My Cardboard Balcony

Don't Forget by Belinda Roddie Don't forget that the night is still young, so let's paint our lives like crop circles in the grass, pretending that the vast, dark cosmos are waiting for us both to rise above the others and achieve a higher state of being. Don't act like what we have's not a work of art in progress. We'll debate our futures over coffees that are hot as stars. I'll wear a bowtie that will spin when the sun sets and sing when it rises. You'll wear a gown as white as Spanish wind across pearl sands. I know I will confess my sins to you, in hopes that you'll forgive me, before our brave sun ceases to live.

I tried to eat my candy bar, but it melted in my pocket. So I had to change my jeans or else everyone would've thought I missed the bathroom. So now I was wearing bright neon green shorts to class, with no way to nourish myself through physics class. So far, this day was shaping up to be anything but a perfect circle. I preferred to call it a deformed circle - all lumps, and still no real end in sight.

Gold Teef, 1984 by Belinda Roddie Something set the hairs on the back of my neck on end today as I huddled between the impending storm of downtown and the ensuing calm of endless fields - a bus stop hanging in the balance, a dilapidated green sign pointing the way. I closed my copy of Orwell's literary warning and remembered that it was 1985, and we hadn't quite gotten to a society like Oceania (yet). To my left, an old man with only a few remaining molars smiled. His teeth almost looked like pyrite, the way they glistened, even between their cracks. When he talked, he couldn't say his letters right, and the something stroked my neck again and gave me an awful chill. When the bus came, I was half-expecting a hearse. The old man got up, waved, and instantly transformed into someone younger.  He wore silks and satins and trotted aboard with a top hat and cane, singing "God Save the Queen" as he disappeared into Big Brother's metrop...

You told me that you were scared, and that's why you didn't show up to the restaurant tonight. The same reason you used for why you didn't turn up at my birthday party, or my art show, or my piano recital. The same reason I heard from you year after year when you called me on the phone, or left me a paltry monthly check-in through e-mail. You told me you were scared about trying to be my father again. I told you that if you were scared, then that meant you weren't trying hard enough.

The Throne by Belinda Roddie Having a bad day? Have no fear. Every night's better when the drag kings are here. With their flowing beards and their fabulous hair, their dapper vests and ascots looking all debonair. They're royalty to behold, and they'll make you noble, too, so let the grand old drag kings bring a queer day to you.

"I'm going to be scarred for life!" laughed Charlie, gripping the chair as her shoulders convulsed with hidden giggles. She was just about ready to slap Paul silly for his antics - most recently, his waltzing around the apartment with only a speedo on, showing off what he described as his "curves." It was sort of amazing to have a gay roommate, because Charlie was as gay as a rainbow, and Paul was a compilation of even more colors of the spectrum.

Coffee Date Gone Wrong by Belinda Roddie Took a bite of your companionship and didn't like the taste. You claimed that if that were the case, then I shouldn't have tried it in the first place. Was half-tempted to spill your cappuccino across your pretentious knee, but I preferred to just leave you alone and stranded on your nice guy ranting spree.