The hair restoration television commercial begins with the announcer asking, “Men, is your life missing something?” Bald men sulk in front of mirrors, trying on baseball caps and running their hands through thinning or non-existent hair. Then they dramatically hang their heads and shake them in defeat.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ television commercial begins with the announcer asking, “Is your life missing something?” Housewives, elderly folks, and young urban professionals sit in their cars, rocking chairs, and behind their office desks. They look beaten down by …

‘Pay attention to me when I’m talking,’ she raged.
Her husband flung his hands from the steering wheel in disgust. ‘Want us to have an accident?’
‘You do know her!  Admit it!’
He stopped at a red light.
‘I’m so so sad,’ his new wife flicked long fingers up to her eyes to wipe away the tears that had started falling.  ‘‘You swore you loved me.’
‘Of course I love, you I married you didn’t I,’ he reassured.
The lights turned green and he continued driving.
‘But you’re still seeing her.  Her with the too tight skirts …

I heard her voice. I turned my head toward the main entrance door, attempting to identify where the voice was coming from. She spoke again.
“It’s my mother!” I exclaimed, racing to the door, as my husband remained on the couch, confused.
I was excited as I realized my mother had come to visit. I opened the door. She was on the front yard. She seemed in no rush to come in the house. She was too entertained with the unkempt rose bushes that had grown everywhere about the yard.
Mom! I approached …

The night before, I couldn’t find sleep. So, I got up from my bed, switched on the bedrooms lights. I presumed, but it wasn’t even mid-night. The clock suggested 11:46PM. I love the silence during the night, but not that day. It was haunting, chilly and the dog barking outside made the night even more eerie. My mind was filled, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the trip. Literally, a million questions popped up – “What would it be like? Where will I stay? ….gosh! I don’t even know anybody …

It was Christmas again when the streets were covered with snow. And, everywhere you turned, things looked pristine white. Dana loved Christmas time. She thought Christmas was magical, and secretly believed in Santa Claus. She loved the colorful lights, Xmas trees, and the snow fall. It made everything even more beautiful!
Most importantly, Dana felt loved and treasured for it was the time when everyone showed how much they cared. Friends and relatives showered gifts on you too. And Dana knew that if you were lucky, your beloved would show you …

It was Christmas eve. Festivities were gathering momentum in the Whitney household. Nina was glad that she had Jack to spend her Christmas with. Jack was her sister May’s brother-in-law. And well, they had been dating each other for months now.
Last Christmas had been a miserable one for Nina. She had broken off with her long-term boyfriend Ned. He was not worth her. All he wanted was to go to bed with her. For Nina, love was beyond the physical realm. And she wanted to take the final plunge with …

“I’m fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars
for young men to die in.” – George McGovern.
The night sky resembled an endless black fabric with dozens of tiny pin-pricks, through which glittering light shone. It seemed to envelop all that lay below it. The iron shack on the outskirts of the township sparkled with its covering of winter frost. From its door only a single, lonely pathway etched in the dust and dried grass, showed its connection to the others. Inside there was a bed, …

11: 20 PM: Brittany and I drove to a party downtown. It’s Saturday night, forty minutes to midnight; the night is an infant, and the morning far away. The limo sped down the highway, the roof was open. We swayed our drunken heads to expensive music. Champagne flutes tossed on the floor, we drank from the bottle. We turned our heads, stomped our feet, shook off sleep, shut our eyes and let the wind sweep away beads of sweat. Lip gloss, Hermès shirts, Ferragamo shoes, vintage Gucci, Manish Arora scarves.  …

Part I:
“I can I can change black to white
I have it in me to make you go out of sight
Ho Ho! It’s me the man of wonder
With my wand and wit I can create thunder
Watch out watch out all you misters and misses
I have arrived to please and steal your share of kisses”
He sashayed into the room with a quick little spin, chin up and eyes on the crowd. He swayed his black magic cloak with a deft hand delivering his lines loud and clear with gleaming eyes. After two …