My Cardboard Balcony

"Why do you smell like licorice and salt?" I stared at her. My mouth felt like a miniature desert. "What?" I gurgled. She moved closer to me, taking a deep, exaggerated breath through her nose. Then, she frowned. "I knew it," she scowled. "You've been drinking again. Why must you always do this?" "It was only a little bit," I mumbled. "You're leaning to one side! I hardly think you've only had a little bit!"

by Belinda Roddie "Mackerel is no name for a little girl." "Why is it that you never like my name choices?" "Because they're silly." "You said the same thing about naming the cat Jumping Bean." "Yeah. It was silly. I like Zelda better." "Okay, fine. Mackerel's out. How about Salmon?" "Dude. No." "Carp?" " No!" "Rainbow Trout." "You just keep naming random fish! C'mon!" "Well, at least I added the Rainbow part of Rainbow Trout! That leaves me some gay cred!" "Sure. And zero 'capable of properly naming your hypothetical daughter' cred." "Hey, man, I take what I can get." "What little there is, at least." "Don't be mean." "It's late, I worked a long day, and I'm cranky. And we're almost out of booze." "Told you to get more." "We...

Looking at a copy of "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh on a starry night seems appropriate, don't you think? Though if I could, I'd make it more legit by going to see the real thing in New York. I don't think they keep the museum open that late, though, after the stars come out. So all I think about is the texture. And the temperature. And the tempest hidden beneath the oily sky.

This week was a good week, in many ways. To begin, my wife and I agreed to sign a lease on a new condo! The condo is situated in a location that is within walking distance of my new teaching job. We are hoping to sign the lease either this weekend or the next, and then we can start the moving process. I'm also very proud of my students at my current job. One student in particular has shown so much growth in their English class, and I am so proud of them. Accomplishments like this remind me of why I'm a teacher. And today, I got to reunite with my mentor teachers and see some of the students I used to work with graduate from the high school that I was a student teacher at. There were hugs and high fives and interjections of "Hi, Roddie!" from a few graduates. Although I wasn't able to talk to everyone I worked with, it was a really good experience to, once again, see how far my students have come. Tomorrow, I'll be helping my mother out at a local art a...

Consequences by Belinda Roddie He called it a prank, but four people were dead.

How much soda can you drink? You'll be sick before noon, I think. Pepsi, Sprite, and Mountain Dew - Dr. Pepper and root beer, too. Coca Cola served in steins. Do I want some? Never mind. I'll just stick to water, son. Come back when your binging's done.

I'm Coming Home by Belinda Roddie I'm coming home at last - yes, this is it! I'm coming home just in time. We will be married in the morning, our hair lit by sunrise. We will marry by the sea. We will wear white and gray and purple, too, the salt stinging our skin as we dance in the sand, our bare feet soaking up the blue of Poseidon's kingdom. Yes, love, within the hour, I will be right by your side and hold you close for the first time in years, all those years when you thought of me and cried, and now I'm here at to dry your endless tears. I'm coming home at last, although you may be confused because I don't look the same.