María Elena PellinenHonest or ShamelessAT BEANS ’N’ Such Coffee Bar, Claudia tore open a package of sweetener and added it to her coffee, along with nearly half a cup of…Mar 16, 2016Mar 16, 2016
María Elena PellinenAn Apple or a Car“JANE, YOU MISSED the turn,” Lucia said as they crossed the arterial road on their way back from shopping.Mar 16, 2016Mar 16, 2016
María Elena PellinenEnvy or JealousySUNDAY MORNING IN the park, just before eight, soccer, picnicking, Frisbee throwing, and dog walking have yet to begin. On the west border…Mar 16, 2016Mar 16, 2016
María Elena PellinenDead or AliveON THIS THIRD Saturday of the month, Lucia frantically searched her desk drawers for her passport. Not there. She looked in her bedroom…Mar 16, 2016Mar 16, 2016
María Elena PellinenSuccess or FailureLUCIA’S NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR Gilberto moonwalked down her porch, triumphantly dropping to his knees with a loud, “Gooooooaaaal!” as Lucia…Mar 16, 2016Mar 16, 2016
María Elena PellinenDrunk or SoberDURING LUCIA’S LAST ethics class, she had dealt with temperance and the importance of when or where or how much of drinking alcohol would…Mar 16, 2016Mar 16, 2016
María Elena PellinenWorker or ProfessionalAPPLAUSE GREETED LUCIA. She beamed in the warmth of admiration from the assembled group inside Kat’s Café. Her audience had grown from a…Mar 16, 2016Mar 16, 2016
María Elena PellinenKnowledge or WisdomHAIR BY RAMÓN occupied a narrow storefront on a gentrifying street just three blocks from Lucia’s house. An empty corner store, formerly a…Mar 16, 2016Mar 16, 2016
María Elena PellinenLady Fortune and Lady ReasonDISTRACTED MOMENTARILY BY the passersby in the afternoon sunlight, Lucia turned her attention back to the slew of unread e-mails on her…Mar 16, 2016Mar 16, 2016
