Part 2, Chapter 6 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

Around six that evening, he found that he was ravenous.  Not shocking, considering that he had eaten nothing over the past twenty-four hours.  As soon as he was with Joule in the nursery, surrounded by professional caretakers monitoring his son’s vital signs, he discovered that his stomach was growling for the first time that day.Continue reading “Part 2, Chapter 6 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”

Part 2, Chapter 5 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

Mark’s oxygen tank hissed.        “These are my parents, Sheila and Dirk.  Mom, Dad — this is Mark Fisher.  He’s—,” Casper hesitated.  He realized he hadn’t spoken her name in months.  “Mark is Reagan’s father.”  Casper was proud that his parents didn’t miss a beat.  They both stood and warmly greeted Mark, whoContinue reading “Part 2, Chapter 5 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”

Part 2, Chapter 4 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

Fifty-four hundred dollars.  Rosa had stopped by and given him the money in an envelope.  He sat on the couch and held it, unable to open it.  The Iowa Farm Bureau clock in the living room ticked rhythmically, the second hand making its journey around the faded photo of a pristine cornfield.  Pepper and Silver-FootContinue reading “Part 2, Chapter 4 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”

Part 2, Chapter 3 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

He edited the final cell on the spreadsheet and sat back, stroking Joule’s hair as he slept in the carrier.        “Looks pretty good,” he admitted.  “Let’s do this.”       The first task was simple.  Separate the laundry into roughly equal piles so as not to overload the washer, pretreat the stains,Continue reading “Part 2, Chapter 3 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”

Part 2, Chapter 2 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

Dr. Shakir smiled down at Joule as he placed the stethoscope against his tiny chest and listened.  Joule squirmed and hacked out a few irritated sobs.  Casper gently jostled him in a vain attempt to make him forget how exhausted he was.  They had already completed the work-up and EKG, and then had waited anotherContinue reading “Part 2, Chapter 2 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”

Part 2, Chapter 1 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

  He balled up the pillow under his head and sank his face into it.  It was warm and pleasant against his skin.  He ignored the noise as it continued hammering against his ears.  It had gotten louder as it persisted, strange and urgent, but meaningless to him.  Like the Dewitt’s abominable dalmadoodle next door,Continue reading “Part 2, Chapter 1 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”

Part 1, Chapter 12 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

That same evening, he went up the overgrown sidewalk to her house.  Reagan opened the door and walked straight into his arms.  He hated himself as he held her uselessly, unable to say a word.  He had no comfort to offer.  He couldn’t admit that it was his fault.  She needed him to be good. Continue reading “Part 1, Chapter 12 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”

Part 1, Chapter 11 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

His knees were knocking, and he tried to stop tapping his foot as they sat in the waiting room.  She was scrolling through her phone.  He had tried that, but to no avail.  He checked his watch every thirty seconds.  He hadn’t slept well the night before.  She wanted him there.  That was the onlyContinue reading “Part 1, Chapter 11 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”

Part 1, Chapter 10 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

He stared at it while he watched a stupid documentary about the aliens who sank Atlantis.  He stared at it before he fell asleep.  He stared at while he ate his cereal in the morning, measuring the figure with his thumb and forefinger, then glancing at the precise values printed in green on the bottom. Continue reading “Part 1, Chapter 10 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”

Part 1, Chapter 9 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol

He jammed the gallon of milk into the bottom of his backpack, added the rotisserie chicken beside it, then stacked the frozen garlic bread and cheese crackers on top.  He shouldered the load and got on his bike, then stared dumbly at the twelve-pack of ginger ale still sitting on the pavement.  He cursed andContinue reading “Part 1, Chapter 9 // Though I Make My Bed In Sheol”