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The Forge SHORT STORIES
Spring 2021
Suburbia By: Alex Wright
Mrs. Jones checks the timer on her oven. It reads 5:32 and ticks down second by second. She cracks the door and peers in at the roast cooking within. She smiles the dainty smile that she is known for and closes the door again. Mr. Jones sits at the table with little Billy and his older sister Sussie. Mr. Jones flips through the virtual pages of the daily newspaper. He prefers the newspaper version over the news feed because it “reminded him of simpler times.” Mrs. Jones smiles at her silly husband and his silly thoughts. Simpler times. Funny
thing is, that’s the name of the newspaper too! Mr. Jones flips past the headlines filled with armies, tyrants, and bombs and heads straight to the sports section. “Dinner’s almost ready guys!” Mrs. Jones says with a smile. “It’ll be a few more minutes, but you all look absolutely famished, so I fried up a few bacon-wrapped scallops to hold you over!” She places a small plate to the left of the large rotting hole in the center of the table and stands back with a smile. Little Billy stares
Artwork by James Gray
