Brad Zellar It hadn’t been good for quite some time, but it was time for them to admit to themselves and to each other that now it really wasn’t good, and wasn’t going to get any better. Neither of them liked the doctor, a young Indian. He was a man who’d built too much science around himself, … Read more
When I was a kid, there was this store out at the mall that sold cheese from all over the world. The place reeked. They must have had hundreds of different kinds of cheese. I like cheese as much as the next guy, but you wouldn’t think there would be any real need for so … Read more
The day had been hot, and it was apparent that the night would bring little relief. There was no wind, nothing but the humidity and the stillness and the swelling sleigh bells of the cicadas from the trees. Up and down the block people were sitting out on the stoops of the apartment houses and … Read more
Would you have believed —could you have believed– a mere four months ago that we would be sitting where we are today? “We” in this instance, of course, meaning you, me, the Minnesota Twins, etc. I do not think we could or would have believed that, no. I still can’t believe it, quite honestly, even … Read more
I was sitting in this hotel bar in Sacramento one night a few months ago. It was early in the evening and the place was empty. Some friends of mine were out on a golf course somewhere and I was bored out of my mind and wished like hell I’d never agreed to come along … Read more
He asked Emilie to leave the curtains by this window undrawn at night, in order that, when people were asleep, the fish might look at the moon. —Isak Dinesen, “The Dreaming Child” What is the theme? he shouted at me. I’m sorry? I said. Your point! he bellowed. What is your point? Things are slippery? … Read more
If we ain’t bums, we’ll certainly do ’til some real bums come along. –Bugs Baer If a tree falls in the woods…. What is the sound of one hand clapping? If you can’t say nothin’ nice…. God only knows…. Words seriously fail me, but I’m going to try to thrash a few out of the … Read more
So ain’t we all inanimate, George? —Jim Thompson, Pop. 1280 I saw you spinning that greeting card rack at the truck stop. I saw the look in your eyes. You eventually moved to the next rack and bought a cheap pair of sunglasses instead. You’re tempted, aren’t you, always tempted to add some helpless contribution … Read more
My heart of silk is filled with lights, with lost bells, with lilies and bees. I will go very far, farther than those hills, farther than the seas, to beg Christ the Lord to give me back the soul I had when I was a child, ripened with legends, with a feathered cap and a … Read more
There’ll be two buses leaving the hotel for the park tomorrow. The two o’clock bus will be for those of you who need a little extra work. The empty bus will leave at five o’clock. –Dave Bristol, San Francisco Giants manager, 1980 I watched last night’s game in a motel room, with the sound on … Read more