The Day Mother Gave the Cat Away by Katherine Simmons The day that she gave the cat away she felt so desperate and bone-draining tired— for yes, a young mother’s fatigue and dismay bears fruit in deeds that are poorly inspired. She felt so desperate and achingly tired. The kids wouldn’t nap and their moods became sour, bearing fruit in deeds that were poorly inspired. Her whole house declined to a mad swirling howl. The kids wouldn’t nap and their moods became sour. The sweet baby shrieked and flailed in display. The whole house declined to a mad swirling howl. The pet snake escaped and was getting away. The mad baby screamed and put on a display. Sister pinched her balloon and laughed when it burst. The pet snake escaped and slithered away across sister’s lap and up under her shirt. Sister grabbed the balloon and squeezed ’til it burst. They giggled with glee at the runaway snake, as it crossed sister’s lap and hid in her shirt. Mother sighed with despair a...
Flying Island is the Online Literary Journal of the Indiana Writers Center, accepting submissions from Midwest residents and those with significant ties to the Midwest.