My Cardboard Balcony

The Noises by Belinda Roddie The noises from the neighbors do not sound like human noises, or noises produced for human ears. My heart begins to pound as I hear rumbling as if a caboose from a train is ripping through time and space, and yet, it's simply coming from next door. I hear growls, snorts, and whinnies from the place, yet I'm sure they don't have pets anymore - at least, not since their dog with one eye leapt from the bridge on the edge of our small town. I wondered why he jumped, and as I slept, I dreamed of monsters all staring me down, their multiple eyes flickering like lights. The neighbors don't want me to sleep tonight.

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The Real World by Belinda Roddie They say the only way to free yourself is to tear your hands away from the keyboard is to turn every screen in your house toward the white wall is to use your imagination to replace billboard text with ancient runes and Scripture is to throw your cellphone into the Pacific Ocean is to throw your cellphone into the Atlantic Ocean is to throw your cellphone into any of the oceans, really They say the only way to free yourself is to withdraw from the world of SUVs and skyscrapers oil refineries and skyscrapers nonfat soy lattes and skyscrapers but she drinks nonfat soy lattes with a smile glowing above a tablet screen, where she writes stories with a stylus pen, and you are so immersed in her movements sitting across from her at the table in the café on the street corner where the skyscrapers loom and you already feel free and you already feel free and you already feel free

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Try Again by Belinda Roddie You said it yourself: a lack of control is what keeps you playing the game she's programmed. All the cheats and codes she's buried inside are there to lead you to her happy ending. It doesn't matter which color button you press, or what sad letter on the keyboard you smash with shaking thumbs. Your hands will get sweaty, but her lips will stay pressed against your shoulder blade, too close to the vulnerable spot on your neck. The princess always gets her knight. She fractures his armor with a kiss and a laugh. You've tried every available option, but there's no alternative path in this plot. If only you knew when to quit. If only you knew when to quit. If only you knew when to quit.

I love everything about you. You're going to have to be more specific. But I can't be. I just...I love everything about you. Everything? Everything. I...kind of find that hard to believe. What's hard to believe about it? You can't possibly love everything about me. Oh, yeah? Try me. Okay, well...I pick my nose when you're not looking. Huh. Okay. Yeah. Then I love mostly everything about you. Oh, boy. Yeah, I'm gonna have to keep going down the list, aren't I?

The People In Charge by Belinda Roddie The people in charge cut taxes thin for the one percent that vote them in The people in charge send men to war without regarding what it's actually for The people in charge take healthcare away and God forbid that they know you're gay The people in charge let children die so Johnny can get gun number seventy-five The people in charge laugh over their wine enjoying themselves on the voters' dime As long as they keep their bank accounts large there's no way to kick out the people in charge