Howie Good

People and Places

Moon Shot

You live in an apartment that occupies half the second floor of a
faded Victorian house. The other second-floor tenant has taken off
his clothes and walked off into the distance. Nothing wrong with
that. As much as it’s great to say, “We’re going to the moon,”
there’s someone who actually has to get on that rocket and get
blown up, maybe.

The Kids Are Alright

This morning Celeste was singing one of her songs. She stopped
suddenly and said, "Why do I always fart when I sing?" Then a
centipede fell on Russell's neck. He hurled it to the floor and its
death. The small fires will be extinguished, but the big fires will go
on.

America, America

It’s a test of some sort, must be, one that involves black smoke
seeping in, the roof possibly being on fire. We continue working
regardless, hands pulling levers, hands slapping buttons, hands
making the same demands over and over. Our eyes start to sting
from the smoke, our throats to scratch and burn, but none of us is
ready to give up just yet. This is our garden, I guess.