Arrow Rock Literary Journal

“Will the lights go out?”

He doesn’t get paid until Thursday.

Today is Tuesday.

The electric bill was due on Friday.

Last Friday.

They were homeless for a decade.
No place to themselves until
they finally save enough
to buy a
house.
Then
the dishwasher broke.
The sink began to leak.
The washing machine croaked.
Two cars to the scrap heap.
One car temperamental.
And on top of it all,
on top of all that:
so much
death.

What does he say?

“Please—
start.
I just—
need to get to work.
Please—
don’t die on me.
I—
really need you.
You’re the only thing—
not broken.”

Last Friday.

The electric bill was due on Friday.
Today is Tuesday
He doesn’t get paid until Thursday.
“Will the lights go out, Dad?”

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Joshua Hammond has been reading and writing since he was two years old. He reads books, comics, short stories, webcomics, manga, poetry, interviews, articles, and labels on chip bags. He does most of his writing hiding in the bathroom at work. He also regularly listens to music, audiobooks, and podcasts. You can find his website here joshuadhammond and his journal here Lotto Gelato Grotto.