Manastash 2015 MJournalanastash of Writing and Art Volume 25

Volume 25 Spring 2015 MJournalanastash of Writing and Art

Volume 25 Spring 2015 Contents Editor’s Note 4 Brittany Victoria Allen Contributors 102 Bright Eyes Reporting 88 Leaves and Ladders 99 Staff 106 Seth Charles Teapot and Tea Bowl 86 Art Soy Pourers 85 John-Paul Mann Color Accidents 93 Caleb Marrs Creative Non-fiction Daniel M. Fisher Waking up with the World 90 Profile on Seth Charles 70 Hole in the Wall 92 Jacob Gann Cheryl Ann Eadie Killhouse 23 Letter of Love 100 Jess Macinko Our Early Morning Moon 98 Orphans 20 Princess Goblets Set 87 Ryan Bailey Amanda Dority Summer Snow 41 Stagnant 97 Stuck 96 Untitled Five 95 Fiction Ruka Wolf Ebonesiah Morrow Eye of the Storm 89 Lions and Hyenas 8 Makayla Shepherd Luke Thomas Pearsons Famous Cat 101 Shazam 26 Kaelyn Anderson Kala Tye Lively Pond 91 Shot 32 Gilberto Lopez Aggressive Bloom 94

Cover Art Evolving Heights by John-Paul Mann

Submit fiction, nonfiction, poetry and art online at: http://manastash.submittable.com Contents Poetry Chloe Allmand Steven H. Castro Jr. A Beat 64 Fallujah 53 Kimberly Glenn Laekin Dunoskovic I am 63 The Sins of Beans and Rice 45 Haley Lindsley 1980 Suburu Forester 46 Bibliophile 60 Karie May Crypts 69 Opposite of Folgers 50 Human Sacrifice 61 A House on Fire 52 J. William Kulm Jr. Ebonesiah Morrow How I Knew 66 Black Roses 56 Kendra Hinger Michael Nichols Where I’m From 62 Tōhoku-chihō Taiheiyō Oki Steven Dougherty Jishin 51 Beans 76 Hedonism 68 Daniel M. Fisher DJ Haskin Nothing Good Happens More Vibrations 78 Joanna Thomas After 3 a.m 58 Chelsea DuChene The Lost Poems of Leo Fifty-Three Hours 48 Tolstoy #1, 2, and 5 70 Muffled Moans and T.J. Tranchell Barbed-Wire Bones 47 Pool 54 Claire Hanberg Donson Curtiss Ars Poetica in Edinburgh 44 The Dells of Eau Claire 73

Manastash is published with support from the Central Washington University Department of English.

Printed in USA by Abbott’s Printing, www.abbottsprinting.com Editor’s Note

Dear Manastash Readers,

Manastash has been a staple at Central Washington University for a quarter of a century. For the twenty-fifth issue, we worked diligently to honor the established tradition and spirit of the journal, while bringing Manastash to new levels of literary and artistic achievement. We hope this issue both reflects the current vitality of the CWU community and lays a foundation for new ideas and creativity. As always, thank you, dear reader, for your continued support, and we hope you enjoy the issue.

Thank you for reading and supporting Manastash!

All the best, Olivia Hirschey, Alisa Hoag, and Ebonesiah Morrow Managing Editors Staff

Faculty Advisor Xavier Cavazos

Lead Designer Ryan Bailey

Managing Editors Olivia Hirschey Alisa Hoag Ebonesiah Morrow

Senior Poetry Editor Donson Curtiss

Senior Prose Editor Casey Friedman

Genre Editors Darik Brown Steven H. Castro Jr. Zachary Harris Daniel Haskin Kendra Hinger Karie May Daisy Perez Ashley Schuknecht

Design Team Claire Hanberg Dannah Parsons This issue is dedicated to Joseph Breanna Blair Powell and Dr. Bobby Cummings for Richard W. Bidwell III their dedication and inspiration to the Sarah Wicorek Jasmine Ackerman creative arts. 6 Manastash Prose Manastash

7 8 Manastash Ebonesiah Morrow thoughts are important.” back toheaded his classroom before turning around to say, “Iman, up! Your speak He handedmemyfavoriteroyal-blue,mechanical pencilthatIleftbehind, nice guy.” your Phillip and friends Michael I’m not cuttin’ anymore them slack, no more Mr. example. You are proof. walking you See inclass tomorrow, and make sure you tell Mr.looked back to see Evolue heading towards almost ajog. walk, me inapacey “Iman!” he yelled after me as I made my way down thethe to studenthall store. I meaningthe to his Iasked own with advice?” asmirk to as door, the Iheaded mean to you?” you mean?” are you up to, Mani?” with awelcoming spreading smile across his face. Phillip. He watched as Iwrote most of definitions the downbefore asking, “What grabbing adictionary, instead of rushing to lunch with Rachel, Deucey, and Lisa Mr. Evolue watched inamusement to back of Iwalked the when room the “don’t mess up! wait They patiently for your ignorance.” Whythe King’s does Grammar not does define my intelligence. beforeYet to speaking, say,myself, I King’sThe English “You and know Iboth answer the to your question. Share word. the the Be realizing Iwouldn’t get answer easy the that Iwas looking for. I rolled my shut, eyesas Islammed book the “What teacher doesn’t know “Well Mani, “What didyou mean by that? Diversity key to the being success, what did what doyou Imeant think by that? What that does statement Lions and Hyenas

and and Ebonesiah Morrow Manastash 9 *** together and he realized he was was realized he he and together , sprinting

surrounding me. surrounding Lionthe King we watched after that I proceeded down the hallway, studying all the different sizes, races, faces, all the different studying the hallway, down I proceeded dad used call to me cub (my a little I was When family.” a “happy wanted I always me.” sweat Don’t Evolue. see Mr. nerves, “We’ll my mask to I smirked out. spewThey OUT, Stumbling, s l i d i n g… space slapping in the face. right word the spoken Forget a writer— I’m into a single file line, wanting them to march words I order my palms and pits. pits. palms and right words together. Fiddling with my fingers, sweat springs from the pores of my of the pores from springs sweat fingers, my with Fiddling together. words right before it attacks my physique. In class, before I am called on, I hustle to hoard the hoard to called I hustle am I on, before class, In physique. my attacks it before praises itself. My anxiety becomes anxious, now aggravating me mentally mentally me now aggravating anxious, becomes anxiety My itself. praises English speak so carelessly to my anxiety? Aggressively it blabbers, so arrogantly it it so arrogantly blabbers, it Aggressively anxiety? my to speakEnglish so carelessly 10 Manastash Ebonesiah Morrow I focused myI focused attention away from my mom, to bacchanal the coming from the reading. to silent read inMrs. Alter’s said class, reading Lisa because was for geeks. Ilove I was fivewhen Mommytaught the lessonme after she found thatout I refused grandparents. lessons, during separate Grandma them call and Grandpa. My parents taught me two different yet valuable Granny and Grandfather. My father’s parents are from Alabama and Oklahoma, I in one little me. My mother’s parents are from Trinidad and Tobago, them Icall Daddy meant Icould have two different lifestyles, two different cultures, embedded longerthe defined meaning of a happy family.Separation between Mommy and At Iredefined a“happy seven, family.” Mommy Daddy’sand circumstances no ‘round. during class. history true Diversity differences were infinite. That isknewI why Mr. Evolue’s last-minute claim was Places were different, people were different, circumstances were different, Most importantly, that one never Iknew be things big will unit of “happiness.” thatknew there was no such thing as ahappy city, and people definitely had issues. By that Mommy six,Iknew not every and Daddy could live happily with Baby. I one big unit of “happiness.” My of perspective a“happy family” changed as Iaged. together with Baby, inahappy city, with happy people. Everything would just be Mufasa), a“happy Ibelieved family” meant Mommy and Daddy lived happily “Don’t forget.” eva yuh “Yes.” “Iman, not aleader yuh afollower, hear doyuh me?” occasions. Both occasions occasions. took Both place at homes the of my is the key to the success. It makes world the go *** Ebonesiah Morrow Manastash 11 of Caribbean

“YUH STCHUPID OR WHA? PLAY DI KISS MI ASS TUNE, NAH? TUNE, NAH? KISS MI ASS DI PLAY WHA? OR STCHUPID “YUH Fast-forward to a Memory the beautiful madness one day— one the madness beautiful Super Stars Steel Band. As he continued to rage, I imagined myself being a part of being a part of myself I imagined rage, to continued he As Band. Steel Stars Super family from the islands to the states. My grandfather was the leader was grandfather My the states. to the islands from family thought, into Trebling it in tempo, speeding up existence. into crescendos sun beats The heads, our upon down Grandfather for patiently wait we as unlocks key the padlock. find the that to hand his metal The lever scorches purpose: our releases he as tenor-bass, the the bass, tenor, The sets), (two the cellos, the double-seconds holding crate chrome and the black handed are thebags drum set. conga The man. the conga to tune! re- to in di sun up it “Stand cover, pan we sure Make soon!” stage on we callin’ di people lawn, the across scatter listeners The figs. green Scattered of the color Variety: score. a music on notes like with an over-bearing accent, he was a family man, who used his music to bring bring to who used music man, his a family was he accent, over-bearing an with My grandfather’s temper got the best of him again. Though an ill-tempered man, man, an ill-tempered Though him again. the best of got temper grandfather’s My YUH MUDDAH ASS!” YUH MUDDAH PLAYIN’ ‘CANON IN D’ FOR DI PEOPLE WEDDIN,’ NOT ‘CANON IN C!’ IN C!’ ‘CANON NOT WEDDIN,’ PEOPLE DI FOR IN D’ ‘CANON PLAYIN’ WHAT DI ASS YUH PLAYIN? I TELL YUH D, C#, D, NOT D, C, D! WE C, D! WE D, NOT C#, D, I TELL YUH D, YUH PLAYIN? ASS DI WHAT DON’ WAIT FUH DEXTA’ PART! JUS’ PLAY DI DAMN TUNE! AND DEXTA, DEXTA, TUNE! AND DAMN DI PLAY JUS’ PART! DEXTA’ FUH DON’ WAIT of describing chaos, confusion, partying, and danger. Yes, all of those. all of Yes, danger. partying, and confusion, chaos, describing of garage. “Bacchanal” was a word used often in that house. It was a Trinidadian’s way way Trinidadian’s a was It house. in that used often word a was “Bacchanal” garage. 12 Manastash Ebonesiah Morrow The sweet soundsThe sweet of memory— “Pi Pom DiDom!” “Pi Pom DiDom!” adventure. music that you takes on asensory that sound like sight the of heaven, chords hell, from moving like abunch Marleys of Bob couples dancing as one, hippies of cowbell, young the to steady the beat old couples tapping feet their harmonious smiles, Children pointing, eyes, wide Instant harmony.Instant “1,2,3” Rolling up his beating sleeves, his sticks together, Grandfather glances back at drummer. the The listeners rejoicetrills. in “…TheCaribbean Super Stars Band!”Steel A thumbs up from mic-man. the Katrina! on double- Get yuh seconds, please dileads! Raise “Aye, man! boss Lowa’ dikick drum! Signaling intimidated the micman, Mani! Put amicinfront of dipans!” Just get offdamn di stage! in rage, “Aye, micman! Poor mic-ing causes Grandfather to erupt of Patricia’s forehead. perspiration pours from pores the Water drips from tips the of Jacka’s dreads, inmyher timbales tummy. The feeling of E.rattlingSheila go!” we “Leh Yes, natural even the F’s, Bb’s, C’s. The “Accidentals” The E’s, F#’s, G’s, A’s, B’s, C#’s, D’s.

?” Ebonesiah Morrow Manastash 13 my favorite picture book, from home. But no, I couldn’t give in to my my in to give I couldn’t no, But home. book, from picture favorite my “Bllllllllllp Bop Bop” went the drummer on the cutter, cuing Auntie Patricia Patricia Auntie cuing the cutter, the drummer on went “Bllllllllllp Bop Bop” - Fal Fawcett be to this year’s want also don’t you Well, to? want don’t “You “Don’t want to,” I said in the tone of a raisin— I wanted to. I brought I brought to. I wanted a raisin— of in the tone I said to,” want “Don’t “Iman, sit up please? Pull your book out from under your chair and read. read. and chair your under from book please? Pull out up your sit “Iman, I pictured myself calling the shots one day, being the leader: darting a stick at my being the leader: my at darting a stick day, one callingthe shots myself I pictured my granny cut up the dasheen, green fig, sweet potatoes and onions. A Trinidadian A onions. and fig, sweet green the dasheen, potatoes up cut granny my turned back to my mother who was now gyrating her waist and hips, while helping while helping hips, and gyrating waist her who now was mother my to back turned and the rhythm to begin all over again, allowing me to fade out of my memory. I memory. my of fade out to me allowing again, begin to all over the rhythm and con! I will be phoning home, Mani! Very disappointed! No recess!” recess!” No disappointed! Very Mani! home, I willcon! be phoning gave me a cupcake for getting one-hundred- percent on the weekly spelling bee. spelling the weekly on percent one-hundred- getting a cupcake for me gave Kristina, were no longer my friends. They decided I was the enemy when Ms. Alter Ms. friends.Alter when They decided enemy I was my the longer no were Kristina, true colors. I had to pretend. Lisa was my only friend since Tabitha, Brittney, and and Brittney, friend Tabitha, since only Lisa my was pretend. to I had true colors. Corduroy, read!” could enjoy her recess!” said Ms. Alter, now rising out of her seat. “Iman Hope, Hope, “Iman seat. her of out rising now Ms. Alter, said recess!” her enjoy could already in trouble! If you want to be a good friend, stop talking to Mani, so she be talking to Mani, a good to friend, stop want you If in trouble! already she whispered, loudly. “Lisa! You are are You “Lisa! loudly. whispered, she hear!” to not grin. “Pretend mischievous my left at Lisa who was swinging her legs back and forth at the table, with a with at the table, forth and her legs at back Lisa swinging was who left my computer, “what has gotten into you today?” I fidgeted in my chair, and looked to looked and chair, my in today?” fidgeted I you into gotten has “what computer, I am not going to ask you again,” said Ms. Alter, peeking at me from behind her behind her from me peeking at Ms. Alter, said again,” you ask to going not I am I then began to think about Mrs. Alter’s class and my refusal to read. refusal to my and class Alter’s Mrs. think I then to began about of Steel Pan music to the world. to music Pan Steel of one who is on point with her solo; most importantly, sharing the beautiful sounds the sounds beautiful sharing importantly, solo; most her with point who on is one attention to the music; pounding fists with my tenor player, because she is the only only is the she because player, tenor my with fists pounding the music; to attention bass woman, because she is constantly peeking at her phone, instead of paying paying of instead phone, her peeking at constantly is becauseshe woman, bass drummer, after telling him to pick up the pace for the fifth time; barking at my at barking fifth the time; for up the pace pick to him telling after drummer,

14 Manastash Ebonesiah Morrow you?” happened to he himwhen wasn’t to supposed hyenas the to talk and he did, don’t Iwant!when You, on other the hand, you’re Simba. You know what almost random question comes to mind: later. Tossing of crust the my peanut-butter and jelly sandwich into pond, the a wondered ifDaddy and Icould go out boat and paddle inthe pick one for her, spotted floating the orchids,white fuchsia,and I’m reminded of Mommy. I cattails, ripples the water inthe that indicated vibrant life under murk. the When I tippy out Igazed toes, into pond, the note taking of water the intimidating lilies, off-white covered dock, in moss, duck droppings, and fishfood.Standing on my teachings. It was aniceday of middle inthe May. next to Istood Daddy on the fiveDaddyI wastaughtwhen also the me lesson,other after I questioned hisprior trouble indiplace!” you, Mani. Now letme find out not yuh schoolreading in again, be thereand will are put to on lead, to guidediothers, earth trends, to set to pave ways. dat All is me to join her dance, inthe forgetting about her duties as an assistant chef. woman can she when never hears keep still sweet the rhythm of Caribbean. the “Sure kid,” thing, he said as he handed me ahandful of throw fishto food “Yeah. But, Daddy, Nala, can Ibe instead? That’sgirl.”the “Because I’m Mufasa! Iown Mani! Pride Rock, to whom Ispeak Iwant, “If I’m to strangers, not to talk spose why doyou, Daddy?” what“Because yuh is, else nobody Mani, different. yuh Sometimepeople “Why not aleader to am be afollower?” Ispose “What talkin’ yuh bout, Mani?” she said as she reached her hands out for “Mommy, what doyou mean?” *** Ebonesiah Morrow Manastash 15 he said, stretching out his arm for my ” he said, stretching You want a ride, Ms. Lady? “You “Never think you are better than anybody, Iman, never. The lions are no are lions The never. Iman, anybody, than better are think you “Never “What if they look cuckoo? Like the people we see walking downtown, on on if they see look cuckoo? we Like the people walking downtown, “What “What does positive mean?” does positive “What older, get you When way. in a great life your Change good, Nala. means “It “Daddy, why do you like do you talk to strangers?” why to “Daddy, know.” you doing, they are how people ask or hello, good say to always “It’s “Why?” A Mani. having, are people day kind of what know don’t you “Because Kid.” “Okay, my dad’s driving he was like off vroomed and hat sun his tipped He “VRRRrrrr! vvRRRvvrr! VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!” Grandpa started up started up “VRRRrrrr! Grandpa VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!” vvRRRvvrr! about the is gumbo said Dad. Mom the house, head to back gonna are “We our way to the zoo?” to way our now I mean really really kick-a-stranger’s-butt older, always say hello.” say always older, kick-a-stranger’s-butt really really I mean now life that could change it forever,” he paused, “in a positive way.” “in a positive paused, he forever,” it change could that life ‘hello’ can really brighten up somebody’s day, or invite somebody into your own own your into somebody invite or day, somebody’s up brighten really can ‘hello’ towards our direction on the dock. on direction our towards the seasonal bullfrogs. of the deep groaning I heard house, when Mommy and I used to take Daddy to work. I watched as my grandpa headed grandpa my as I watched work. I used take to Daddy to and when Mommy the headed toward we As tractor. up beat loud, his of instead Mustang, drop-top straight into my nostrils. It invaded my nostrils just as the smell of the Port would would the Port of the smell as nostrils just my invaded nostrils. It my into straight the tractor. The stench from his cigar drifted from the other side of the pond pond ofthe side other the driftedfrom cigar his from stench The the tractor. a bit.” for needed sit to just It done. tadpole of a body to climb on board. tadpole of a body into thepond. into 16 Manastash Ebonesiah Morrow nobody. is different, Everybody to live but deserve on Rock.”all we Pride was allowed to be outside of shadows. the An elephant’s graveyard is no place for better than hyenas. the In movie, inthe fact, I’m sure hyenas the all everwanted

2.3…or something?” last week, and you said it yourself. Your GPA is trash. What didyou say it was? A on! You you think got ashot at it? Ms.Kerule just made us check our GPA’s just space, waiting for aresponse. is comin’ deadline the up hellafast,” Isaid with my glued to empty the eyesstill hand. space infront of me, where my lunch tray should have been. block on hilltop, where gunshots and tear drops, don’t stop—” table.the Philly attempted to freestyle: out pulled me. Deucey his mechanical and pencil, began rapping and tapping on At lunch the table Deucey, Troy, and Philly sat across from and Rachel, Lisa, applications inhis hand, “free money. There is nothingbetter than that.” Gates Bill the Achievers Scholarship. It wasgettingtowardstheendofyear, whenMr. “You’ll understand one day, baby girl.” I stared at himblankly. “Mani, are before you said Lisa serious?” bursting into laughter, “come “Yeah. Mr. Evolue said we have to get on started app the right away, cause “Are you?” as said she Rachel slapped out mechanical the pencil of Deuce’s “So are you guys gonna apply?” Isaid keeping my eyesfixed the emptyon “Yo, that Ibe fresh nigga Philly. I’m from shitty the Tac City. From that “Do not pass up on opportunity, this boys and girls,” he said, holding the *** Evolue told class the about Ebonesiah Morrow Manastash 17 “You know, Mani, if I didn’t know any better, I would think you were bonin’ bonin’ were think you I would better, any know if I didn’t Mani, know, “You “As a future achiever, what are some values, principles and/ or beliefs that beliefs that or and/ principles values, some are what achiever, a future “As “Scarface? Nigga, yeah right!” Philly said laughing, “more like fucked up up fucked like “more laughing, said Philly yeah right!” Nigga, “Scarface? “Fuck that, cuz. Fuck college. Call me Scarface. Hustling is my career. career. my is Call Scarface. college. me Hustling cuz. Fuck that, “Fuck “Actually, Mr. Evolue said all I have to do is great on my essay questions questions essay my on great do is to all said I have Evolue Mr. “Actually, “Yeah, but I know I can raise it. I just have to startfocusing.” to have I just it. raise can I I know but “Yeah, laughter think?” into you bursting Lisa said, Don’t that! for too late “It’s You just repeated his whole lecture! You believe in that man!” believe in that You lecture! whole his repeated just You Mr. Evolue or something,” said Lisa with a smirk on her face. “I mean… damn! damn! mean… “I face. her Lisa on said a smirk with something,” or Evolue Mr. different things.” different have different people on your side, if you want to accomplish and succeed and in to accomplish want you if side, your on people different have About how important it is. I’m gonna talk about all of us. How it’s important to to important it’s How us. all talk of about gonna I’m is. it important how About I instantly remembered what Mr. Evolue said, “I’m gonna talk about diversity. diversity. talk about gonna “I’m said, Evolue Mr. what remembered I instantly gonna answer that, man.” that, answer gonna you believe are important for academic success?” he said. “I don’t know how I’m I’m how know don’t “I academicsuccess?” said. he for important believe are you reached to the personal statement question. the personal statement to reached I didn’t even know he waited and got one after class. He turned the pages until he turned until He the pages class. after one got and waited he know even I didn’t Troy reached into his backpack and pulled out one of the Achievers applications. applications. the Achievers of one pulled out and backpack his into reached Troy there, cuz.” there, though. Fuck writing. Scouters are coming to my games on a daily. I know I’m in I’m I know a daily. on games my to coming are Scouters writing. Fuck though. face! But I feel you, Mani. Go handle that! I’m not bout to fill one of them apps out, out, apps of them one fill to bout not I’m that! Go handle Mani. you, I feel face! But Come visit me in the hood during spring break and shit, Mani,” said Deucey. said Mani,” shit, and break in the hood spring me during visit Come graduate. Colleges will said.” he see that, graduate. show my ambition and potential. And then work on my GPA from now until I until now from GPA my on then work And potential. and ambition my show and personal statements. Be honest when answering questions, and make sure to to sure make and questions, when answering Be honest personal statements. and again. I could hear the phoniness behind her laugh this time. laugh behind her the phoniness hear I could again. 18 Manastash Ebonesiah Morrow weeks. Would love for you two to join.” atrip to weekend. taking UWthis be We visit college new campuses two every under control. advisor of Trio. And you awe…?” position. The man has stopped walking and is nowgiving full me his attention. was much longer than other. the Before by, he passed breath, Itook adeep bowls for coming glasses, down stairs. the He had an awkward limp, like one leg As we down walked Ispotted hall, the ashort, lanky Asian man, wearing fish at waterfront. the says Deuce his letus uncle borrow will whip.” the said, slapping her backpack as she away, walked “I’m spot that big tryna ass pelican Rachel, afterkissing Philly the on cheek. “Don’t forget about tonight,baby girl,” he of apps,” those Isaid, heading towards exit. the “Wait, Mani! I’m coming too!” said kitchen, what my father had said to me on dock. the have A’s earned Ithought with ease. about what my mother had told me inthe C’s the school. All high and D’s that damn well Iknew when that Iearned Icould snapped.I calmly Ithought about opportunities the all up and Ipassed inmiddle “Nice to you, meet You ladies. two come to my office after school.will Trio “Hi,” as said she Rachel rocked to keep back her and patience forth, trying “Iman, Iman Hope. And is this my Rachel.” friend, “Ohhh, nevaw Trio hearrrrrd? program! good is My avery name is Dr. Li, “Well honest, to be Inever heard of it. Ijust wanted to say hello,” Isaid. “Did you wan’ to me to about talk Trio, young lady?” “I’m thank you,” good, Isaid, realizing that I’m now inan awkward “Oh, I’m fine, and how awe youuu?”said he with awarm, welcoming smile. “Hello, how are you?” Isaid with awarm yet smile. timid “Fuck you, Lisa.” “I’ll Iexhaled. hit you guys later. I’m gonna go grab one Ebonesiah Morrow Manastash 19 .—Iman *** when he retired Trinidad and Tobago. Hammered it like my grandpa would hammer the the hammer would grandpa my like it Hammered Tobago. and Trinidad sixteen. Something about that statement empowered me. Something about that that about Something me. empowered statement that about Something sixteen. mouth was, “Diversity is the key to success.” At least that’s what I thought at age age at I thought what that’s least At success.” to key is the “Diversity was, mouth statement shifted my mentality or hammered it back to life. Hammered it like my like it Hammered life. to back it hammered or mentality my shifted statement Probably the only valuable thing that came out of my tenth grade history teacher’s teacher’s history grade tenth my of out came that thing valuable only the Probably campfire-iron into the fire pit, causing the flames to exhale back into life, burning its burning life, into back exhale to flames the causing pit, fire the into campfire-iron him after named was a lane til’ Tacoma of Port the at down prejudices through way grandfather would hammer dead, useless, oil barrels, into live musical instruments of of instruments musical live into barrels, oil useless, dead, hammer would grandfather 20 Manastash Jess Macinko obligatory twang—sings country words: these one of two dining areas, alove song is playing. Aman’s voice—cheerful, and with At Kittitas Valley Health and Rehab, inawell-lit, u-shaped room as that serves Sporadic, ragged moans her. escape her lolling head backward, her eyes shut, mouth slightly open, as though sleeping. anyone she must roll pretending her for eyesdolorously much o upward. At another, awoman sits with At one table an force unseen pins awoman’s chin to her chest, that so to at look ought it ought to be imagination my how f ive you ademonstration nd if Icould Iwould wiping chins. soiled twenty-four or five,who shuttlesthem, between picking up dropped silverware, Nine residents to one CNA—a terse blonde woman can’t who more be than Diners sit at tables of two or three or four, making nine room inthe altogether. asks me, “can check the Isettle ifIdon’t even have apen?” his face. He mimes patting front the of sidesof the his shirt, his hips. “How,” he English muffins,crumbling the beforeeggsstrewn Cleverness him. plays across withouthis scalp touching, and thin soft,baby’s, like a looks the at shoals soggy of The man acrossfrom white fine whose me, film seems of hair to hover just above and clothes of diners the themselves. stages of disintegration—sprawl over plates, across tablecloths, spattering faces the into cereal—are the now uniformly lukewarm. Meals—white and beige, invarious at 8:20,is now well under way. pretending for much o Meals—scrambled cereal, eggs, bananas to slice nd Iwas lookingsoundtrackThisthe is for forward KVHR’s to ahappy ending breakfast hour,beginswhich at 8:00, which,and ou weren’t even intrigued didn’t I that I’m now wishing nd ept my heart hidden S Th O G A S A Y Oh, w A I k ho am Ikidding Orphans Jess Macinko Manastash 21 Or perhaps this soundtrack is intended only for the CNA, has perhaps been perhaps has the CNA, for only intended is this soundtrack Or perhaps who hear ones the only I are and she that anyway possible is It her. by chosen on And the fritz. hearing-aids of harmonics the shifting with rings room it--this to closed, eyes who back, continues head thrown her with the woman is then there from come which seems to the sound, and moves barely mouth Her loudly. moan, trying a person of the sound plaintive, and delirious is her, deep inside somewhere his my left, to man the says voice,” her “That’s a dream. within speakto from a scandal a secret, in a small the town. fact though raised as were eyebrows The song has changed. It is still a love song, still light-country, but now a woman woman a now but still light-country, song, stillis It a love changed. has The song heart his kept having for regret of sang her before the man where and sings, these Respectively, so. doing presently of the pain laments hidden, this woman are These be.” might “What and been” have might be could titled “What songs now adults, young performed by and written problems, teenage about songs the elderly. for played While wiping cereal paste from the shirt of the man to my left, the CNA notices notices left, CNA the my to the man the shirt of from paste cereal wiping While not nervous was efficiency—it with off it pulls She hand. his on square the plastic and turns she but is, it her what ask I adhesive. only all, after a pin by there held she Then me. heard hasn’t she though as table, another headed for appears Wires me. tells she heartmonitor, a for pad contact is a The square hesitates. hand. his on got it how know doesn’t She the metal to nub. connect would The man across from me, his cataract of milk-white hair fading to translucence at to translucence fading hair of milk-white cataract his me, from across man The need some winks. space, “You’d seen from cover cloud the Earth’s like the edges, coffee. get to the table from wheels away He says. he that,” for sugar “Oh you dumb butt,” he scoffs, letting the tube fall. the letting scoffs, he butt,” dumb you “Oh A one inch plastic square clings to his left hand, metacarpals between of his the hand, left his to clings square plastic inch A one like the nub, metal round pinned there—a appears It finger. index and thumb is, it the square, what man ask the I its center. depresses nail, a finishing head of setting, place his at stares He know. doesn’t he but hand, his to pinned it’s why and been they have grasp, easier to silverware his of the handles make To nonplussed. is knife butter his of the handle for the tube but tubes, foam in latex sheathed it holds he and a banana, for it mistaken have fact warped his In hands missing. poised slice. bowl, to his over The man to my left has the muddled speech and lopsided gaze of a stroke victim. stroke a of lopsidedgaze muddledand speech hasthe left my to man The quaver arthritic hands Humped, food his dogged concentration. with attends He bats. like plate, his above 22 Manastash Jess Macinko But name the he reads is his own. Holdingcart. card the he squints, mouth open, and points, and repeats name. the says, reading aname and gesturing at man the sits who infront of beverage the The man to my left holds a place card in his trembling “That’s hand. ____,” he our grandchildren’s age pine desperately for love the of strangers. disinterest us, and between from aCDplayer on faux-wood the countertop, people tasteless, textureless to our food mouths ayoung while woman rations her But room inthis drop we will our forks. In to bring room this struggle we will hours on end. highlight of the sleep, we be our will days;will or otherwise sit hallways inthe for lucky, ifwe have saved enough that our families can afford such a place. Thisroom If we live long enough, you and have Iwill breakfast inaroom like If this. circle of coffee the them bodyguards.potcannot Behind seen. be Pitchers of water and orange juice tower over him,passive and forbidding as a The manwiththe halo baby’sof hair sits beforequietly beveragethe cart.

we are Jacob Gann Manastash 23 can’t see he can’t pisses off the Sergeant,” the Sergeant,” he pisses off Killhouse “…and that would help with the whole sweaty ball situation, too,” Guthrie Guthrie too,” ball situation, sweaty the whole with help would that “…and you what a shit gives one no that just wrong you’re that saying not “I’m some had we If through? go do you powder baby much how “Be honest, head. my shook I smiled and ill-timed or an with joke tension breaking for talent His I liked Guthrie. I nicely,” ask just if you shorts wear will let you the Sergeant sure “I’m of out hand Pulling his socks…” many “So darkened, expression Guthrie’s Or did that. be with careful “I’d frowned. and bag his from up looked Van see He the Do Sergeant?” you “Why? suddenly, around looked Guthrie mean irritated look. “No, but that doesn’t gave Guthrie an Van Medicine, was a nice guy and a good soldier. Van, or Vanvolkinburg, “What do you care if we do a few push-ups? Its not like you’d even Staring at the bloody handprints on the door did not help my nerves. I shifted my help did not the door on the bloodyhandprints at Staring The and alarm klaxons. gunfire of the trying sound foot, to ignore foot to from chest my to strapped armor the heavier, to seemedgetting hands be my rifle in didn’t hand, the other on squad, My heat. Texas the sweltering by worse made seem even notice. to earnest. in complete said, contents. its out bag, pulling medic’s his kneeled over He smiling. said, Van think,” swamp without day a whole through get I could something, or zippers or vents to armor his digging under said, Guthrie breathe.” need to boys my Seriously, ass. hand. other rifle his in his juggling himself, adjust to seemfully didn’t and eighteen only he was as fitting; was comment juvenile found us of the rest once than More yet. be to in the army meant it what grasp a sense had sergeant platoon our assumed because he sweating and sore ourselves humor. of the laundry Remember incident?” guy. a reasonable “He’s smiling. suggested, hand. off rifle his his in balancing armor, his adjusted he pants, his rifle?” your dropped time you the last happened what forget you rifle his in hands. held both and up straightened test through the cameras, and I’m tired of getting watching the know he’s You us. his bag again, smoked because of you.” He looked down and busied himself with convinced that the right set-up helped with his patient care. It didn’t. the practical exams, overlooking did not suit him. He struggled through however, our procedures. His scores actually ended up tanking wounds or forgetting What he lacked in book smarts, though, he made up for in platoon average. strength. if you hang notice,” I said, looking down at my own arms. “Sometimes I wonder out with us just so you can get a quick work out when I gestured to Guthrie, who feigned innocence. 24 Manastash Jacob Gann without takingasinglecasualty. unit tactics. Thanks tohimoursquadmanagedcleartwo different Killhouses older thanusandahigherrank;butmorethat, Herschelexcelledatsmall of hisaccent,buthehadbeenmadesquadleader forareason.Hewastenyears us.” “fow-er”) attritionrate,”Herschelsaid,pausingfor effect. “And there’s fourof last testandthenwe’regone.Canyoureallyblamethemforbeingalittlegoofy?” Everyone’s alittleeagertoget home.Imean,aftersixmonthsallwe’vegotisthis with tourniquets. He gesturedbehindmeandIturnedtosee Van andGuthriewhipping eachother nasally. “ButifIwereyou,I’dbemoreworried‘boutyourbuddiesoverthere.” stepped underthecanopyandsighed,relishingcoolshade. “Gann.” picked mywaythroughthesagebrushandrocktowardcanopy. reaching outandpushingagainstthebloodydoor, testingit. I said. particular. propped againstthecenterpole,lookingtowardKillhouseatnothingin providing theonlyshadeformiles.Oursquadleader, Herschel,satbeneathit too?” hewhispered. dropping ashecheckedoverhisshoulder. “Dothe camerashavemicrophones now, tourniquetsandbandagesstrewnacrosstheground. fuck-ups turntheSergeant intomyveryownpersonaltrainer.” Hisbagwasempty second timethroughthe training cycle,theygetreclassedascooks.” failed rescuebreathingat thehospital. Two fails isarecycle;andiftheyfailtheir He gavemeapointedlook, thenwenton.“Van failedthefirsthouse,andGuthrie somebody failingtheirpracticals andgettin’ stuckhereforanothersixmonths.” Honestly, I’msurprisedwemadeitthisfarwithoutgettingshot.” PeopleoftenmistakenlyassumedHerschelwasn’t intelligentbecause “No, whatImeanisthatthethirdhousehasaoneinfour(pronounced I turnedbackandshrugged.“They’rejustblowingoff somesteam. “I’m doin’ fine,”Herschel said,histhick country accent making him sound I noddedback.“Justcheckingup,youseemevenmoregrimthanusual.” Herschel noticedmewalkingoverandstoodup,noddingatmyapproach, I shookmyheadandturnedtoleave.Slingingrifleovershoulder “AskhimifIcanbedoorman.wannakickthisbitchin,”Guthriesaid, What’s bugginghim?“I’m gonna goseewhatourfearlessleader is upto,” I chuckledandturnedtolookatthecamo-canopysetupnearby, “What? Itsnotmyfaulthe’s gotastickuphisass,”Guthriesaid,voice Van lookedupandsmiled,“Well Idon’t wanttogetsoftouthere. And his Herschel shookhishead. “Iain’ I shrugged.“Sowe’llhavetorunacouplemiles after this,whocares? t talking‘boutcasualties, I’mtalking‘bout , I Jacob Gann Manastash 25 an V None found. riskin’ a recycle for those a not riskin’ The sound of screams CRACK! . I looked at Herschel with a raised brow. He held my gaze. He held my gaze. with a raised brow. . Dick. I looked at Herschel

Wow first squad had which meant completely quiet now, The building was a purple welt on his face and I came back to find Guthrie nursing “No,” said Herschel, shaking his head. “I am “No,” said Herschel, just laughed. Van indignant. “He cheated,” Guthrie said, looking right? What if Herschel’s thought to the back of my mind. “Well, I shook my head and pushed the our rifles, loading them with blanks Herschel jogged over as we readied sound of alarm klaxons could The muffled the light flashed red. Finally, I furrowed my brow and looked back at them, still whipping each other each other still whipping at them, back and looked brow my I furrowed two. I’ve been away from my baby for too long. I’m gettin’ through this and I’m through this and I’m gettin’ from my baby for too long. two. I’ve been away “And besides, what if they ain’t He cocked his head to the side, home.” gettin’ could get people killed.” bad medic A supposed to be medics?

man,” I said, irritated. “Guthrie wants to be door I looked away. After a moment turned and walked back to the will probably be done soon.” I “And first squad Killhouse. Roh. In a moment the red light by Sergeant finished and was being debriefed we would have five minutes to prepare a breach. would turn green, indicating that

packing the last of his equipment into his med bag. “I take it Van won?” Van into his med bag. “I take it packing the last of his equipment green and we all stared at The light flashed re-” we should probably start getting the call sign to Herschel, “Green Light!” the door for a moment before echoing we hit or designators that would indicate whether and switching on the target calling out our positions in he led us to the door, missed. Herschel did the same as With on door.” on point. I’m second. Gann you’re third. Guthrie’s the stack. “Van and watched the light above the door. practiced ease we moved to our positions of us covering our danger zones, each of us waited with bated breath, each We eager to fight. Guthrie moved to the front, slinging his rifle across be heard through the door. Satisfied, his back. He swept the door frame with his fingers, feeling for wires. he tested the latch then turned to Herschel, forming the hand signs: Door Locked. Herschel nodded and Guthrie gave a vicious smile. He leaned back, coiled his leg, and kicked the door in with a loud and, one by one, and klaxons poured out in waves. I tightened my grip on my rifle we entered the Killhouse. know Guthrie it, but I didn’t might not make Van curses. “I figured and shouting I into my voice. said, doubt creeping his shit,” I I thought he knew failed one. their treatments we can double-check if “Well, to face Herschel. turned back notic-” the Sergeant without 26 Manastash Luke Pearsons Uh-heh, Iknow, yeah, just, um,curious how old the team was doing.” His team,school basketball Jacob “Uh, sighed. Grandpa. Igraduated ago.” awhile potatoes. Now his when grandfather greeted himwith aquestion about his high asked Jacob what his major before was twice finishing of hismashed first serving acob remembered his when grandfather firstbegan to forget. He had Jacobgravitythe grasped finally of his condition Christmaswhen dinner at a he heard of his diagnosis, but had figured it was just asideeffect being of old. But ftergivingboth parents his hugs, and listening to his mother mention searching his plethora of for pockets an item that would found. never be how skinny he was again, he over glanced at his grandfather, to be seemed who bench-swing. impressive of collection wind chimes that hung from patio the next to the finds, plastic flamingoes, pink enough garden gnomesmake to it creepy, and an identical to last. Thelawn was decoratedwith an array of nicknacks, garage sale manufactured suburb other house, where except every his parents’, looked upPulling to his parents house, Jacob could not help but smirk. It was located ina nlocking the door the tonlocking comic shop the book was only the of part job the You me Buzz. can Imean call you’re what, seventeen?” That’s pretty cool Grandpa.” Uh, anyway yeah, to watch Iused as them akid, back inVermont, at an Yeah, um,we watched one together on you birthday last year.”old theater. to work Iused there too.” ‘causeGood, my all are videos on tape. You Marx the Brothers?” ever see thereI think is one attic.” inthe What about aVHSplayer?” Yes, Grandpa.” Anyway, you have aT.V. right?” acob sighed. diet or something?” grandfather pretend to punch air. the “By way, the you’re looking skinny, you on a “Twenty-four.” “ J A U “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ J Shazaam Luke Pearsons Manastash 27 “ “ “ “ the whenever Anyway, kid. the not wizard, The called, was he Shazam. something, the full-grown into turn would he ‘Shazam’ the word say I think, Billy kid, would or awizard akid was who discovered the best. was He he well, Oh, I kept and up me beating time were these kids one I remember Marvel. Captain Buzz work.” didn’t It power. sort of some get I’d hoping Shazam’ ‘Shazam! yelling undeserving this, which seemed the than even more at even louder laugh began to more He was Buzz said. of what a third about reallyheard only Jacob joke. first yeah.” Oh huh. a curtesy “Uh, let out occasionally and focused the computer on “Yeah, a have I thinkstill I Jacob. at over and glanced stool his on shuffled Buzz worth Probably old. Pretty locker. storage in my strips Marvel those Captain of few in his interest a newfound with computer his from turned Jacob now.” something anymore.” stuff superhero read really Idon’t now. called is Shazam He them to used the donate Boy Scouts to these. During the war, of a lot used read to akid when Iwas I overseas, know boys tothe off sent got they so before I was the treasurer effort. the war You about. complain to nothing got you’ve Wow, uproariously, laugh to began Buzz them all.” read and take them home I would said he course,” them all of returned “I coughs. even louder with mixed laugh his was favorite My free. them for of a lot I got while trying himself,”but compose to him?” read ever You Marvel. Captain always Buzz.” Er, Grandpa. Yeah Jacob really enjoyed anymore. Hearing the ring of the bell that was attached to the to attached was the bell that of the ring Hearing anymore. enjoyed really Jacob most and the 70’s, to back books dating comic a thousand of the smell door, computer. store of his button on the power push the first of the feeling importantly, usually do not things but book run to store, a comic plan his part never of was It with majors English for booming not is the job market Also, plan. to according go at used in conversations the excuse was Jacob that least at in Art, or a minor left when the original owner a career into turned job that a college was parties. It especially in a small town. busy, that typically not are him. Comic book to stores it is it and then even out, come new when comics Wednesday, is day only “busy” The Bowl. Because this, the the Super of before the day store electronics an like not the on behind the counter a stool on sitting spent were days Jacob’s of majority time. the industry wasting news, reading and orders, placing computer, store the bell of the ring thinking about not was he unlocked the he door, as Today it?” is This job? your is This “So. the door. to attached 28 Manastash Luke Pearsons I’m Buzz. This is grandson’smy shop. What are you looking for?” of store, the Buzz swiveled so on his chair to greet short the red-headed girl. “Hi. store’s ceilings. Jacob high was organizing paperback the collections near back the Later someone into walked store, the echoing “ring” the of throughout bell the the grandfather’s stories. Yeah Iknow, Iknow. But today is your day off,think we so I should go in astorage locker, and I’d like to get of abetter sense him, you know? get to Really down there and at alook take what he’s got. If it is worth something, it shouldn’t be That’s cool all,and but it’s his stuff, still Jacob. You can’t sell itif hestill wants it. He sounds pretty attached to his childhood.” mystart writing career kindof money.” dollars. And ifhe has alot of stuff, this that’s big money, like retirethe shop and Yes. You know how he was going off Captainon ValuableMarvel justthen. Well stuff.Captain Marvel’s first appearancerecently sold for over $170,000 Wait slow down. You mean your grandpa’she’s storage like ahuge locker?” been fanboy since he was akid, and he has aton of old stuff now. telling me about his storage locker, and that inside he thinks---” was attached to his chest, “Okay, to himearlier Iwas talking today, so and he was was agreatary listener. She belongs to that group small of people who atwidened Jacob and as he quickly begansaying curtain the closed as ifabomb rarely tell own their stories, but else’s. with enthralled everyone seem Her big eyes and proceeded nodded, to aback room they ary that off was sectioned by Yeah Buzz, you told me that. can Mary we talk?” curtain. a striped You know Marvel Mary was name the of one of Captain Marvel’s Captain Marvel Iwas back when a kid. When to---” Scout Iwas aBoy Iused sidekicks,” Buzz interjected, “I tell you about to read him?Iused comic this called Mary’secognizing voice, Jacob sprung to get to her before his grandpa could embarrass himself further. “Hey, to you could Mary Italk back?” inthe Um, yeah,” Buzz swallowed loud enough to echo through room, the “yeah, Threethe Stooges, ‘Hello. Hello. Hello!”began Buzz to coughlaugh. Uh, hiBuzz. We’ve met before. I’m Jacob’s that, Iknew yeah, Iwas just joking. You Mary.” girlfriend, know practicing on greeting people, like “ “ “ “ M M “ “ R “ “ Luke Pearsons Manastash 29 “ “ “ “ “ “ M Th M “ J 23.” locker Yup, the book.” look at didn’t You sure? You everyone I ever met. I got a directory.” everyone I got met. I ever Kilpatrick.” aBuzz for looking I’m Um, Okay. said. the lockers?” Jacob of the owner’s adirectory for dohave Um, every ajournal of of name got “I accent, aTexas with spoke he Boy,” tagged with explicit graffiti and the ones that were not looked like they should have have theyshould not like looked were onesthat andthe graffiti tagged explicit with remember. not could Buzz but number, locker his grandpa his asked been. Jacob So eyes. her they walked rolling him by Mary answered and sighed heavily Jacob surfer old an like looked owner The was. the lot of the owner were small a shack, to stringy that long hair had He narcotics. by away been face had eaten who’s dude mustaches blond of last the one had He flies. seemed catching be to designed for nicely. appearance his shirt accented Hawaiian unbuttoned his post-1970, and be here.” right should It ary sighed. “Yes. were the lockers of Most glamorous. than less was lot locker e storage shoulder. Do here?” Iturn funny. it’s Yeah, his nudged Jacob?” She Buzz. Right funny pretty ary giggled. “That’s In the car, Jacob drove while Mary fiddled with the GPS. Buzz sat in the back seat while in the back Maryseat fiddledBuzz sat GPS. with the drove Jacob the car, In thinking when I was about know while talked. he “You the window out stared and I did the nobody jobs the seminary for newspaper. I worked a priest, becoming fun some have idea to the bright time I got one Well theobituaries. like wanted, - obitu an him up so died, I wrote recently had horse friend’s My the editor. with on the editor planned only had I Stalin cry. made have Would Beautiful stuff. ary. I mortified. I was the paper. to it made and by slipped it somehow but seeing it, day, next But the seminary. of out be thrown and caught get to going I was thought in the aisles.” rolling allwere the priest give Mary whenever she was mad at him. Mary smiled as she shook her head, and and head, her him. Mary shook smiled she as at mad was Mary she whenever give arm. his punched something that is worth something, that’s just a plus right?” a plus just that’s something, worth is that something grin, used Cat the kindhe to Cheshire over-exaggerated an gave acob know the man through what he finds valuable.” finds he what through the man know find to happen just ifyou And go. to want really you why Ibet that’s Yeah, 30 Manastash Luke Pearsons seen. seen. e owner proceeded to write his name down inajournal. “Now,” said the chair and shuffled in his flip-flops overto the biggest bolt-cutters Jacob hadever owner. “No key, Jacob right?” “Alright, nodded. alright.” He got out of his lawn boy.Believe 23.What’s Locker your name?” eeing issue, the Buzz’s facelit up. “Oh Iremember yeah, one. this They probably read athousand this on times trips to and from city.” the Is it Jacob this Buzz?” asked. fightgiantthe Scorpion King and saves Marvel CaptainMary the the end.at I resembled he look the would give his mom aftereating a terrible new recipe. acob ran his fingersthrough his hairthen looked up the at sky. He looked motorboat noise. He at glanced but to and Mary grin, tried what came out back down at ground, the and his blew lips together like he was making a chewed away had been they by rats. price: Retail about one dollar. interiorthe pages. It had turned anshade of odd yellow, and like edges the seemed Captain Marvel and Family.back The cover was missing, not to mentionthree of it evenmore open revealed rying newspapers and an about old book old, right, but all not kindof the old Jacob had hoped for. It was issue #117of comics. Jacob flippedthrough book theand foundwhat he had come for. It was Yeah, heh, can you Jacob open it?” said arms winded, his thin resting on his legs,forming of asort triangle. e owner made it to chest the before Jacob. “I’m guessing is this what your looking for?” moved, beganpatting Mary so his back. He smiled. chairs owner the out had set for Buzz them. looked disturbed as his stuffbeing was ask to help, but he moving started stuffbefore Jacob. Buzz satand Mary lawnon back. Jacob and owner the moving started stuff out the way.of Theowner did not e owner pried open door, the unveiling remnants the of Buzz’s life. The tapes, old records, newspapers dating back to 50s,and the an old chest inthe locker was packed with old furniture, an imposing of collection VHSand Beta I never forget afaceboy.” The owner’s long finger pointed windowthe out Don’t you some of need sort identification?” at Buzz. “Jacob.” Th “ S “ J P “ Th Th “ “ Luke Pearsons Manastash 31 Jacob looked at Mary again, and said with his back turned to the owner, the owner, to turned back his with said and Mary again, at looked Jacob J Th B “ “ B J “Shazam.” eye. his caught when one obituaries, the papers through looking ofthe ruffledfew a acob through be in the chest.” might I think it I want. one is there them. Except have can “You need them anymore.” don’t “I said, Buzz Jacob,” to up “That’s another. one all at looked Jacob and uzz, Mary, in ‘em.” these. a good Lot names of most have all I don’t these newspapers. for want you much how “Hey Buzz, ofthe locker. out shuffled e owner still like having this old one. It’s been through the ringer and it’s still standing, even still standing, it’s and been the ringer through It’s one. this old still having like things.” a few missing if it’s I know, you But ages. been It’s again. it read to like I’d neat. would be That but smile, Cat Cheshire a fake smile or laughing a smile or a courtesy not smile, red-blooded, un-cynical emotion. a genuine, feeling from emanated a smile that real ina time A while. the first smiled, for he sigh. Instead didnot acob all with the know, you that, of copy a better you get probably I can grandpa. “Hey pages.” Mary said. memory,” agreat have you Buzz know, You Wow. me tell that.” to ever person the first are you know, “You uzz laughed. 32 Manastash Kala Tye a cigarette?” he asks. normally smoke acigarette and halfway doesn’t remember doing it. “Did you take microwave has ahalf-smoked remnant and he stares at it, frowning. He doesn’t adding it to pile. the “Noon, Ithink.” looking at what’s due. “Wasn’t your appointment today?” He puts mail the back down and gets back up to dinner, start feeling tired just parents two months late. too There’s an envelopeopened from Lilah’s parents too. through it. It’s mainly bills. There’s a birthdaycard for histwenty-eighth from his his gazeto TV. the “What’re you watching?” He’ll have to save it for his when cravings are really bad. “Hey,” he responds, lifting from table the and opens it. One left. He sighs throwsand backit ontotable.the attention back to screen. the floor around her. She looks eyes withat him thenandhalf-lidded turns her his living is room, spread Lilah out on couch, the bottles littering table the and afford anotherpack until Monday, and it was only Thursday. walks When he into was crawling with need. He had afew left. hoped he still He wouldn’tbe able to into his parking spot for apartment. the His brain felt like it was on fire, his skin Noah acigarette. needed His hands jittered against steering the as he wheel pulled He preheating nods, oven the for afrozen pizza. The ashtray thenear “No. Tomorrow.” She along takes draught of and her finishes beer it, He makes anoncommittal noise, picking up mail the next and rifling She “No shrugs. idea.” He sits down chair inthe next to couch, the pulling crumpled the pack y.” “He Shot Kala Tye Manastash 33 “I…” he started, wanting to scream his bottled frustrations and make her her make and frustrations bottled his scream to wanting started, he “I…” “Just… just leave me alone,” she whispered, and her eyes fell, her fingers fingers her fell, eyes her and whispered, she alone,” me leave just “Just… “Yeah?” he mimicked, his heart thudding angrily in his chest. “Yeah? “Yeah? chest. in his angrily heart his thudding mimicked, he “Yeah?” She swept ragged brown hair, still wet from the shower, out from her eyes eyes her from out the shower, still from wet hair, brown ragged swept She Noah pressed an ear against the door and heard nothing. He tried turn to He nothing. heard and the door against ear an pressed Noah She had locked herself in the bathroom a week ago. It had been over an an been had over It ago. a week in the bathroom herself locked had She He knocks on the door, but there’s silence. This isn’t the first time she’s done done she’s time first the isn’t This silence. there’s but the door, knocks on He Lilah doesn’t say anything, instead getting up to use the restroom. The The use theto restroom. up getting instead anything, say Lilah doesn’t ever seen her weak. Her strength is completely gone, and her body is hunched and and body her hunched is and gone, completely is strength ever seen weak.Her her shame written across her face in its misery, and he realizes this is the first time he’d he’d time the this first realizes is he and misery, face in its her across written shame choke on it, like she deserved. But his resolve crumpled when her expression did, did, expression when her crumpled deserved. resolve she his like it, But on choke gripping the bathroom knob. the bathroom gripping thought you were dead. Dying. What the fuck were you doing in there?” doing you the were fuck dead. Dying. What were you thought illness that can’t be prescribed. It’s been a year since she moved in, and he’s done. “I “I done. he’s in, and moved she been since a year be It’s prescribed. can’t illness that her decay bottle by bottle, the life bleeding out of her eyes a little each day from an an from day each eyes a little her of out bleeding the life bottle, by bottle decay her filled his veins instead. He’s tired of this. He’s sick of understanding, of watching of watching of understanding, sick He’s of this. tired He’s instead. filledveins his Seriously?” He should feel relieved she wasn’t dead or bleeding, but white-hot fury white-hot but bleeding, dead or wasn’t she relieved feel should Seriously?” He and slicked it back. “Yeah?” She glowered. She “Yeah?” back. it slicked and opened to reveal Lilah standing there with red-rimmed eyes. red-rimmed with there Lilah reveal to opened standing was about to give up and call the police when there’s a soft click and the door door and the click a soft call the and police when there’s up give to about was something’s wrong, and he started banging on the door, shouting her name. He He name. her shouting the door, on started banging he and wrong, something’s the knob, but it’s locked. Fear choked his throat as the realization hit that that hit the realization as throat his choked Fear locked. it’s but the knob, should check on her. on check should hour since he last heard water running and he had finally realizedhe maybe finally had he running and water heard last he since hour this. pizza is already done when he realizes she still hasn’t come out. come still she hasn’t realizes when he done already is pizza 34 Manastash Kala Tye told him aftertheirlast fight thatseen apsychologist she had foryears asa child, “We’ll see,” she says tonelessly, handing him two slices on apaper plate. She had psychiatrist tomorrow.” and starting to cut up already-cooling the pizza. “I’ll feel better you when the see scare you.” It’s strange still her cry. to see She to never used cry. are red again, eyelashes “Sorry,” wet from crying. she says quietly. “I didn’t mean to soften. Butthen she let go and nodded, eye.refusingthe himin to look It’s a start. tension, her knuckles were white on doorknob the and her expression to refused least come sit says?” with me andwhat see Google shake her. “You’re barely evenliving as it is!” you to feel better, and you’re not even yourself, and it never helps.” She looked hollow, never help. like ashell. “They They just give youpills and tell You can’t live like anymore. this Ican’t live like anymore.” this trembling. “You help, need If it’s Lilah. not from me, it has from to be someone. Her eyes slide to his for and asecond, dead back to then walls, empty. the He sighs and steps she aside so can move past him,going into kitchen the The door front opens suddenly in the of him in present, Lilah’sand eyes He thought she was going to say no. Her shoulders were shaking from “Okay.” He spreaded out his hands inagesture of surrender. “Can you at “I…” She gritted It’s her teeth. minute afull before she spits out, “I don’t.” “How doyou know?” isn’t“There one,” saidshe angrily, strengthbackscowl. in her “Okay ifnot atherapist, something, then there has away.” to be “No!” “Isn’t that better than Exasperation nothing?” took over and he wanted to “No,” she shook her slowly, head pressing her body into further door. the Kala Tye Manastash 35 27k a year, and he’s taking sutures out and changing the changing and out taking sutures he’s and 27k a year, Lilah had stared blankly forward, clenching the bottle of vodka Noah vodka Noah of the bottle clenching forward, blankly Lilah stared had He lit his last cigarette after he finishes the remnant, each inhale each a soothing remnant, the he finishes after cigarette last his lit He I The silence here is suffocating. is here silence The the half-smoked raises and the couch on bed, sits goes to he she When They watch TV in silence. Years ago, back at their old barracks in Qatar in old Qatar barracks at their back ago, Years TV in silence. They watch But he’d found one that specialized in PTSD, so she had eventually eventually so had she specialized that in PTSD, one found he’d But

had given her as his tweezers dig into her leg, pulling out shrapnel. He was out out was He shrapnel. out leg, pulling her dig into tweezers his as her given had out that he stops trembling and can go to bed. to go can and trembling stops he that out this time. anesthetic has he although balm to the tension in his chest. It was only after the last exhale and the fire goes fire and the exhale last the after only was It chest. in his balm the tension to Lilah met he in Qatar, back how of him too much reminds It from. it’s where asks patting her shoulder in amusement. in amusement. shoulder her patting when someone belligerence into face twists teen’s The wound. a bullet on dressings had been quiet, but Lilah had let out a small “ha” and he had done the same, the same, done had he and a small “ha” Lilah let out had beenhad but quiet, impressive an salaried at medical assistant, alowly He’s day. the next work at concentrate to hard t’s had had to leave. They went to a 7-11 and he remembers that they had laughed. It theyhad laughed. that remembers he and to a 7-11 went They leave. to had had Lilah had gone out and drank at a bar. Lilah punched a guy for catcalling and they and catcalling for a guy Lilah punched a bar. at drank and out Lilah gone had But tomorrow terrified him. He looks at the birthday card. For his birthday he and and he birthday his For card. birthday at the He looks terrified him. tomorrow But cigarette to his lips, hands shaking. He rarely got panic attacks, not like Lilah like did. not attacks, panic got rarely He shaking. hands lips, his to cigarette good at impressions. good at at them or talk about how much better they could have been. Lilah they have been better had could pretty much how talk them or about at they’d watch bootlegged movies that her parents sent from America and make jabs jabs make America and from sent parents her that bootlegged movies watch they’d consented. had insisted. She felt hopeless. felt She insisted. had then again before she had come to live with him. They hadn’t helped her at all, she she at all, her helped They him. hadn’t with live to come had she before then again 36 Manastash Kala Tye her pulling leg, helped. tight. Sometimes talking of and blood area cleaning dry solution and forced another her to drink gulp. bind flesh, the and didn’t she still shock react, numbing her. He gentlypatted the commanded her to, swallowing sharply. He dug inagain, to with time aneedle this threading throughout her body, and she only took ahard of swig alcohol he when at least eighteen other people. Yet she had no reaction to white-hot the pain acar-bombwhen had gone off,soldiers, six killing four civilians, and injuring of The painkillers. supply lowbeen alreadyhad before the chaos the of morning, he had to pass on inorder to save ones the had who achance. couldn’t treat at who’d those all, already bled out or were far too gone infire, those compromised, bandages brand the couldn’t they escape. There weresome that he writhe inagony breath touch, at every of every wind. Their was skin from spidering cracks inthe of her brain. himself. He’s not kind of the right doctor she now. needed He can’t stop scars the head. of shanty the up that set as an had been infirmary, closingeyes her and shaking her lucky it was only your leg.” as ifshee nodded had responded, chucking remnants the of bullet the into waste the bin and pushing then himself up from “Hey his knees. now, you’re said nothing,ilah her gazeempty and wide, her shoulders shaking alittle.

“So… what hell the happened?” he asked her as he carefully wrapped up He took another sip and it passed to her just as another eight people are Yeah, was lucky. Lilah anaesthetic the All had gone with 3rd to those degree burns, they’d because He said nothing, bottle the of taking from vodka her fist agulptaking and Thatseems to wake her up, and she pressed her againsthead the hot wood H L Kala Tye Manastash 37 The silence stretches for a minute as he tries to decide what to say, staring staring to say, he as to decidetries what a minute for stretches silence The He snorts, shaking his head. “Is that what the doc told you to do?” to you the doc told what that “Is head. his shaking snorts, He doesn’t she When shrugging. “Kinda.” the counter, sets on the bottle She “Doing something I never could do in the army,” she says, scrunching her her scrunching says, she do in the army,” could I never something “Doing “It should be open,” Lilah calls from within the bathroom a second later. a second Lilah the bathroom within calls from be open,” should “It opens. it and jiggles then he again, the knob but slowly, says he locked,” “It’s “Why do you even care?” even you do “Why himself. sure longer no he’s though wearily replies he to,” got “Someone’s frowns, He shut. is door the bathroom evening that home gets he When “Is there anything else I can help you with?” Noah now asks when he when he asks now with?” Noah you help else I can anything there “Is this self is a complete wreck. He purses his lips together instead, drawing on gloves gloves on drawing instead, together lips his purses He wreck. this self a complete is desperation there. And he realizes he doesn’t want her to be herself either, because be either, to herself her want doesn’t he realizes he And there. desperation their eyes meet. He can see the desperation there. There never usednever to be There there. see can the desperation their meet. eyes He pointedly at the counter. He looks up, mouth open to tell her she’s wrong, when wrong, she’s her tell to open mouth looks up, He the counter. at pointedly me anymore.” elaborate, he raises his brows at her reflection, and she sighs. “I don’t want to be want “I don’t sighs. she and reflection, her at brows his raises he elaborate, disassociate from it.” disassociate the word… to…what’s “Trying in concentration. nose up dye on the back of her head. “Uhm, what are you doing?” you are what “Uhm, head. her the of back on dye Lilah is in front of the bathroom mirror, gloves on each hand, trying each hand, squirt to hair on gloves mirror, the bathroom of Lilah in front is unaffected. He wonders if this is it. is if this wonders He unaffected. testing the knob. Locked. He assumes trouble, but his body feels numb and and numb body his feels but trouble, assumes Locked. He the knob. testing finishes wrapping gauze around the teenager’s side. teenager’s the around gauze wrapping finishes eyes are suddenly clear. “What can I do to help?” I do to can “What clear. suddenly eyes are up on an unsteady leg, her hand trembling when she grabbed him by the arm. Her Her the arm. grabbed when by him she trembling hand leg, her unsteady an on up shouts that there had been another shooting. As he started to head over, Lilah got Lilah got head over, started to he As shooting. been had another there that shouts being ushered into the small house, their groans of pain filling the air. There are There air. filling pain the of their groans the small house, into being ushered 38 Manastash Kala Tye anymore either and he understood apparently adoctor being for non-civilians didn’t count and he didn’t feel things training accounted for assistant jack and medical he up ended afucking someone, Noah, and just they don’t understand that Idon’t feel anything.” don’tthey get it, don’t they understand, I’ve people die, and seen Ifucking killed around hear about they them; what happens to people like us on television, the bullets Itook for our country. And they’re inside, dead so numb all to shit the accounts for. McDonald’s that hire is all will me for for my the fucking service, die, andfriends tell me to they work at Mcdonald’s that’s because my all experience of Just this. adjust. And what hell the am Iadjusting to? I get shot andmy see I’m only fucking twenty four, and say, they well, you’re just akid, you’ll grow out her parents, but her anger kept coming out inspurts. morningthe ayear ago, saying aplace she to stay. needed living She with had tried from box the on carefully sink, the picking bottle the up. “I can help.” strands of hair inhis hands and he feels nothing. How long had he felt nothing? her. He couldn’t evenhelp himself. He stares at dye the as it slowly drips down the tufts of hair, making surethat the brown disappears. He hadn’t. He hadn’t helped him hard as he sits there, on way the focused his hands slipped through short the napethe of her asip neck, nursing taking she of had been beer the earlier. It hits mixture that’s wet both and powdery. She leans forward he can so better get at “I can help,” he hethe had said. left Because army all and of his medical just don’t“They get it,” saidshefuriously. “I’ve gone to war back,and and Those werethe words he’dsaid him whento her shethree called had at in Noah paused, frowning at her mirror. in the was nothing Lilah but It catches himoff guardwhen says, she “You haven’t smokingbeen much.” nowSo she’s staring straight as he ahead saturates her hair inapurple . because because Kala Tye Manastash 39 And the next day he falls apart. It’s his day off, and she had been gone for for had gone she been and off, day his It’s falls he apart. day the next And That night, they watch a movie and she makes a joke. a makes joke. she and movie a they watch night, That He try. to starting she’s every better a month within doing week, She’s He finds himself smiling back for the first time in ages. “You look good, look “You ages. in time first the for smiling back himself finds He “It’s beautiful,” she says, grinning. She turns to face him, and he can see can he the face him, and to turns grinning. She says, she beautiful,” “It’s Noah studies her for a second, seeing the alcohol banished from her her from banished seeing the alcohol a second, for her studies Noah “What do you think?” She asks, tilting her head from side to side in front side in front side to think?” head from her tilting asks, do you She “What She comes out half an hour later after rinsing the dye out in the shower. shower. in the out dye the rinsing after later hour half an out comes She Noah combs his fingers through her hair, satisfied that everything that was satisfied hair, her through fingers his combs Noah Lilah stares at the tile of the bathroom floor, slowly turning her headher turning slowly floor, the the bathroom tile of at Lilah stares “I’m the only one paying bills around here.” He looks at the beer in her looks at He here.” around bills paying one the only “I’m “You need money?” She turns to look at him, her lips pulled down in a pulled down lips him, her look at to need turns money?” She “You an hour, talking to her shrink. He looks around the house, the dirtiness of it, the it, the dirtiness of the house, looks around talking shrink. her He to hour, an catches job applications nestled amidst empty beer bottles. empty nestled amidst applications job catches k i d .” rays of his former best friend in the light around her eyes. her best friend around in the light former his of rays expression. “It’s nice,” he says carefully. “What do you think?” do you “What carefully. says he nice,” “It’s expression. of the hallway mirror. the hallway of When she thinks it’s dry enough she runs her fingers through it, slicking it back. slicking it, through dry fingers runsher she enough thinks she it’s When covered. “Good.” covered. forward again. “I’m sorry,” she says quietly. “I booked another appointment.” booked another “I quietly. says she sorry,” “I’m again. forward hand. He can’t believe she never noticed. “It adds up.” adds “It noticed. never believe she can’t He hand. frown. “I thought you were fine.” were you thought “I frown. onto the couch. “It’s an expensive habit.” expensive an “It’s the couch. onto conversations about him smoking were her chastising him for letting ash drop drop ash letting him for chastising her were smoking him about conversations hyper-vigilant, but he doesn’t understand why she’s bringing it up. The only only The up. it bringing she’s why understand doesn’t he but hyper-vigilant, 40 Manastash Kala Tye the goldthe line on wrapper. the It’s blinding. with aphone number at scrawled bottom. the leave me here, when I’ve tried to help her many so fucking times. A surge of anger himby takes surprise, and he couch. grips the How could she just withtrash bag nearbottles.glass door the and filled But she was nowhere insight. opening door, the back to world the outside. wider, and it’s hard to breathe again. he soundsheseal breaks thinks the like Then he theand usually cracks does. open emotions back through off. them cracks, the sealing “Just aminute,” calls, andhe couldn’t what he himlike See really this. was- broken see letLilah too. he wasn’tBecause able to evensave himself. with his against head toilet. the She’s doing better and he hadn’t helped at all. bottles and cigarettes and clothes that line floor the and it’s like he’s suffocating. Sunlight crawls through awindow that hadn’t open inages, been catching pack ofA new cigarettes it with apost note attached. “I can help,” it said, But he then spots it, lying there serenely on coffee the table. She had picked up, clothes neatly tossed into one corner, abulging plastic It’s another hour before he manages to leave bathroom the floor, tentatively He breath, adeep takes letting it shake on its release. He pushes his He doesn’t answer, pushing himself into position fetal the instead. He There’sknock a the door.on He himself bathroom locks inthe and he throws up until sobbing he cries, Ryan Bailey Manastash 41 Summer Snow Summer precision only nature can achieve. achieve. can nature only precision and light—the crushing roar of the river returned, eviscerating silence with a silence with eviscerating returned, the river of roar crushing light—the and across the water and crystalline features of snow—a natural hallucination of music music of hallucination natural snow—a of crystalline and features the water across Abruptly, hard rays of sunlight broke the trance, coursing in shimmering waves waves in shimmering coursing the trance, broke sunlight of rays hard Abruptly, imparted secrets of the Yakima River on a blistering midsummer day. day. midsummer a blistering on River the Yakima secrets of imparted when I was seven. His cowboy hat swaying with the motion of his fly cast—he cast—he fly his of the motion with swaying hat cowboy seven.when I was His through the snow. Silence washed over me, evoking memories of my father and me me and father my of memories evoking me, over washed Silence the snow. through fly line hovering in the falling winter of summer—aroma of cold earth filtering earthof cold filtering summer—aroma of in falling the winter hovering line fly canyon walls flickering through swirling snow—cascading water frozen in place— in frozen water snow—cascading swirling through walls flickering canyon this moment, my vision was affixed on the flakes melting into the water, the water, into the melting onthe flakes affixed was vision my this moment, mimicking the rhythm of the water and the swirling echoes of feeding trout. In In trout. feeding echoes of the swirling and the water of the rhythm mimicking flakes of light eddied around my fly line as it sliced through the sliced curtains, it through as line fly my around eddied of light flakes a pristine moment of time—disrupting the natural harmonies. The falling white falling The white harmonies. the natural time—disrupting of moment a pristine The boulders soon had white hats, sitting silently, judging me, the lone outlier in outlier lone the me, judging silently, sitting hats, had The soon white boulders rising trout as the snow encapsulated the world around me in smothering silence. silence. in smothering me around the world encapsulated the snow as trout rising furious water. I continued my rhythmic meditation of flicking a dry fly towards towards a dry flicking fly of meditation rhythmic my I continued water. furious the size of cabins. Wet flakes began to cascade in sheets melting silently in the silently to cascademelting sheets flakes in began Wet cabins. the of size I was wading in the haunting light of the Lamar River Canyon, navigating boulders boulders navigating Canyon, River the Lamar of light the in haunting wading I was 42 Manastash Manastash 43 Poetry 44 Manastash Claire Hanberg into frightened or bullied threatened or notit will be –hiding – outcoaxed of lured t-e-a-s-e-d, nor FORCED cannotPoetry be the…misty edges treading interrupting meals, pacing footsteps, tick-tock-time, in its own shall arrive itthen UNWILLING If it is submission , or , Ars Poetica inEdinburgh For it will it For “A and shout cry wild nor it seize with a no, do not up, look dreams… of… … ed k l u s When one has FRUSTRATION. by amused clumsyaw-kw-ard-ness laughing at *twinkling* in a va ha!

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h color different of a horse a a thousand – times! and again – at once, distinguishable, s l u o s of substance the as i f is as as is art, as all For verse, way twice. way twice but never same the it return, shall long enough

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Laekin Dunoskovic Manastash 45

The Sin of Beans and and Rice of Sin Beans The I can smell dirt and metal dirt smell mixing, I can and forward. me push people my but sin behind— my I leave rice. and beans the sin of the glory gold, of Against apart. the fence I tear Drip. Drip. Drip. The wires of the fence pierce my hands, my pierce fence of the wires The blood. drip veins my and the soil— Blood falling onto onto my soil. In Response to Santiago Armengod’s “Alto a las Deportaciones de Migrantes” de Deportaciones a las “Alto Armengod’s Santiago to Response In And I rip the fence apart. the fence I rip And They are angry. the crowds. rise from Voices me— The behind people people— My they are angry. angry. are Those people back. me shoving their words I feel

My people cheer people My the wiry neck. I tear as my noose from I am my people’s pride. people’s my I am me— of in The front people they are angry. slurs. and profanities shout Those people 46 Manastash Laekin Dunoskovic route unplanned. Forester inhand needle Starting my 1980 Subaru by plunging asyringe at my elbow. Icouldbecause only feel Ending my marriage and my all needles. one change of clothes Packing abag with my wife screaming. my healing, needles my wife sobbing, My marriage ending: Stillborn they call it. but dead.” born be she will “Your daughter born, be will watching his lips move, Walking into doctor’s the office, into my stream. blood moreI squeeze fluid straight bankThe reclaims our house. calling. Drugs Me leaving, Wife screaming, poppingneedles out my arms. terror clenches my throat with Car lights aiming for me, In Response to the “Righeous Dopefiend” exhibits. 1980 Subaru Forester street lights stare blindly at me. I brace for impact, I don’t want to. to die, butI deserve I weep. Chelsea DuChene Manastash 47

I said no. I said . it liked you laughed. you no. I said laugh your growing, keeps it me. consuming it’s muffling you sobs my moans, your With – whiskey sweating

Beginning: and my diginity’s – – diginity’s my and we were drunk were we drunk, I was Okay, so what? fucking itch, an it’s scratching I keep – spreads only it but the memory where tell I still can’t ended. laugh your

Muffled Moans and Barbed-Wire Bones andBarbed-Wire Moans Muffled

into barbed-wire. into started bones my twisting On Halloween – laugh fucking your it carvedit out; me Like a pumpkin, Jesus Christ, Jesus – laugh fucking Your I said no, I said laughed. You 48 Manastash Chelsea DuChene lapse from abuse for it different, to be nightOn the Iarrived inAmerica dust kicked up truck the with dark skin and an assumed a man of religion to break something inme unable to fathom possibility the that I, Not one didshe pause for my input, you were hoping each knot of her spine like Devil’s the serpent. creaking wood. How girl’s godless the tongue between raked against, that she had met night the before. fields,in the toldwho me of an atheist and Father’s the daughter, always tasted listening to hum the of hymns tangerines inyour hair I sat on church the steps, Three yearslater, I don’t know what is street,the If that’s not love tightly without without food, movement. any harassment, for fifty-three months – walking an octopus, brooding had who been her eggs my cousin whispered to of me story the , she murmured,

. spitting the word immigrant

(In response to Julio Salgado)

Fifty ThreeFifty Hours

t a y o m w I mi o t he way your father didgay. clutchedhey eachother t the firstt the sight twoof men ou couldn’t inyourself. ne day would walls the col f creamy avocado. hose walls you’d walls hose slam me up y spine rasping against the ss that worn tool shed out a h a h I c o I s a I mi nd hastened across nd how your mouth nd yet, when I smiled r ifyou were trying ow desperate Iwas and inhand without till can’ttill figure out if an still tastean the still ss smell the of - Chelsea DuChene Manastash 49 nother love with with love nother will it bend better. a a ou behind, ou henever I think of what my my what I thinkhenever of ach year, on the anniversary the anniversary on year, ach s I watched you fade away, fade you s I watched o me that day, that o me a w t E I left y

I don’t know what is. what know don’t I I fast for fifty-three hours, love, fifty-three not for that’s fast if I because of the day of in foot country, this setting first upon I had as though they were gulps of Holy Wine. Holy of gulps they though as were I think the innocence to back of the words that spilled from her mouth her from spilled that the words of come, could possibly understand. possibly could said father every each and I swallowed Still, one limited knowledge of the English language, the English of knowledge limited 50 Manastash Karie May The best part bestpart The of waking up, Folgers in cup.my The opposite of meatloaf is meatloaf for dinner and big fat onions init. The opposite of is Netflix finding a T.V. show to binge watch on Netflix. The opposite of magnets is magnets holding pictures my nephews drew for me. The opposite of fishsticks is having burnt freezer fish sticks for dinnerlast night. The opposite of carmy is my car out running of gas twofrom miles home. The opposite books is of good dogeared books aftertime.thebeing good all read The opposite socks is of old basket thelaundry leftin oldfor socks two months. The opposite of Folgers is Inspired by Jennifer Knox’s TheOpposite of Crunchberries The OppositeThe of Folgers Michael Nichols Manastash 51 Jishin Oki Taiheiyō Tōhoku-chihō VI Leaks begin form to V Oil set aflame bodies gather Motionless Elsewhere the morgue near rites will few receive Very they will graves go. mass Into IV sets in Evening begin workers Uneasy waste the through Sifting jetsam drift across Flotsam, still. lay cars where streets Ruined III watches Kan Naoto hundred five thousand, Eighteen be still. and Submerge yet six thousand Another life. for nature against Vie II axis the Shifting Of the seems Earth inches ten right? harmless, Mostly where when Japan, in Except innocents. Ocean chased down I in the blue. Shaking blare cell phones seconds, Within be saved. can’t Else, we hide walls cannot twelve-foot Poor waters. rushing from Tohoku 52 Manastash Karie May All weAll have given. been I understand we haveall lost. hardly understand toysnew and clothes Thekids excited for what matters most. Everything except I had.The fire took everything stuffOur is gone. dogwas trapped.Our of Fire’s the fury Buckle under weight the Counters now black laid his head. where baby the scorchedThe crib is into walls. the The smokeseeps path.in their devouring everything Theflames spread No one home. An empty house stove checked. not A A burner left on. A pan of Oil. A House on Fire Steven H. Castro Jr. Manastash 53 A my friend. my Fallujah camp in Iraq. camp and it was the was it and last place I saw I saw place last A camp in Iraq A camp FALL-U-SHALL Stationed for months months for Stationed without the use of a real bed. a real the use of without It was the last place I saw Darren. It Darren. I saw place the last was It went the two vehicles rolling down the hill. down rolling vehicles the two went was the last place anyone saw Darren. From From Darren. saw anyone place the last was Chestertown, Maryland he came. And there he left he there And came. Maryland he Chestertown, but Darren was gunner and strapped in for safety. CRASH! CRASH! safety. in for strapped and gunner was Darren but behind a wife and a yet born child. He is but one story of the story of one but is He born child. a yet and behind a wife Stephanie, she jumped from hers, tucking and rolling onto the dirt, onto rolling and tucking hers, from jumped she Stephanie, many Marines that would never come home. He followed directions followed He home. come never would that Marines many and all the advice given: keep your mouth shut, eyes open, keep your head your keep open, eyes shut, mouth your keep all given: the advice and truckers worked there too; one fell asleep at the wheel and there was nothing nothing was there the wheel and at asleep fell too; one there worked truckers that could be done. SCREECH! BANG! Yelled the two trucks. The 7-ton driver, driver, trucks. the 7-ton two The Yelled BANG! SCREECH! be could done. that on a swivel and remain relaxed. These things didn’t help him or anyone else get else anyone or him help These didn’t things relaxed. remain and a swivel on home but it wasn’t the AK-47 that would be stopping him. Contractors and civilian civilian and him. Contractors be stopping would the AK-47 that wasn’t it but home 54 Manastash T.J. Tranchell Needed: woman: 25-30y/o“Rosalie” Not of my life but of one event. Casting movie, the Not just sleeping pulse No No breathing Not what she wants to hear DeeAnna calls Rosalie (or home depending on budget) Interior: hospital to save him can’t yet and swim no one there Mikey, tripping, musicClose-up: swells houseEvery has apool. Southern California Exterior: et’s four get these parts Minor character casting to come. “T.J.”: red/blue “Mikey”: blonde/blue Needed: two boys, under eight, oman: 23-28y/o“DeeAnna”Sisters, young mothers

L w first. S (s hould appear sixy/o hould 3years look younger Cousins t han first woman) Pool T.J. Tranchell Manastash 55 DeeAnna can’t buy T.J.’s grief T.J.’s buy DeeAnna can’t Exterior: small white house w/large tree Exterior: w/large house small white Rolls Tootsie With mixing gooey brown pooling salty tears with lip. his beneath Failure to resuscitate resuscitate to Failure 56 Manastash Ebonesiah Morrow Such beauty, you cannot compose. Black roses can only created be by creator. the fire,Dye, paint. fail.Youwill to make own your black very rose. pigmentationthe of others the You to alter try will you wonder will your all life. aboyLike without afather, III Its dark shade standing for dark the side. Thevisitor before or after vengeance. and envy.giver glad The grief. of symbolize death. Equivalent to evil nay-sayersthose say that black roses of “Indian giver”. Simple mindedly, the believeeven history They still planet,their like ahelpless puppy. is flat. The sun panting as itcircles thatbelieve earth the They still II as bright as polished Ebony Wood. containing one black rose. Its shade uprooted asingle, bent rose bush, within City the of Raindrops, weeds, wild the between Under greysky, the I Black Roses Ebonesiah Morrow Manastash 57 Like the pitch-black expanding Like the pitch-black all matter, withholds that universe rose. a black I am when you darkness of Like the comfort has ripped world the eyes after close your I am apart, you dreams. your to the door wedded whites, reds, Like the romantic I exist. pinks, precious essence. my Smell IV 58 Manastash Daniel M. Fisher On downward spirals and denials tearful Now what remains is until time trial Mentality: stagnant; I’m going to prison Ignore sensation, imagination use Hanging inside of me Glorified dreams left college crowd kids Confused hospital lobbies and vomitBeer stain seats taxi Ambulance sirens scream incity streets Realize possession landsRealize misdemeanors, but its to distribution ponder: Quandry Perhaps decision, pot the was apoor but real the realityLet fadefrom bloodshot vision KOA campgrounds and warm destinations Just my close eyes,imagine vacations Future lobotomies of Emergency tracheotomies and dangerousDesperate, dreary; hobbies drugged, An Abecedarian Account and Analysis of Afterthoughts Nothing Happens Good After 3a.m. Cornered, Captured, Convicted, Crucified: Daniel M. Fisher Manastash 59 Visualize five-to-ten of this concrete pen of concrete this five-to-ten Visualize yards exercise and bars and guards With D-O-C logos photos, Xeroxed Zebra-striped jumpsuit with zero potential. zero with Zebra-striped jumpsuit Yesterday’s gone, now I fly in this I fly solo now gone, Yesterday’s Unusual circumstances, hard to smile to hard circumstances, Unusual Thank the judge for his time, that of the trial that his time, for judge the Thank Selling that shit leads to derailed futures leads to shit Selling that 60 Manastash Haley Lindsley and Ihad reason to breathe. youback when mattered to me of us and of you burns my skinwith memory The smell books of old Bibliophile Haley Lindsley Manastash 61 Human Sacrifice Human then threw me to the lions. to then threw me of the way you held me close me held you the way of and theand memory is your hair on my pillow my on hair your is All that’s left of you of left All that’s 62 Manastash Kendra Hinger Close within reach;Close imminent. panicThe casual safety and so nearreaction, blood, From split the forehead of atrip and fall Pounds and pounds of chicken and much too cereal I’m from and overseas rural That week oneday every I’m from but belief the absence of suit From and Isaid because so no means no From persistent the and punctual I’m from hot and night cocoa terrors white hotSo and burning Earth theThe of blood I am from coursing magma careless Thekids-will-be-kids display The torn down,beaten up I am from blank, the white, black, and jagged From and electricity radiation I am from unplugged the and overused microwave oven Where I’m FromWhere Kimberly Glenn Manastash 63 I AM (feeling much better today) better much I AM (feeling I. AM. STILL. ALIVE. I. AM. STILL. anyway And I am sure that I’m going to die, but die, to going I’m that sure I am And I am a habit, not a promise not a habit, I am I am a pillow full screams of a pillow I am I am night sweats and heart palpitations and sweats night I am I am the taste of aluminum, and sour chemical stench chemical sour and aluminum, of the taste I am I am kissing smoke marbles and boxes of toxins of boxes and marbles smoke kissing I am I am the last lingering drop, the under-bridge bottle the under-bridge drop, lingering the last I am I am a flicker-face in a single strobe light frame light strobe in a single a flicker-face I am I am un-daugher, un-wife, un-mother un-wife, un-daugher, I am I am part of a sad woman’s failed plan a sad woman’s part of I am I am bartender X and con man Y man con X and bartender I am 64 Manastash Chloe Allmand behind.left before old the man is again as age to nods and adolescence with asigh asmirk and for amoment rhythms their mingle The young part aroundthe old on Saturday nights. from bars the on where grind girls they Nikestheir pound out techno the beat wrapped breathe, ribs Cut offtheir let t-shirts muscle Sprinting, laughing, breathing and ease power. Two boys gain on him, hanging off his crookedframe. with woman the bought who grey Hanes himthe t-shirt he beat dancedthe of to on ballad the wedding his fiftieth anniversary slowestthe of on melodies track, the tap shoes running in orthopedic out The old man’ssocked feet tube A Beat A Chloe Allmand Manastash 65 The track is a loop. The track

they can’t leave behind what they’re running from. they’re behind what leave they can’t No matter how fast thoserun fast boys how matter No 66 Manastash J. William Kulm Jr. at 4am, with class at 5. Not by hearing dubstep from or speakers 3feet the high, rap my I saw that nothing changed—each item was same, the just inadorm Not by clothes the all unpacked and sprawling I’d on bed; the only put and socks. pairs of wrinkled Not by borrowed the toaster ITetris’d which inabox, along with thirty days end inSeaview, will never to wherebegin. exceed they Not by many the all names I’d again; never see Michael, Mitch, and and Ihad hardly noticed that my had time come at last. Not by for headlines the all our graduating class; inatiny paper it local neighbors played instead. lastthe away, when pens thousand Madison, last the of whose was annual news, How IKnew J. William Kulm Jr. Manastash 67 strength alarm before the dawn forced me awake; me forced the dawn alarm before I knew, right then, I’d arrived. then, I’d right I knew, to enhance their project’s design. their project’s enhance to of steel cable steel of They talked about how much they were intending to get—the tensile tensile get—the to intending were much they how They about talked Not about the party last night, or how their IDs were faked. were their IDs how or the party night, last about Not it was two boys talking on the street who looked to be my age. be who to looked my the talking street boys on two was it Not by letters finding me to prove my address change, or the clock’s clock’s or the change, my address prove to me finding letters by Not 68 Manastash Michael Nichols fuck Alfredo andfuck Alfredo have some skewered instead? teriyaki and flavor the when smile in explodes her mouth. Why don’t we just oven for crisp? Nah. agood Skewer it. Iwant to watch her suck it off mythrust skewers wooden into it it, and or grill pop meat the into the drownthen it inwhite, creamy sauce. Perhaps instead, Imight want to do. Iwant to spread her legsand put meat the on top of noodles, the make eating her chicken saucy much too of chore. That simply won’t kitchenin the and bones –the bone would chicken the for fry agood her over inembarrassed laughter at my horrid jokes. Iwant to stand happy ending movies? like good inthe Iwant to laugh aloud and bend penetrating conversation with my wife. What, can’t aguy ask for a Tonight, Iwant romance. Iwant dinner, dancing, and adeep, Hedonism Haley Lindsley Manastash 69 Crypts sn’t so disturbing sn’t nd forcing my body my forcing nd tepping one foot at a time into at foot one tepping a s wa t float. to learn how to learn how to

calmhis lake

nothing would hold me back from back me hold would nothing If the feeling of heavy wet denim wet heavy of the feeling If 70 Manastash Joanna Thomas The LostThe Poems of Tolstoy #1,2 and 5 Joanna Thomas Manastash 71 72 Manastash Joanna Thomas Donson Curtiss Manastash 73 plunge through jutting hands, jutting through plunge a cataract down time, as linear as under torrential flow. and ebb enough to fracture striations fracture to enough alien deposits along The Dells of Eau Claire of The Eau Dells in the placid deep in the placid below. All that slips turns within a parallax within dimension, turns slips All that quarts roses roses quarts of rhyolite schist breaking open coffers open breaking schist rhyolite of Rings gleam in the tumultuous gleam the in Rings tumultuous fingers her persuaded from anvil to anvil from with centrifugal force centrifugal force with littering collides collides 74 Manastash Donson Curtiss deep thunderdeep Devil’sThe door toboulders soon warble as pebbles above thatAll slips the goldenthe canopy of sugar maples— clambers down Devil the bluff the abhorred outlive green—he emerald will mountain the razed opens churns under carried instride-waterscarried alongside swift glade.the vehement vortices, collides with wade

a tempest once met shore the infinitesimal worlds place bets place bets to rest under Some days worldthe ended. o n the dayn the Donson Curtiss Manastash 75 Springs Springs forth the flower swifts the pool into all will the current flow With Eau Claire breathe of river’s life river’s of breathe Claire Eau hands colossal through slip waters slender your loosed the quarry upon ocean’s tide. ocean’s the wild wielding wielding

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where white-tail drink. white-tail where drinking to lips reach of a vast a vast of the mountain’s crushing demise once more. demise once crushing the mountain’s 76 Manastash Steven Dougherty between us andbetween white the boys and girls onlyeven ifthe border we was one the everknew ain’t no jumping we beans, so drive around border, the some because wheels, beans stealing Cubans, for of purpose sole the Cinder blocks are made inMexico, by local that you didn’t want. no payment for jobswe the stole But don’t say we didn’t give you nothing, or “Mexicans” for short. from Haiti? Maybe we’re Philipino, Are we from Mexico, or Mexicans VCR, we because can’t afford DVD’s. Who’s here to stealyour job and your raper? a fence-jumper or awoman make abean, whatSo are we? What beans a bean. adifferent bean Every bean bean, butevery around,A look and our you us, all varieties. see Gringo. We include of all your inasingle word: varieties Anglo-American, German/Russian/Frenchman. We don’t discriminate, and neither doyou webecause alike. look group big one We Hispanics are like beans, Beans Steven Dougherty Manastash 77 “What the hell is a Mexican Pizza?” a Mexican is the hell “What rice, and Tortillas the Mexican. said enough aren’t afford, all can we a Pizza. for or farm can we whatever it’s Maybe steal, and a tortilla onto shove none, there’s Except queso. with dripping grandma like “quesadilla” no was meat the rotten died and because the made cow never stolen stolen, the dead dump we small in the stream same who bathe neighbors by in, chickens left with the rice, So they we’re those steal too. before right the the and rice, beans. past the white picket fence picket the white past houses. between our about, are the spics girls, your Protect coming they’re tell can you and the trumpets, hear when you gang-rape. mariachi a regular over-active your and Mexico Courtesy of ok, it’s hey, But fear. right? it, about do anything too lazy to we’re back, nothing us give don’t you like not it’s And nods of little appreciation” “cultural us. know you us show to 78 Manastash DJ Haskin The world shakeswith laughter when she The world shakeswith laughter when she The world shakeswith laughter when she The world shakeswith laughter when she The world shakeswith laughter when she The world shakeswith laughter when she More Vibration know?” know?” before “fuckit, because will who wears as day the same the socks refrigerator. last remaining pickle inthe stares me down over the more space for dishes. dirty over, conveniently creating kitchenin the that topple they dishes high piles so dirty the yellsso evenlouder. face, realizes then she is wrong, argues until she is red inthe turn harder. to make car the game inthe gametilts video the controller people get killed. tap,the that’s because how screams not to water use out of DJ Haskin Manastash 79 brags for hours about NEVER NEVER about hours for brags Friends, with Words at losing shortly Mother then loses her to after. But I didn’t. But I noticed. I know. fact, In I know. only laughter. with shakes that MY world only So it’s beside her, I collapse days, most of the end At dizzy. No, that’s all a lie. that’s No, laughter. with shake doesn’t world The know. even doesn’t world The by. passedher completely has world The The world shakes with laughter when she she when laughter with shakes world The 80 Manastash Art Manastash

81 82 Manastash Seth Charles of different ways.Italltiesintothisneedforfulfillment.” it out. There’s aneedforcreativityinmylife.Itcanbeexpressedanynumber “Over thelasttenyears,I’vebeeninschool;really, I’vejustbeentryingtofigure vibrancy oflifeatauniversity. philosophies towardsartandeducationembodythevaluesthatsustain department, heisalsoaneducator, ascholar, acreator, andado-er. His Seth Charlesisanartist. Along withbeingagraduatestudentinCentral’s art “My backgroundissortofanon-traditionalapproach,”Charlessaid. Tea Caddy 4”x 3”x6” An Interview with Seth Charles An Interview with Seth By Daniel M.Fisher Up on The Ridge and weconnect facetoface,or it’s someoneI meetatacraftsfair, connections withpeople. Whether by somebodyelse.It’s making the pieceisfinished,it’s appreciated he contemplates,“isultimately, when connecting withothers. form ofcommunication,ameans world aroundhim. To him,artisa communicate hisconnectiontothe spends histimecreatingworksthat in Central’s Art department,andhe “What reallydoesitforme,” Charles hasfoundahome Seth Charles Manastash 83 Sake Set 9” x 4” x 5” “In addition to being a student in the department, I’m also an instructor,” “In addition to being a student in the department, I’m also an instructor,” Through his immersion in Central’s art department, Charles is investing in art department, in Central’s Through his immersion “We’re using all these objects that are machine made, and it’s sort of and it’s machine made, objects that are using all these “We’re really interesting to me because I love passing on information that I’ve learned. really interesting to me because I love passing on information that know. I see it from the student’s side, and I see it from the instructor’s side. That’s That’s side. side, and I see it from the instructor’s I see it from the student’s know. assistantship, so I teach one class per quarter. I get to see it from both sides, you assistantship, so I teach one class per quarter. he said with a deserving glimmer of pride in his voice. “I have a teaching he said with a deserving glimmer of pride in his voice. “I have a the tasks and challenges that inherently come with the pursuit of life goals. the tasks and challenges that inherently come with the pursuit of peers. He’s developing an inner strength of character that will prepare him to face developing an inner strength of character that will prepare peers. He’s himself in a multifaceted fashion. He’s feeding his soul. He’s connecting with his connecting with his soul. He’s feeding fashion. He’s himself in a multifaceted interests.” hope that when people use something I make there’s a likeness, a similarity about a likeness, a similarity use something I make there’s hope that when people people. One thing that pottery does, for me, is I hope to create this connection. I that pottery does, for me, is I hope people. One thing creating this division between people. There’s this increasing distance between this increasing distance between There’s between people. creating this division person, but I’m still connecting with them through their use of the object. through their use with them I’m still connecting person, but maybe it’s a piece that’s purchased online, or from a gallery. I never met the met the I never gallery. from a or online, purchased that’s a piece it’s maybe 84 Manastash Seth Charles all individuals,andthisworldhasaplaceforeachofus. unapologetic proclamationof“thisiswhoIamandthiswhyI’mhere.” We are artists oftomorrowisadmirable. This iswhycollegematters:itfacilitatesthe obligation. Hisgiftisablessing,andhisdesiretoshareitcultivatethefine the unwaveringconnectionbetweencraftandcurriculum,passion my exitfromtheuniversity, Ican’t helpbuttoconsiderCharles’ perspectiveson mine. Icametocollegebecomeawriter, andIachievedthat. As Ipreparefor bit.” I’ve learnedfromsomereallygreatpeoplewhohaveimpactedmylifequitea in theirpath,buthereIamdoingwhatthey’vedoneentirelives.thinkit “Both my Envelope Form parentsareartistsandeducators.Ididn’t knowI’dbefollowing 8”x4”5” Ikebana Vase 7”x8”13” ambitions hadmereflectingon energy.” department. It’s thisinfectious There’s alotofthataroundthe goes backtothatneedforcreativity. Charles’ musingsonhis Seth Charles Manastash 85 Seth Soy Charles Pourers 86 Manastash Seth Charles Seth Charles TeapotSeth and Tea Bowl Cheryl Ann Eadie Manastash 87 Princess Goblets Cheryl Eadie Ann 88 Manastash Brittany Allen Brittany Victoria Bright Allen Eyes Reporting Ruka Wolf Manastash 89 Eye of the Storm the of Eye Ruka Wolf Wolf Ruka 90 Manastash Caleb Marrs Caleb MarrsCaleb Waking Up the World Kaelyn Anderson Manastash 91 Kaelyn Anderson Lively Anderson Pond Kaelyn 92 Manastash Caleb Marrs Caleb MarrsCaleb Hole in the Wall John-Paul Mann Manastash 93 Color Accidents Color Mann John-Paul 94 Manastash Gilberto Lopez Aggressive Bloom Aggressive Lopez Gilberto Amanda Dority Manastash 95 Amanda Dority Untitled Five 96 Manastash Amanda Dority Amanda Dority Dority Amanda Stuck Amanda Dority Manastash 97 Stagnant Amanda Dority 98 Manastash Cheryl Ann Eadie Cheryl Ann Eadie Ann Eadie Cheryl Our Early Morning Moon Brittany Allen Manastash 99 Leaves and Ladders and Leaves Brittany Victoria Allen Victoria Brittany 100 Manastash Cheryl Ann Eadie Cheryl Ann Eadie Ann Eadie Cheryl Letter of Love Makayla Shepherd Manastash 101 Makayla Shepherd Famous Shepherd Makayla Cat Contributors

Brittany Victoria Allen Cheryl Ann Eadie Chloe Allmand Daniel M. Fisher Kaelyn Anderson Jacob Gann Steven H. Castro Jr. Kimberly Glenn Amanda Dority Claire Hanberg Steven Dougherty DJ Haskin Chelsea DuChene Kendra Hinger Laekin Dunoskovic J. William Kulm Jr.

BRITTANY VICTORIA ALLEN is from Goldendale, Washington via Ohio. Though she aspires to travel with her career of coupling words and photographs, she still plans to call the Pacific Northwest home.

CHLOE ALLMAND graduated from Central Washington University in Winter 2015, and now works as a reporter for the Walla Walla Union- Bulletin. She loves tea, the outdoors, and oxford commas.

KAELYN ANDERSON is a Graphic Design sophomore at Central Washington University. Art has always been a main aspect of her life. Her photography mainly shows nature and human interactions.

STEVEN H. CASTRO JR. speaks truth and family. He speaks on life, love, loss, and pain. He uses honesty to heal himself and with a bit of luck, heal you too. His paper and pen become a place of safety and of slavery. He sits and invites his memories in, so that they too may learn to live life with laughter and love from within.

AMANDA DORITY recently graduated from Central Washington University with a BFA in Studio Art with a focus in Photography. Her passion for photography started when she was sixteen and has continued to grow ever since. Her work strives to bring out the beauty in natural decay. Manastash Manastash 102 Contributors

Haley Lindsley LukeMakayla Thomas Shepherd Pearsons Gilberto Lionel Lopez MakaylaJoanna ThomasShepherd Jess Macinko JoannaTJ Trancell Thomas John-Paul Mann MichaelT.J. Tranchell Nichols Caleb Marrs Kala Tye Karie May Ruka Wolf Ebonesiah Morrow LukeMichael Thomas Nichols Pearsons

STEVEN DOUGHERTY has gone fishing.

CHELSEA DUCHENE wishes to one day become an English teacher, and hopefully get children to put down their cellphones for a moment and pick up a book.

LAEKIN DUNOSKOVIC graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in Professional and Creative Writing in the fall of 2014. Her main writing focus is poetry and prose.

CHERYL ANN EADIE is a Native American and grandmother of three. She is living her lifetime dream of furthering her education to achieve a BFA. Since 2011, Cheryl Ann has been a dedicated student at Central Washington University.

DANIEL M. FISHER is a senior English major, writer, and journalist. His ambitions beyond college include writing and editing for publication as well as earning his PGA Tour card, which is he believes is unlikely.

JACOB GANN is the youngest of three brothers. He was born and raised in Manastash Tacoma where he attended the Tacoma School of the Arts with aspirations of becoming a musician. He later discovered an interest in medicine and joined the Army National Guard as a medic to help pay his way through CWU’s Clinical Physiology program.

103 KIMBERLY GLENN is a Professional and Creative Writing student at Central Washington University. She enjoys baking and reading, often at the same time, which sometimes results in sticky pages and burnt cookies.

CLAIRE HANBERG is an intrepid artist, writer, historian, and modern-day romantic. She aspires to one day be a full-time novelist. This is her second published work.

DJ HASKIN, a junior at Central Washington University, is a Professional and Creative Writing major. He is active in the Inklings Creative Writing Club at CWU, along with Alpha Kappa Psi, the Professional Business Fraternity on campus, and he is the intern for the Lion Rock Visiting Writers Series.

KENDRA HINGER is a graduating Professional and Creative Writing major. She specializes in writing science fiction and fantasy, as well as some poetry. Her favorite color is green: a very creative color.

J. WILLIAM KULM JR. is an amateur writer and content creator. He is looking to become a writer in the video game industry by acquiring a screenwriting degree at Central Washington University.

HALEY LINDSLEY is a poet, a lesbian, and a pessimistic cat lady. She is sassy, baby-faced, ambitious, overworked, introverted, a typewriter fanatic, and graduating (finally). She is liberal, 24 years old, and random with a vintage soul. She claims to be the love child of Allen Ginsberg and Sylvia Plath.

GILBERTO LIONEL LOPEZ is 24 years old and originally from Wapato, Washington. He is currently attending Central Washington University and double majoring in Marketing and Economics. He also has an extreme appreciation for nature photography.

JESS MACINKO likes cats.

JOHN-PAUL MANN is majoring in Mathematics and Physics with minors in Philosophy and Astronomy. Not many know that two of his favorite hobbies are photography and hiking; the combination of the two creates some amazing shots.

CALEB MARRS was born a twin on a journey to discover life and is currently studying Mechanical Engineering Technology and Information Technology at Central Washington University.

Manastash Manastash 104 KARIE MAY is a Professional and Creative Writing major attending Central Washington University. Her time at the university has helped her rediscover her love of poetry. She is currently a senior and will graduate June 2015.

EBONESIAH MORROW’s pieces are from her experimental novel-in-progress, Epiphany. As a writer, she strives to be a voice for those devoiced by society. She dedicates her work to her parents and grandparents.

MICHAEL NICHOLS considers himself an anti-poet who considers the works of Jennifer L. Knox, Christopher Hitchens, Tim Curry, and Christopher Walken among his primary influences.

LUKE THOMAS PEARSONS is a History/Social Studies Teaching major at Central Washington University. He is a cartoonist and short story writer.

MAKAYLA SHEPHERD goes to Central Washington University to receive a BA in Studio Art with a minor in Apparel Design. She aspires to create costumes and special movie effects.

JOANNA THOMAS is a writer and visual artist living in Dogtown, an Ellensburg neighborhood on the wrong side of the tracks. She received her BA from Central Washington University in 2008, and has been hanging around as a post-bachelor ever since. Someone told her that the best way to avoid dementia is to remain active.

T.J. TRANCHELL is a husband and father. He’s working on a serial killer novel for his next big project. The University of Idaho accepted him into their MFA program. Find him online at warning-signs.net.​

KALA TYE has always wanted to write for a living. That’s why she’s a Public Relations major. She loves comics, tabletop gaming, reading, and writing. She’s what you might call a nerd, and according to her, nerds rule!

RUKA WOLF feels that art has always been a passion of hers, and her collection of art over the years is her most valuable possession. There is nothing she would rather be doing than creating something with her imagination. Manastash

105 Staff

Jasmine Ackerman Xavier Cavazos Ryan Bailey Donson Curtiss Richard W. Bidwell III Casey Friedman Breanna Blair Zachary Harris Darik Brown Olivia Hirschey

JASMIN ACKERMAN will be graduating this June with an English Professional and Creative Writing degree. She will be pursuing a career in copy-editing.

RYAN BAILEY graduated from Washington State University with BAs in Photography and Communication. He is currently working on his MA in Literature with an emphasis in Creative Writing at Central Washington University. He also teaches English 101 at the university.

RICHARD W. BIDWELL III was raised in Tacoma, WA. Currently working on a degree in Professional and Creative Writing, he aspires to become a novelist. Happily married, he and his wife are looking forward to graduation.

BREANNA BLAIR is a Professional and Creative Writing major at Central Washington University and plans to graduate in August 2015.

DARIK BROWN is a senior and Creative Writing major. He is hoping to get a job in technical writing after he graduates.

XAVIER CAVAZOS is the author of two chapbooks, Barbarian at the Gate, (Poetry Society of America) and La Habana, (D Press). His debut collection of poetry, Diamond Grove Slave Tree, won the Prairie Seed Poetry Prize, (Ice Cube Press).

Manastash Manastash 106 Staff

Alisa Hoag Dannah Parsons Daisy Perez Ashley Schuknecht Sarah Wicorek

DONSON L. CURTISS is currently studying English Language and Literature at Central Washington University. An amateur at heart, he is a songwriter, poet, and philanthropist. As a tutor for over four years, his greatest passion is helping students and writers in the interest of learning and creating art.

CASEY FRIEDMAN is a 21-year-old junior at Central Washington University with an English Writing Specialization major and a Law and Justice minor.

ZACH HARRIS is a Professional and Creative Writing major at Central Washington University. He is part of the 2015 graduating class and very upset about the 9:30 a.m. starting time for his major’s graduation ceremony.

OLIVIA HIRSCHEY is a graduating senior double majoring in English and Spanish with a minor in Linguistics. Olivia is passionate about education, cookies, and crossing things off her to-do list. She credits her father with inspiring her love of writing.

ALISA HOAG received her BA in English from the University of Washington. She is currently an English graduate student at Central Washington University, and will receive an MA in Literature in June 2015. She also teaches English 101 at the Manastash university.

107 108 Manastash plans on traveling and writing novels. working on amajor inCreative Writing and aminor Aftergraduation, inArt. she WICOREKSARAH Washington is aCentral University student is who currently sessions. She occasionally writes. also long on and walks beach the astrong internet connection for her online gaming ASHLEY SCHUKNECHTis asenior at Washington Central University. She enjoys to become next the J.K. Rowling. double major inProfessional and Creative Writing and Public Health. She aspires DAISY PEREZ is ajunior at Washington Central University and soon-to-be that time the she graduates in2016. Writing student. She is an aspiring novelist hopes who to finishbook her first by DANNAH PARSONS is asenior Psychology and Professional and Creative Manastash 109 Design Staff Xavier Cavazos, Ryan Bailey, Alisa Hoag. Bailey, Ryan Cavazos, Xavier Upper staircase-left to right: to right: staircase-left Upper Kendra Hinger, Daisy Perez, Sarah Wicorek, Dannah Parsons, Olivia Hirschey, Hirschey, Olivia Parsons, Dannah Wicorek, Sarah Perez, Daisy Hinger, Kendra Blair, Breanna Ackerman, Jasmine Curtis, Donson Zach Harris, Hanburg, Claire III. Bidwell W. Richard Jr., H. Castro Steven Lower staircase-left to right: staircase-left Lower

Manastash Contributors 2015

Brittany Victoria Allen Chloe Allmand Kaelyn Anderson Ryan Bailey Steven H. Castro Jr. Donson Curtiss Amanda Dority Steven Dougherty Chelsea DuChene Laekin Dunoskovic Cheryl Ann Eadie Daniel M Fisher Jacob Gann Kimberly Glenn Claire Hanberg DJ Haskin Kendra Hinger J. William Kulm Jr. Haley Lindsley Gilberto Lionel Lopez Jess Macinko John-Paul Mann Caleb Marrs Karie May Ebonesiah Morrow Michael Nichols Luke Thomas Pearsons Volume 25 Makayla Shepherd Joanna Thomas T.J. Tranchell Kala Tye Ruka Wolf

CWU is an AA/EEO/Title IX Institution. For accommodation e-mail: [email protected] • 20850415TS