Finishing Their Cupcakes Mira and Frankie finish making the cupcakes. She raises her voice over his removal of something. Then she shows him the final touches: applying cream. ground dark-chocolate and peppermint. chocolate chips. She pours more icing, telling him to “hold on” and “wait.” They’ve made more than cupcakes for New Year’s Eve by…

A Cook Against the Storm I turn on the barbeque just as a horizon-filling bank of rainclouds roll in. A sudden wind arrives. The songbirds’ ensemble speeds with urgency. I race this oncoming storm. The stakes? Our sardine dinner. rustling leaves after the rain a shimmering grill   first published in Image Curve, December 21,…