So, does anyone know anything about Glimmer Train Press? The ease of submission (and no reading fee) is enticing, but I don't know how competitive it is and what kind of reputation it has.

I have a Glimmer Train book. They were giving them to guests at the hostel I stayed at in Tucson a few years ago.

Never read any of the stories, though.

Suddenly there was a loud CRASH from the other room. Lauren jumped about six feet in the air and thought "Oh my God, what was that? Is there a burglar in the house? What do I do? Oh GOD what do I do? What if he finds me and stabs me or shoots me or RAPES me?"

She got off the bed and crept slowly to her bedroom door, opening it just a crack. There didn't seem to be any criminal activity going on in the hallway, so she snuck slowly down to the kitchen. Before opening the door, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed "911" into it - just a tap of the "Send" key and she was ready to go.

With a quick yell, she slammed open the door and stepped into the room - startling the hell out of her cat, as he licked the milk from around the broken glass pitcher at her feet.

(not edited or counted. Too lazy.)

I've read and enjoyed Glimmer Train from time to time. It's not terribly exclusive, but it does qualify as a lit'ry journal. It can't hurt to submit.

For Teppy's broken glass challenge.

Protective Mode

There's a word for the sensation, or perhaps a phrase. If there isn't, there should be.

She doesn't try to define it. Instead, she stands on the threshold of her back porch, staring immobile at the bits of window that are now all over her floor. The glass in indoors; someone broke it from the outside.

She's walked in through the front door. It's possible she's not alone in the house.

No words, no phrases. She moves quietly to her knife rack, and pulls out the ten-inch Henckel chef's.

"Hey, motherfucker." Her voice is deadly, pitched and dangerous. "Come on out."

I hope GT has a decent rep, cause they have one of my stories right now and I hope they think it's FG.

I hope GT has a decent rep, cause they have one of my stories right now and I hope they think it's FG.

Ploughshares apparently did a survey of some sort, and it's one of the top three literary magazines read among its readers. It looks like it's got a good rep. I hope they think your story is FG, and mine too, when I submit it. Are you doing any of the contests? I figure I might give them a try, especially the never-been-published one, since I hope not to be eligible for that one eventually.

That's the one, babe. The story was betaed by Buffistas, including Nilly, so at least I can be sure I'm at my best to lose my literary virginity.

I tried very hard to get this into the past tense, where it belongs, but I can't. But now the first sentence is stuck in a different tense, and I don't have the heart to bring it current. Call it stylistic idiosyncrasy, if you will. Be kind.

Part of that same "action movie" as the turning point drabble exercise.

***********

It was different this time. Despite the officer's confusion over the phone, Carl is her friend, not her husband. And not dead.

Bruised and battered, though, she sees.

He hears the additional footsteps crunching across the hallway, and looks over slowly.

"Hey, Kit." He smiles. "Sorry about the window. And the bookshelf."

"You okay?" A bruise flowers across his cheek, and she worries.

"Yeah."

"Out of nowhere?"

"Isn't it always the way?"

She shakes her head at him, but keeps silent as the EMTs load him onto the ambulance cot.

It is different this time. But she's still a widow.

December 2001

Her shock was so great that her glass, merlot and all,slipped gently from her hand. It looked like it was going to fly for a minute before landing with a huge crash. Her nervous system, always like a special-ed puppy in a crisis, kicked in belatedly. That’s right, Body, she thinks, way to get my back.
”Ugh, Jesus.” She mopped at the runoff on the table ineffectually.”I’m sorry. Tumor’s just one of those words. Nobody ever says ‘Thank God I got that tumor.”
Always with the dumb jokes and wiseass comments, she thinks. Shut up, dumbass.

“Well, I’d better get it. We don’t want the dogs to cut their pads.” Her mother moved to get a dustpan and pick up the broken glass.

“You should be resting...or something.” It felt like there was a little ugly creature in her mother’s body. Her own impairment felt more like being her own Siamese...conjoined twin.

(She laughs at herself later for being Crip Power enough to censor that thought at such a time. But all the enpowerment doesn’t stop her having it. Cheng-andEng’s mama has...breast cancer. Wonder if the telethon will be before or after the funeral.)