Author Archives: WmA

Jeremy says to himself, I’m not him, and that’s OK, just like Ringo was Ringo, not John, Paul, or George. He thinks about Scotty staying with their sister; the prize money; Katie retying her shoes. We’re all here for a reason. William Auten – “Little Things” “Little Things” now available on Substack.

Junior rummages through tools, supplies, and packing materials alongside the Porta Jon and, and when he snatches a sickle-shaped fruit knife, wielding it like a talon, men in the fields rush over, waving their arms and shouting, “¡Cuchillo, cuchillo!” Screams scare off birds. Workers huddle behind the water truck, shake their heads, or run forContinue reading ““Out There in the Sunlight” – Substack”

MISSING GHOST DOG “STU” BEEN DEAD A WHILE NOW BUT OUR LIVES DON’T HAVE PEACE W/O HIM LOVES THE MARSH VERY MUCH A PEOPLE PERSON & SNUGGLE BUG PLEASE HELP FIND & RETURN WE ARE AUBURN FANS, BUT HE LOOKS LIKE THE UGA BULLDOG William Auten – “Ghost Dog” “Ghost Dog” is now available onContinue reading ““Ghost Dog” – Substack Plus: A Fine Day Will Burn Through in the Beaver Creek Library, Arizona”

Andrew leans up and peers over the backseat and begs her to come back, but the trees’ autumn colors smother him and his request as he can’t hold himself up and retreats into his fear of her telling them what he is. His teeth grind, he pushes up, but his neck cannot support him turningContinue reading ““One Swift Effort” – Substack”

During the descent, her father stretches supine in the clouds—the wings carving out his wrist, elbow, and arm and the bed sheets wrapped around him before breaking down into seams when the plane touches down with summer baking the tarmac. Margo fidgets in the doorway, the sun noon-high, but smiles her best and clears herContinue reading ““Touch and Go” – Substack”

A woman visits the city she and her friend shared. The road I took gets lost winding in the mountains before sloping down into the valley and beyond. L.A. isn’t even a blip out there, but it’s there, and I don’t want to go there, but I have to.  William Auten – “Double” “Double” isContinue reading ““Double” – Substack”

A husband does on a date. A blue SUV pulls into a spot down from Rick. The woman inside checks her makeup and hair in the rearview mirror and surveys the parking lot and bar where customers stream in and out. She pauses on a man who unfolds his sunglasses and leans against the carContinue reading ““Bands” – Substack”

While her colleagues quit en masse, an employee weighs her departure. Three colleagues from the marketing department jog by Lyssa: Maribeth pops thumbs-up while she wobbles in her heels; Michael, last summer’s part-time intern hired as full-time, claps while he giggles; and the third, Lyssa has seen wearing a new outfit every week, dashes offContinue reading ““End of Day” – Substack”

A summer-camp counselor is responsible for putting on a play. The gym doors fling open, kids rush in, and trudging to the water fountain, Matt fills his bottle, careful not to touch the nozzle where every camp kid drooled, sneezed, or sucked on. He towels off, his wheezing slowing, the constriction easing but not lettingContinue reading ““Yellow Brick Road” – Substack”