his hand to signal. “Alright then, let’s cast our ballots to make it official.”

A murmur spread through the council and someone remarked to a neighbor, audible to everyone “Can’t imagine any of us are against progress! Otherwise they shouldn’t be here.” and chuckled.

Each member voted on a slip of paper and dropped it into the ballot box. Once everyone was seated again, the President opened the box and began to tally.

After several minutes of chatter, the President cleared his throat and announced, “It seems that the majority has voted in favor of the amendment.”

He paused briefly.

“However, it was only by a single vote and not enough to ratify.”

A look of confusion and discomfort and anger passed throughout the pews.

“Is this for real?” one of the more vocal members questioned with scorn, scanning the room. “I would never have guessed.”

Another member observed, “Then it’s a good thing we voted.”

Tuesday Tiny Tale

This year I may have blinked too many times. I started off the year like everyone else who thinks it will be a great year – or at least better than the one before.

Then I blinked and we were swept in a global pandemic. Death tolls soared. Employment rates tanked. Toilet paper was out of stock.

I blinked again and city blocks were destroyed by the protests of enraged civilians. Hashtags were loaded. People were fired.

My eyelids had barely fluttered before anger and hatred burned brighter than the blazes in California.

Still I blinked once more.

All I can see is the obscured truth barely surfacing amidst political agendas. Every news bit getting portrayed by two-faced medias and getting consumed with equal recklessness. Ridicule and disgust trending at audacious speeds.

And yet…

If I dare close my tired eyes for a second, it will be to open them in hopes of another year better than this one.

Tuesday Tiny Tale

There was movement outside. It was almost midnight but something or someone had cast a momentary shadow from the streetlamp just in front of the house.

Maddie slid out of bed. She peeked through the gap between her window curtains. Moths flit around the streetlamp. All was still otherwise. She stood there for a few seconds, straining her eyes and ears.

Nothing. If not her then surely the cameras would detect anyone sneaking around. Still, Maddie waited, unable to fall asleep anyway. The suburbs were too quiet. They said it was safer here.

Finally, Maddie climbed back into bed. The squeaking mattress and ruffling of her blanket seemed much too loud. As she pulled the sheets over herself she thought she heard barking in the distance. She stopped to listen and kept her eyes on the window.

Then she heard the bedroom door creak behind her.

Saturday Special: A Haiku

His heart chooses a rhythm

It beats much too fast

She is making her way here

Tuesday Tiny Tale

“Run faster!” she rasped and collapsed.

Reaching for Celestial Dreams

That night I chased the full moon, the beautiful winter moon, and it kept getting further away. How strange and silly and exciting it was to pursue the impossible. And how small and human and somber I felt afterward.