Allison Ross

“Allison and the Algorithm” by Allison Ross

Submitted to Contest #150

With the swift flick of my calloused finger gliding across the screen, I push away one half-watched video and pull the next into view. Hours pass, bringing fun facts— Did you know that Australia is wider than the moon?— and convoluted jokes that would take far too much explaining. I watch my “mutuals,” (accounts that I follow that follow me as well) dancing and acting to the voices of others. I don’t know what most of them even sound like, yet according to the algorithm, we are friends. I don’t know how I ended up with twenty-three thousand...

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“Algebra and Auburn Clouds” by Allison Ross

Submitted to Contest #143

(Content Warning: Domestic abuse, grief, and algebra homework.) “Homework,” Aunt Lorraine says, slamming a thick packet of off-white, grainy pages of mathematics onto the kitchen table; the grids and functions burrow into my brain. I feel dizzy just looking at it. “You have to do your homework,” she says, cold and pleading. Her eyes lock onto my hand as I slowly shift a dull number two pencil over the first page. I quickly scribble my name and the date. Suddenly, I feel a muted slap to the back of my skull. “You spelled your name wrong, ...

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“Pine and Pancakes” by Allison Ross

Submitted to Contest #134

Trigger Warning: Multiple sensitive themes including abuse mentions, eating disorder mentions, and intense grief. I wake to your old beeper alarm, its stale and stunning shriek shaking the room, luminescent green numbers flashing through the dark. I groan as my legs shift heavily over the edge of the bed and lead me to the kitchen. With the robotic motion of muscle memory, my hands set the coffee pot. My back slides down the wall, and I hug my knees to my chest, focusing solely on the sound of the brewing breakfast blend. I know that I sh...

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“Fries and Spies” by Allison Ross

(Trigger warning: implications of sexual assault.) “Oh. My. God.” Cora says, practically jumping onto the bench of our go-to picnic table outside of the Burger Hut. “You will not believe what just happened.” Triple cheese fries slam on half-rotten wood between us. “Your mom is engaged to Henry,” I say, holding up my phone. “Facebook beat you to the punch.” Cora scoffs and takes a forkful of fries. “I jush dondundersha-” “Cor, you’re gonna choke before you can finish the story if you don’t chew and swallow right now.” She shoots an eye ...

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“First-Time Gardeners” by Allison Ross

Submitted to Contest #86

“Hey,” she says to me, jabbing my arm with her elbow. “Look outside.” Outside, snow remained in persistent patches around our yard atop sickly yellow blades “It’s the same as yesterday,” I say. “Cold and dead.” Suddenly, her hands are gripping my face, and she turns my head swiftly to the left. “Right there!” she exclaims, releasing my face to point towards a slash of green poking through the snow. “Isn’t she beautiful?” she asks. I roll my eyes, prompting another elbow jab. “Alright,” I say. “She’s beautiful.” “I’m gonna name her,” she ...

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“George and the Elephants” by Allison Ross

Submitted to Contest #84

6:00PM, Friday, March 6th, 2020: I wave good-bye to my dorm building through the passenger side window as the car pulls away, a hastily-packed bag of clothes crammed at my feet. “Are you sure my plants will be alright for a week?” I ask my mom, worried for my half dozen succulents left sitting on their small wooden shelves. “I’m sure,” she says, turning onto the main road. “You could have packed them… if you remembered I was coming.” I sigh in response. My mind had been wrapped around the midterms and essays and projects in my six separate...

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