Joseph Lucero

“Deja Vu. ” by Joseph Lucero

The diner was empty when the Sheriff walked in and saw Marion sitting there at a booth in the back. The boy had a steak platter in front of him, and when he saw the Sheriff coming to sit down, he didn’t bother to stop eating. The Sheriff sat down in front of him, lit a cigarette, took off his hat and placed it on his knee.  They said I would find you out here. Who’s they, the boy said, a bit of steak in his mouth. Your folks. . . . I knew I shouldn’t have told them anything. What do you want me to say, sheriff, I’m s...

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“What's on my mind when I toss in my sleep. ” by Joseph Lucero

Submitted to Contest #281

The night was freezing, it was the coldest it’s ever been in the desert. There was me, and there was Julian. On this night, Julian killed someone, the clerk it was. And he was killed when he failed on his promise to give us everything. Julian shot him twice in the chest and the radio an hour later was shouting that he had been killed. The clerk’s name was Sam and he was our age. A mere twenty-two. I remember when we left, SoCo was dripping off my lip like spit after a sloppy wet kiss–I thought– what a damn shame, that boy was kinda cute. But...

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“A Great Lesson. ” by Joseph Lucero

Submitted to Contest #280

Remember when we used to come here all the time? You remember?Yeah. Wasn't that long ago...it's still the same ain't it?It feels the same--I mean it's just the JackRabbit.Yeah. It just feels different is all.How so?Nostalgia. So, you still skin pop that shit huh? No. Maybe surreal was the word I was looking for. I don’t know–maybe I’m just stoned. I think you are. And like you didn’t wake up and have three shots to get your day started. You got me there. Yeah, I saw you pouring one in your cup when I was coming ...

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“Sailor's Song. ” by Joseph Lucero

Submitted to Contest #279

What are you looking for, she asks me, and I've never met her before. She sits in front of me cigarette smoke obscures everything but her black eyes that have a dim, lithium quality about them. I don't know, I tell her, I just come in looking for a couple of drinks, I guess.Oh really?Yes, really.Out of all the joints here, you walk into this one, what are you really looking for?Nothing really.Oh yes, really. I saw you in here last time you were in here, your head was spinning, your eyes glazed in a craze for him. That's it, huh honey? You th...

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“Apologies Seem to Come and Go. ” by Joseph Lucero

Submitted to Contest #278

Many years in the future. I'm no longer the twenty-three-year-old kid that I was when there was no need for letters because we would talk in person face-to-face. I would look deep into your brown-green eyes, and I would be lost. Now, as I sit at my small kitchen table and I'm looking at the letter you sent me. You began it just like how I thought you would start a letter. You start it the same way you would begin small talk. As I look at it now, I can't help but feel sad, and angry. What was the need for this letter I'm looking at? Knowing y...

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