“You could have called me,” Franny said. “Yes,” Leo answered. “I missed saying goodbye. I would have wanted to be there. I would have wanted to say goodbye.” “I know.” “Why? Why didn’t you call me? Were you still mad at me?” Leo shook his head. Sitting in Marilyn’s garden, letting Precious sniff around her … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 72 Reboot
short stories
Pine Street Episode 71 Reboot
Leo was there. The passing of life is momentous and minuscule, at the same time. A person is breathing, and then, that person is no longer breathing. Sitting beside the hospital bed, murmuring quietly with other family members, suddenly one person asks: Did you hear that? No, says another. The room fills with silence. When … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 71 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 70 Reboot
Funerals are nearly universally dreaded, at least in modern, middle-class, secular American culture. We do not look to them to provide true community and comfort. They are formal, sometimes sterile events that we check off our to-do lists, after we drag out that one black dress we own, or that one black suit along with … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 70 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 69 Reboot
Allison watched the mini-drama unfold down the block, and sighed with relief. She put down the leaf rake, stepped inside to heat up a cup of tea, and went to the old wooden Adirondack chair perched on a wobbly patch of grass in her back yard. The seat had been warmed by the sun and … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 69 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 68 Reboot
“Leo,” Franny said. “Hi.” “How are you, Franny?” Leo asked, still kneeling to scratch Precious’s ears. “It’s been a while. I’ve been thinking about you. I meant to call.” Stop talking, Leo thought. You’re doing that thing, where you ask a question and then don’t give the person a chance to answer. “How about I … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 68 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 67 Reboot
Allison saw the meeting between Leo, Franny, and Precious from her vantage point of raking leaves in her front yard. The sight of the three of them, looking for all the world like a family, set off a pang deep in Allison’s solar plexus. She was not in love with Leo. That had been made … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 67 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 66 Reboot
Warm tea in one hand, Precious’s leash in the other, Franny wandered the streets of her neighborhood. She remembered her first walk with Marilyn, the day after the birthday party for Penelope, yes, that was her name, the day Franny had a hangover from the wine and beer and music and wondering what was going … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 66 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 65 Reboot
Franny missed Marilyn every day. There is something about the first friend you make in a new place. The first uncomplicated friend, the first surprise friend. Leo had been there waiting, because of his connection to Franny’s brother. (I need to call him, Franny thought. It’s been too long since I talked to that brother … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 65 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 64 Reboot
“These findings add to our understanding, and also point out the need for additional research on this question, before we can say we truly have a full picture of the phenomenon under study.” Allison paused, took a deep breath, and made eye contact with her committee chair. “Thank you,” she said. The committee chair appeared … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 64 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 63 Reboot
Allison sighed, and immediately regretted it. The professor who chaired the committee peered at her over his spectacles. “Are you ready, Miss, um…” “Yes, sir,” Allison cut him off. They’d worked together, ostensibly, on her master’s thesis for nearly two years. He couldn’t remember her last name? Well, that was all about to end. Today … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 63 Reboot
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 