Levi Michael

“The Birdhouse” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #215

The ancient demon Mara is older than man. The Buddhists were the first to recognize him. The sounds that make up his primordial name were first recorded in Sanskrit. Sanskrit and all other languages are flawed in their representations of his name. The true symbol of his name cannot be expressed in any language. But it can be described. Four crosses, joined at the base, jutting in opposing directions. Northwest, northeast, southeast and southwest.  I almost took the birdhouse down, and I should’ve. But I was so proud of it. The detail...

6 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“L'Invasion” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #214

A night like this, even though I pretended it wasn’t, was my favorite part of family vacation. Mom and dad wanted an evening alone together, we were in a foreign country, so they didn’t know any baby-sitters, and even though mom told me not to watch scary movies, I did. Six hours alone to watch whatever I wanted, and to not have to watch them fawn over each other was golden. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy my parents love each other and stuff. But at a certain point it’s like, “Get a room.” I see my friends' parents and they’re not nearly as l...

5 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Run, Marjorie” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #212

“Ok, class. Today we are going to participate in a nationwide outreach program. We will be some of the privileged few to join President Nixon’s initiative to help reform those who’ve lost their way.” Mrs. Miller concluded as she stood, straight and proud in front of the class.  The class stared back, blinking slowly. Mrs. Miller beamed an undeterred smile. “Today we are all going to write a letter.” She bounced on the tips of her toes, landed sure footed, and raised a hand. “Does anyone know what a pen pal is?” The class exchanged gl...

12 likes 7 comments 7

Read story

“Wyoming Changed Everything” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #200

“Djya hear about the new girl?” he whispered over my shoulder.  “Huh?” I looked up from my notebook, only slightly to keep from being noticed by Mr. Hamilton. He didn’t play around when it came to class disruptions. “Uh-uh,” I answered under my breath with an almost imperceptible shake of my head as I kept a covert eye on our teacher. “Yeah, I heard she—” We both froze as Mr. Hamilton looked up from his work and leveled his gaze in our direction. My eyes shot down to my workbook. Pure reflex. I knew better than to make eye contact. Andr...

6 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Sedgwick” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #198

Charlie and his teacher, Cameron Miller, stood side-by-side leaning over at the waist and peering through the glass of the terrarium at Sedgwick. Sedgwick was staring back. “He doesn’t look any different.” Charlie put a finger on the glass.  Sedgwick eyed it cautiously before waddling across the sawdust, through the other hamsters, and nosing at it with a twitch of his muzzle.  “I don’t know.” Mr. Miller leaned in closer and brought his glasses down to give the rodent a thorough appraisal. “I think I might see a little progress....

10 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“The Path” by Levi Michael

Man had been, even before the separations of land and water and the creation of plant and animal, formless and waiting in the depths of the earth.  Black Hactcin was the creator of all, and all could speak with one another. Black Hactcin finished his work on the surface of the earth and smiled upon it. Yet something was missing. Man was still formless and had no home on his earth. He had the plants and animals and earth, rock, and water gather the materials to create a vessel for him. Wind breathed into the form and gave it life. Light...

0 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Hopes of Madness Abandoned Them: The Story of Ygor Fritz” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #195

To Ms. Elga Fritz, Hull, England.Ingolstadt, Mar. 15th, 17—My dearest sister,I apologize for the late arrival of my first correspondence. How you must have worried. Fear not, I have arrived unharmed, yet weary from travel. Ingolstadt is truly a mecca of knowledge and learning. I was received warmly by Dr Umholtz and his staff of metallurgists. Our quarters are quite pristine, not exactly the spartan accommodations I had pictured while imagining my boardings during my long journey. We are truly a cohort of gentleman blacksmiths. My ...

6 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“The Pomeranian Diamond: A Jack Cliche Mystery” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #194

It was February 4th, the day after my fifth birthday. I’d been doing this detective thing since Halloween… and I was starting to get the hang of it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned It’s that tough guys aren’t so tough, and dames aren’t always giving it to you straight. I’m Jack Cliche, and I’ve worked a number of hard cases, but none as hard as this one.  The day started like any other Thursday. It had rained cats and dogs the night before, driving the criminals and thugs underground, so the morning was starting slow. I was sitting b...

12 likes 4 comments 4

Read story

“Good One” by Levi Michael

A young volcano breathed a slowly billowing corridor of ashy smoke on the horizon of the caldera. A wide eared, long necked stoat weaved between the giant ferns and fat leafed palms lining the grade leading up to a rocky southern facing flat. It scuttled across the edge of the football sized plateau and disappeared into one of the smaller caves on the eastern ridge. At the center of the oval rocky table two cavemen leaned over a large slab of gray stone, one of them hammered at its edges with a small boulder as the other appraised his progre...

1 like 0 comments 0

Read story

“An Idle Helping Hand” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #193

Aldous Albitter had spent the last thirty-five years climbing the corporate ladder to the top. Today was the first Monday of his retirement. The first day he hadn’t woken before dawn to take the train into the city, and ravenously poured over ad-specs. He wasn't the type of guy to think about his own death, but if he had to, he would have pictured himself slumped over his drafting desk, dead from a heart attack at ninety-five. Now just shy of sixty-four, he had aged out of the industry and been politely escorted into retirement. He had gone ...

5 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Perfume of Spring” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #191

Pulling over on 19th, in the city, wasn't the hard part, it was getting back on, but it was worth it. Not only did The Papadopoulos Brothers have some of the freshest flowers you could find, they were also the only florist on the way. At least, directly on the way.  “Do you want card with that?” he asked in his thick Greek accent as he wrapped the bouquet of oleander in a plastic veil.  I shrugged. “How much?” “No.” He held out an assuring hand. “For you?” Although we’d never met, he gestured at me like an old friend. “For you. Fre...

5 likes 1 comment 1

Read story