A short story by Kharma Gentner “...And I’m out!” she exclaims, placing her second-to-last card—a 3 of hearts—before her run of the 4, 5, and 6 of the same suit. With a victorious smirk, she carelessly flicks her wrist and tosses her final card onto the discard pile. “Oh, shoot!” her daughter grumbles. “I was just about to pick up the six and seven and play my five!” The mother looks to where her daughter is gesturing and sees that she’s right. On her next turn, the daughter could have...

A poem by Kharma Gentner We're not so different, you and I. The clothes I wear, Others’ opinions Plastered on my body. They like them, so I wear them. No matter if I like them, I need to Be unique. To stand out from my clones. Who am I without my appearance? The poses I strike Exhaust me physically and emotionally. I hold the same position, The same composure, Day after day, To satisfy those passersby. Interactions that last seconds for them Mean everything to me. The looks I get And those...

A short story by Kharma Gentner There once was a lumber worker named Willy. Willy was silly, but still he took his birch biz seriously. Silly Willy chopped logs day after day, taking order after order from Chicago locals. One day, Silly Willy was approached by a bully, Big Billy, who builds buildings for the Chicago Bulls. Big Bully Billy beckoned that the Bulls want to buy birch to build their buildings, but they better be billed better than what Silly Willy was willing to bill. Big Bully...