RECORDING MOMENTS IN TIME

“Open the exit gate.” “It’s not personal. You understand that, right? It’s for the good of the community. We’re sitting targets, waiting...

My mount fed, watered, and brushed as I prepared for my exit . My choices are few. Next, I trudged up the ladder to my cubical for the...

Riding hard, choking on the dust, I pull up my mask. Wondering what next? Our reputation grows and stories will be told. Many will claim...

Just another day, another muggy morning, like yesterday, and the day before. A slight breeze waifs from the stable, carrying an...

With the sun now setting, Cord finds me topside, on the roof, watching the sky changing colors: reds, oranges and pinks. Thanks to dust...

Seated in darkness, Susan finds herself surrounded by lingering memories. It was here that fateful night her world changed. The formation...

Cord, sitting back, arms crossed, shared his meeting with Susan. Wondering what to expect. Imagining the worst. I sit, feeling...

“I’ve seen wanted posters. He’s wanted, you’re wanted. Seems folks are hunting for your crew,” said Susan. “Proves nothing. Today, this...

“Ms. Tucker.” Standing at the table. A crudely written menu in hand, “You’re back.” “As promised.” Passing the menu off to another...

Today is the day. The sun is slowly slipping behind the mountains as I mentally prepare to reunite with my daughter. Spent my day cleaning up, preparing to see my youngest for the first time in years. Both dreading the encounter, while hoping for the best. Upon exiting the complex, I spotted Diana watching from a rooftop observation platform. I wondered what last words of advice she might have. Arriving at the Barrio with Cord, I thought to myself: keep breathing. Relax. A pa

I quickly brought the meeting to an end, sat for a moment, ignoring Diana, watched as the committee representative and his security, seeming uninterested, wandered off. Mr. Maddox left, then we, the team, followed Diana back to the med center. She had a private room, now lit by a single candle. A small space sparsely furnished. Private and, more importantly, a safe space for our conversation. Once inside, we watched as she settled on the edge of a cot, head back, eyes closed,

Sitting around the table, we took turns sharing our recent interrogation experiences. We answered questions, then pondered plausible options. To intervene or stay away? The opportunity cost? Frank, Joshua, Addison, Brett, Mr. Maddox, an uninvited committee representative (with their security personnel), the other two Scout Team leaders, and I. Unfortunately, Cord and Diana had yet to return. A fact no one seemed to notice. We considered the recent visit and shared their cauti

We entered the ranch-house; our eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. Everything looked neat as a pin, strangely spotless, and almost sterile as we surveyed the area. We walked down a short hallway that eventually led to an empty room, sparsely furnished: a table surrounded by a dozen metal folding chairs, a fake potted plant in the corner, and a small metal bookcase with several well-aged books. The walls were white. Pointing, someone ordered, “Sit there, in front of the win

Cord and Diana headed out this morning, searching for the best way to approach Susan. Seeking a place, a time, a venue to meet her. A place where she and I could talk, where I could convince her I had nothing to do with the assault. Standing in a drizzle, I watched as they disappeared into the valley. Sighed. Turning, I scanned the area, eyes up. The recent addition to our territory is responding well. Sure, an occasional squabble, but mostly working. Doing a 180, I took a mo

To my surprise, within twenty-four hours, a dozen men arrived with a wagon to collect the bodies. With a proclamation. “The bounty on your head is now doubled, and anyone associated with you will have a bounty placed on their head, DEAD or ALIVE. The Regional Governor expects you to surrender within forty-eight hours, or else the Governor’s militia will return to finish the extraction.” Looking around now, I saw all eyes on me. I had no words. The best I could do was shrug an

I could feel my heart racing. Her breathing returned to normal. A shared warmth settled over our protective cocoon, comfortable even as the temperatures outside kept dropping, like in the high thirties with a light breeze, the air damp. She took my hand and slowly placed it on her outer thigh. Something stirred within. She pressed my hand and returned her hand to my other arm wrapped around her chest. My hand slowly traced the contour of her leg, from her bottom to her firm s

Spent recent days in a daze avoiding everyone. People speaking at me like white noise. Congratulations, a high five, a pat on the back. Each an intrusion on my space. For what, a chunk of land? Still anxiously waiting for Brett and Cord to return. Addison’s advice regarding my past echoes in my mind: let it go. I may find them — my daughters — and try to explain what happened, seek forgiveness, or share our mutual despair. When alone, my mind imagines multiple outcomes. Addis

Mr. Maddox cautiously led the occupying team forward, including several families, artisans, and muscle; the goal, stabilizing the proximity. The work began. Still… Invariably, without fail, someone would challenge the change. This day it would be our new ‘friend’ Mike or Mikey and a couple of his companions. Work had been progressing well until now. Late afternoon. Here comes trouble. Walking our way. Once Mike’s group was halfway to the wagon, security — including Mr. Maddox

It took days to pull the plan together. Addison and I met with Diana at the medical cage and staff members at the top of the hill along the north side of the roadway. Opposite the identified site. Weeds, a few trees, and cacti currently cover this vacant site, which is well protected to the east and north. A crumbling apartment building guards the west side. The south, an unknown. The residents doing their best to, like everyone, survive. While looking formidable, in truth wi

Their approach was always foreboding. The committee with an assignment or, at the very least, a reprimand. Exasperated, continually critical, and resentful, the general population fell further behind the well-compensated Scout Teams. The situation continued to deteriorate. Two ongoing issues, well clearly more than two, first, a lack of food and, second, space, a premium. It has become increasingly difficult to say ‘no’ to families as they appear at the front gate, their need