Ann Metlay

“Roses from a Mother” by Ann Metlay

I went to meet William at his school, before he was approved to move into my class. Quite large for his age, he seemed to be immature, and perhaps, of limited cognitive potential. He had been placed in a classroom in a separate school for what was then labelled as “trainable mentally retarded.” My classroom was for students classified, at that time, as Educable Mentally Retarded, a step up from William’s placement . I went to his classroom to meet him him. He was head and shoulders taller than his any of his classmates, and clearly un...

0 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Pandemic Diary” by Ann Metlay

Submitted to Contest #84

Pandemic Diary March 1 There’s all this talk of this virus. Started in WuHan China. Supposed to spread all around the world! Evidently it came from people eating exotic animals—bats, I think. I wonder , will exotic tastes in meat have any impact on me? March 6 News of all these cruise ships stuck out of their ports around in Asia, in the Caribbean. I’m concerned. What will happen with the cruise I booked. My daughter and I are set to sail August 20, from San Diego, be in Belize on September 5 for the first anniversary...

4 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“Reliving 1966” by Ann Metlay

Submitted to Contest #80

More than fifty years ago, I entered a world I had never known existed. This was the summer of 1966, Chicago, featuring Mayor Daley, and ice cream cookies his Mob gave to Black children when their parents delivered them their ballots, unmarked. They let that mob vote for them! I climbed the stairs of gang-infested high-rise buildings. I was mesmerized seven or eight times by the words of Martin Luther King. I emerged a very different person. The electrifying Fourth of July was an afternoon with Dr. King and a march to City Hall o...

5 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Berkeley 1953” by Ann Metlay

Submitted to Contest #80

Berkeley, 1953  In the end I lost out. Not that I was trying to win anything. Monday “Daddy, we have a new girl in our class. Her name is Gail. She is a fast runner, but nobody plays with her at recess.” “I heard she was coming. I don’t think everyone is happy. But our family is different. I want you to make her feel welcome at Thousand Oaks. Tomorrow, then, you must be the one to play with her at recess. “But, Daddy, I don’t like to run. I spend recess lined up for a turn on the swings.” “Running will do you good. Play with...

3 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Rite of Passage” by Ann Metlay

Submitted to Contest #79

Rite of Passage The rhythm of the windshield wipers lulled her, as she drove through the heavy thunderstorm. Her brother caught a nap in the seat beside her. They had just driven into the state of New York. Only another couple of hours to get to the Cornell campus! It was close to midnight. She reviewed, in her mind, the logistics awaiting them at Cornell. She had arranged for two different dorm rooms on two different sides of the campus. Her son was graduating. He had left for two tickets for her to go to the ceremony at the box of...

8 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Monkeys' Tale” by Ann Metlay

Submitted to Contest #78

Monkey Tales I had pet monkeys. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, sent to Nigeria fifty years ago, I landed in the small village of Abuja, and yearned for adventure. The daily routine of getting up early, teaching half the day, returning home for breakfast, then completing the days’ obligation by one p.m., felt bland. I was in a foreign country. I wanted to do things that were “foreign.” I began to visit with the brother of the Emir, the local chief, for Hausa lessons. I practiced my emerging Hausa skills at the local market. Befriending ...

3 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Snow Balls” by Ann Metlay

Submitted to Contest #77

Snow Balls I heard it was gonna snow today. Last night’s evening news said so. They pulled out all these maps and I cheered! I checked my weather app. It confirmed this. I put on my pj’s backwards, did my part. Set my radio up so I could hear as soon as school was called.  This morning, when the weather forecast confirmed nothing, I called my best friend Allen. Maybe he heard something.  “Naw. No snow. Better get dressed. See you first period,” I whimpered. “Darn!” replied Allen. “I didn’t do my math homework. I knew t...

11 likes 0 comments 0

Read story