You’re My Friend, John.

You’re my friend, John. You’re my friend.

I remember when I found you, you were skin and bones. And just as pathetic as me. I kicked at you, and yelled “go away!” Instead, you wagged your little tail, so I fed you crumbs. My last crumbs. Then a woman gave me a five dollars, while I was petting you. I bought us more crumbs, and we had ourselves a fair deal.

So many cold nights we hugged each other. I would hold you like a baby, as you whimpered into my chest. I promised we would survive, and I kept my promise. We ate crumbs.

I don’t know where you are now, but I know we’ll be fine.
You’re still my friend John. You’re still my friend.

~~Photo & Story by Ian Russell

The Speed of Life

        We hadn’t seen each other in months. Things had changed. I got a girlfriend. You got reacquainted with meth. I walked in to your apartment and I was stunned. You’d made so many modifications, the place was unrecognizable. There was the ceiling light fixture in the living room that was now a giant metallic spider with glowing, green eyes. There was the table saw in the kitchen and the drawers full of screws, nuts, bolts, and other hardware. Not a single eating utensil to be found. Oh, that’s right. Tweakers don’t eat.
        As I stood there with a mixture of awe and horror combined with a dose of genuine admiration at your creativity and workmanship, the only thing I could manage to say was…”Wow…you are NOT getting your deposit back.”

~~Story by Greg Gateley

Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blurry_men_climbing_stairs.jpg

Happy Birthday!

      Little Billy hated Halloween. He was born on Halloween, and the kids never wanted to celebrate, because they’d rather Trick or Treat. And his mother thought it was okay to take him Trick or Treating, instead of buying him a cake! And this Halloween was no better… She bought him some lame Skeleton costume, with a boring, plastic skull mask that pulled over the face with a rubber band, and a black leotard. All the other 5th graders were going as Star-Lord from “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Halloween sucks!
        “Billy! Put your costume on and meet me at the front door!” shouted Mom from the other room.
        “Whatever!” he shouted back.
       Billy turned to grab the Skeleton costume off his bed, but it wasn’t there. He knew he had left it there. Where could it be? He checked under the bed… three times, then his closet, and even the bathroom. He called out for Mom, but she didn’t answer. Suddenly, all the lights in the house went dead. He called again for Mom, and still nothing. Billy hated the dark, so he held his breathe and ran to Mom’s room to investigate. Mom was gone, but the Skeleton mask was there. Sitting on her bed pillow, staring at him. Billy wanted to cry, but he was too scared. Then he heard footsteps behind him. It was the rest of the costume coming to get him! He lunged toward Mom’s bedroom window, and tried desperately to open it, but the child-proof lock was on. The footsteps got closer, and Billy squealed, trying with all his might to open the lock. He couldn’t breath. He just wanted Mommy!
       “Sweetie. Stop it, its’ me!” Mom said softly.
       “Mommy,” sighed Billy. He was so happy to hear her voice.
       Before he could turn around, and leap into his mother’s arms, he saw a boney hand grab his shoulder.
       THE END

~~Story and Photo by Ian Russell

They’re Watching. They’re Watching.

        Not sure why I’m writing this. It’s not like anyone will ever read it. We could all be dead tomorrow if the Poachers change their minds.
        It was a warm day in October. Typical for Los Angeles, but then clouds started to form. They looked like those creepy caricatures guys draw on Venice beach. I was in high school during 3rd period gym class. The noise was the scariest, like a cackling thunder. Suddenly I couldn’t breath, no one could. The ships exhaust choked our atmosphere, but it cleared quickly. My friend, Bobby, tried to Google it on his phone… He typed “Aliens,” and ten links popped up instantly. They had struck around the world instantaneously.
        They took out a few cities: D.C., Berlin, Hong Kong. Los Angeles was left intact. I guess the Poachers liked watching television as much we did. I forgot who started the name “Poachers,” might have been the Daily Show? Which brings me to my next point. They didn’t wipe us out, or enslave us, really. They just left us “as is.” Except, randomly, Bobby, and his family were killed. It didn’t seem fair. Not like Bobby was gonna start the uprising, or anything. Oh, and they’ve been mining our soil for Silica. Why? The A.U., or Adjunct United, the new world government, didn’t tell us much. They claimed they didn’t know, since the Poachers had made their demands, and flew out of here just as quickly. Only leaving behind their osmosis machine for the Silica.
       “Do it, or else.” That was all they told us in the American sector. Three years later, and things just kind of keep going. People on TV still make jokes, so I guess there’s still hope. The A.U. promised we would all be relocated if the topsoil is left completely useless. Either way, the people of Planet Earth seem calm. I’m just not sure myself, but Dad tells me “it will work itself out in the end.”
       Anyways, writing my journal helps me. And maybe after I’m dead, there could be a revolution, and people will find my writing and be inspired. Hopefully they read English. Until then, I write, pen and paper, for myself, because they say, “They’re watching.”

~~Story and Photo by Ian Russell

Fond Memories

        

        People never questioned why Papa Ryan was always tending to a pile of dirt. Every Wednesday and Saturday you could see him out there, bent over like a crooked “L,” laying seed, and curiously very little water. Mama said it was better people thought he was a failed farmer.
        Fond Farm was small in the county, but we had a big legacy of keeping our hometown pure. Outsiders, usually city folk, would drive through, trying to ruin what eight generations of my family had built here. Papa Ryan always said “I expected little out of life, but Life expected a lot out of me. And I would not disappoint!” He is the smartest man I know. I love him. And I can’t wait till I get older, so I can do the grown up work. Till then, I’ll help Papa hide these bones. I can’t wait for supper.

~~Story and Photo by Ian Russell