My Cardboard Balcony

"Hey. Hey, kid," muttered the homeless woman sitting in her own urine at the bus stop. "You've got something for me to eat? I'm hungry. Starving! I need protein, you hear? And carbs! I'll die of exhaustion without carbs!" The young boy unwrapped his sandwich and handed it to the woman, who devoured it eagerly. A little rush of color rose in her cheeks, and she sighed and lulled her head back against the concrete wall.

by Belinda Roddie Even a hundred miles apart, their hearts beat to the same rhythm. Our hearts. Even a hundred miles apart, their bodies move to the same music. Our bodies. The choreography guides us to beaches and on long hikes among the redwoods. Counting banana slugs. Counting each star that peeks out from beneath its blue security blanket, making sure there are no monsters hidden under its cosmic bed. Even a hundred miles apart, the geography is the same. We see the same kinds of trees outside our bedroom windows. The same moon glows above our heads. The same celestial bodies watch over this little planet that's plagued with ambitious creatures with big dreams to reach new galaxies - or perfect the small galaxies they've created around them, in small towns, in big cities, in villages and skyscrapers. In basements and attics. Beneath sheets. On a computer screen. I know I'll see you again soon, my love, even though your little boat is rudderless and can't s...

No update on the OneWord website today. Oh, well!

Well. This is it. Tonight, I finally get to reveal what I've been super vague about. The big update to my life that I hope will lead to a great new adventure full of learning and success and self-fulfillment. Ladies, gentlemen, and non-binary lovelies...I am ridiculously gay. Oh, no, sorry. That part's painfully obvious. Moving on. The real news is: I have a new job! I will be teaching tenth grade English and Yearbook at a public high school in a nearby county. I start in August, and my wife and I will be moving as close as possible to the campus. It's a big change, and I'm very excited. I'm also extremely terrified. For a number of reasons - some legit, some irrational. For starters, I now have to say goodbye to Fusion Academy, where I have taught English and Social Studies for over two years. The time I have spent at this small but mighty school has been invaluable, and I wouldn't change a thing about it. I have grown so much as a teacher and a perso...

Warrior's Duty by Belinda Roddie I shape the dreams of children with a sword and shield.

How many boys wore eyeliner to the concert that night? They screamed and blew kisses at one another as the lead guitarist made out with his microphone. Meanwhile, I was lusting after the bassist, with that red hair and her sweet, sweet hips, those kickass curves. I knew the pills were kicking in because then I saw double - awesome! Two sexy bassists!

Two Years Ago by Belinda Roddie Two years ago, I was hired at a school where I could teach my students one-on-one. My fellow teachers were all pretty cool, and classes I held were a lot of fun. I taught both English and Social Studies, as well as basic Spanish. I learned so much and improved my own expertise. There's so much more I understand and know from working with such strong, amazing youth with different stories that they've learned to tell without shame and without fear. And the truth is, I gained strength and courage as well. These two years have been two of my life's best - my next adventure will be quite the test.