Short stories consume you faster.

Tag: #100WW

The Common Defense

“I didn’t sign up for this.”

“You signed up to keep the peace. That’s what we’re doing.”

“What we’re doing is betraying everything our country stands for.”

“Don’t we stand for tolerance?”

There’s a roar, further up the road. They can’t see her wings or tail yet, but it’s only a matter of time.

“We stand for truth and justice too. It’s not tolerance to accept everything, even the stuff that’ll destroy you.”

“The death rate is minimal so far.”

“So far.”

“Maybe you’re right, maybe this is a mistake. You did sign up for this.”

“Maybe I’ll change that.”

Image by Izaak Standridge

The Three Buskers

Every morning, we set up in the center of the thoroughfare. As the guitarist, the bassist, and the violinist each takes their position, the crowd parts around them, sometimes stopping to listen.

Rarely, very rarely, a kind soul will drop a few coins or bills into a case: beautiful music, they say; tenacious young men, they say.

They ignore me, and why wouldn’t they? Once in a blue moon, someone will condescend to me, tousling my hair and cooing. They don’t understand: they’re mine.

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