Ethan Zimmerman

“Track and Field Theory” by Ethan Zimmerman

Submitted to Contest #235

Track and Field Theory            At the 3.14159265359 mile mark of my run, I began to limp and had to stop. I thought I must have a foreign particle in my shoe, so I stopped and leaned on an electromagnetic post. I removed my right shoe, touching the toe of my sock-covered foot to the pavement. I inspected the sole and the s...

7 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“The Lop-it-off-a-me List” by Ethan Zimmerman

🏆 Winner of Contest #230

The Lop-it-off-a-me List Count money in the envelope one more time. Make sure Marcel has his itinerary. Ask Alex if she will come by to feed Odin. Buy extra cat food and litter so Alex doesn't have to. Give her the spare key next time I see her. Kiss Odin and tell her she is the best cat in the world, even if she has always been destructive...

81 likes 61 comments 61

Read story

“Qanak” by Ethan Zimmerman

Submitted to Contest #227

Qanuk My father was Inuit. He said he could smell the snow before it came. He would lift his nose toward the sky and inhale and say, No Qanuk's tonight. In the morning - maybe. When he was a boy, his toes froze inside his boots, and three of them had to be removed. He remembers holding them in his hand as brittle frigid bricks. When I was young he tried to teach me to smell the sn...

7 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Ping” by Ethan Zimmerman

Submitted to Contest #208

At a garage sale recently, I saw a box of old Barbie dolls. There were half a dozen dolls in a box, and they reminded me of a time before I transitioned when I was still a girl. My best friend, Mikey, has brought over his newest toy, a slingshot made by the Wham-O slingshot company. He is super proud of it, as his parents don't buy him many new toys. He rushed over to show it to me right away.

6 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Up the River Styx Without a Paddle, by Way of a White Cat” by Ethan Zimmerman

Submitted to Contest #187

He showed up before sunup to escort me to the gas chamber. Who am I? I’m Carmine, Two-face Ciccone. Prisoner number 8318139. Scheduled date of execution tomorrow, June 1st, at midnight o one. Stay of execution status: denied. Current situation since Charon showed up: fucked. He only appears on your legitimate last day. He wouldn't show if you were awarded a stay, only if it was ...

9 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Inner Dark” by Ethan Zimmerman

Submitted to Contest #186

Good morning. I'd like to pick up where we left off during our last session. Could we go back to the line you wrote when you said you thought suicide might be an option for you. What about it? Do you think about suicide often? Well, that wasn't really me writing that, was it? I think it was you. You admit to being the author. Your name is...

17 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“Leanne's Life in a Box” by Ethan Zimmerman

When we rolled up the storage unit door, several dozen boxes fell out. And then some more and some more until we felt as though we were standing in front of a cardboard avalanche. We both took a big sigh and began to stack the fallen boxes outside the door. What mostly fell out of the boxes were household objects: candle holders, wine stoppers, Tupperware, and the odd stuffed animal. Once we cleared the b...

1 like 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Frame Advances” by Ethan Zimmerman

I pick up the grey viewfinder and click through the images. I am eight years old. I pretend the people I see have been made miniature, by magic, to fit inside the plastic box. The photos I am currently clicking through were from a family trip to Yellowstone when I was six. In the photo are my mother, my father, my brother, and me. We are a happy family, on vacation, not a care in the world. The year is 1972. ...

0 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Clearly Stated” by Ethan Zimmerman

I will state this again, more clearly this time; I am not watching you. Who are you watching, then? No one. That's not what it looks like. What does it look like? Like you are watching someone. How does a person look like they are watching someone? It's in your eyes. Now you're just talking nonsense. Don't try to change the subject. It's not the subjec...

0 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Fambot Failure” by Ethan Zimmerman

The alarm has just gone off sir. Did you call the alarm company, or did I? I think it was you. Are you sure? How should I know? I haven’t been sure of anything since 1972. Are you sure that is the correct date? Not really. That’s what I thought. The alarm company says they are too overwhelmed with work to come out here this week. They may not get here until the end of the month....

0 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Paranoid Dr. Freud” by Ethan Zimmerman

Submitted to Contest #182

We’ve been following you for some time, Dr. Freud. Where did you come from? I just told you. No. I mean, are you a figment of my imagination, or are you real? I believe you should be asking yourself this question. Are you, or are you not, the expert here? I suppose I am, but since you showed up, I’m no longer sure. You’ll have to come with us, I’m afraid. And where, might ...

7 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“A Standard Matter” by Ethan Zimmerman

It really doesn’t matter if I am here or not, does it?As a matter of fact, it does.Who cares?Well, I do, for one thing.Does the universe care?I doubt the universe cares about anything at all.How do you know that?How do I know what?That the universe is careless.How could it be anything else?Have you never been told that you shouldn’t answer a question with another question?Isn’t that what you just did?There, you did it again.Did what?<...

0 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Trip to the Shit Show” by Ethan Zimmerman

Submitted to Contest #182

Taxi, Follow that car!This isn't a taxi, mam. You're sitting in an ambulance.To hell, I'm not. Look, it says taxi right there on your badge.I'm sorry, mam. That does not say taxi. It says ambulance.Then why the hell am I in an ambulance when I called a taxi?You're the one who made the call, mam.Let me out of here so I can get a taxi. I'm afraid I can't do that. Once you are in my custody, I can't let you go.What the everlovinghell do you mean you can't let me out?Those are the rules,...

10 likes 2 comments 2

Read story