Waiting for rain that hasn’t come. Above the passing cumulus clouds, a prop plane. The gentlest tremble of maple leaves in a breeze too light to stir the wind chime. Mira reads. Frankie, too—or he’s sneaking more TV. Inside. In the air-conditioning. While we sweat on the deck to enjoy the unofficial last day of…

August 29th We pass the peach and apple groves as we make our way across the Boscobel estate. Locate an ideal spot upon which to picnic on which on the great lawn overlooking the Hudson, its nearby estuary, and West Point. Soon, we’re devouring cheddar, goat and dill cheese spread on crackers, wheat thins, and…

August 27th The water covers our ankles, and it’s still cold after a summer’s worth of sun. A few steps in, and waves crash against our knees. The undertow pulls and pulls. Frankie soon lets the riptides carry him back to the beach. surf and turf sunlight at our back We all walk east on…

August 25th The car rattles up the first hill, reaches the top, then ever so slowly passes over it. Wheels thunder on iron rails, while screams arise from passengers, as it rushes down. Mira shakes as she reaches a beach adjoining the coaster. Throughout the rest of our visit to Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom,…

More than a week has passed. Out of a two-month summer vacation, two days remain. Impressions: last bitter taste of morning coffee cicada song August 23rd We take the mandatory photo at the Statue of Liberty. An overcast sky hangs above her torch. We’ve put on long-sleeves. Frankie is happier racing on the ledge—until we…

Ilana’s memoir lies on top of a pile of Family Circle magazines. In all the time we worked together… … I only read half. My un-replied email August crickets first published in Image Curve, October 31, 2019

The same friendly nurse pricks my finger. Moments after taking my sample, she tells me my white blood cell count is up to 4.0 greater than normal. Then she leads me to an exam room with birchwood paneling and a framed photo of a sand dune. Where I still wait. overheard stories …unnoticed branchessway in…