Surgeon Pricing — At around midnight I picked up a spinal surgeon who was unusually glad to see me, explaining that he had “been in surgery all day” and was exhausted. He was lovely, with a gentle, comforting voice that anyone would trust. He began immediately talking about some of the cases he…

Him Too — “I’m sorry that happened to you. That totally fucking sucks.” A young man I’ll call “Daniel” had spent the last several months going to physical therapy for a strained wrist-to-shoulder. He was in a moderate amount of pain all the time, “But at least I got to have the summer…

Foster the People — “Andrew” was very eager to get home and so was frustrated by the rush-hour traffic that we had no choice but to sit in. He had just gotten off work at a chain restaurant where his current position was “Hostess. I used to work in the kitchen but now I’m…

Listicle — It’s a given that along any well-travelled highway you’ll see dirty diapers, lone shoes or socks, furniture, tires, and various and sundry pieces of vehicles themselves. These are the things I have seen on the side of the road that I thought were a little more unique and interesting: A…

Coco — After the kind of arts-and-crafts filled preschool birthday party all but stereotypical of middle-class parents, “Lily” stood outside the open back door of my car, took one look at me in the driver seat, and forced herself into a half-hearted scream. Whether this was some sort of show of displeasure…