by Kevin McCaughey
A blind date in a small bed.   In theory it seemed a pretty ideal proposition.
The girl’s name was Dasha, a friend of Aylita’s.  Alyita was Warren’s girlfriend.  And Warren was my friend and teaching colleague.  The two girls planned to visit us in Samara, taking the overnight train from Kazan, 300 miles [...]

by John M. Edwards
IN ANTIGUA, A YOUNG JOHN M. EDWARDS RUBS ROLLIES WITH A REAL LIVE RASTAFARIAN—AND LIVES TO REGRET IT.
“BOY! BOY!”
I looked over at the sculpted resort hedge, illuminated by a Tikki torch, and stepped uncertainly off the porch, like a young adult waking up from a Frank W. Dixon Hardy Boys mystery.
“Boy! Boy! [...]

by Scott Crawford
Rocks make a hollow sound when tumbled together underwater. I heard this now as the rushing torrent passed inches from my boots, throwing spray against my bare shins. And I began to question the wisdom of this outing.
An aerial view, had it been possible through the clouds, would have revealed a lone [...]

by Tom Weller
Clouds of dust bloom around feet pounding across the bronze field, bare earth baked hard by the Chadian sun. I move with the flow of the action, like a swimmer tossed by swirling currents. I angle hard to the right before circling around to the left, I drive forward, arms and legs pumping [...]

by Phil Goldman
[Dateline: Bangkok] Thousands of Thai Nationals have taken to the streets, armed with high-powered squirt rifles, hoses and buckets – completely soaking everything in their way. Songkran, the three-day, nationwide Thai Water Festival has begun. All business and traffic has come to a standstill. You are advised to please remain indoors or inside [...]

by Christopher Tharp
It was a 100cc Chinese make – a glorified scooter, actually – the type of four speed bike that is ubiquitous throughout Southeast Asia. The horn was burned out, along with the electric starter and both turning signals. The tires were bald. Neither the speedometer nor the gas gauge [...]

By Dave Mondy
Phenice bends over and grabs the pool table.
Then she bends lower — so her posterior is the highest point on her body. And she shakes it, in that amazing way you see on rap videos.
She shoots a sly smile my way, as if to say:
This is for you.
And the problem is: I’m the [...]

By Peter Bronski
A hot, dry wind whips across the arid Arkansas River valley, blowing sand and dust between my teeth. I tip my head forward into the harsh sun, shading my eyes beneath the brim of my cowboy hat. Peering out from under its crushable, brown felt, I survey the others idling about outside the [...]

by Dave Mondy
I am trying to go into a strip club but I can’t.
They line both sides of the street here, jammed up close like a chorus line, and each time I get within 5 ft. of a door, I have an episode. My stomach roils, my hands shake — I’m spilling beer all [...]

by Ryan Kearney
It’s my first night out in Cuba and already I’m surrounded by women who want to sell themselves to me. I just don’t know it yet.My friend Christian and I have followed a 39-year-old Danish man to an ornate mansion-cum-nightclub on the suburban outskirts of Havana, and with him are two young Cuban [...]