Month: August 2026

I’m Starting to Think Mr Whiskers Knows More

Hal

I’m lying on the bed watching Pandora do her hair in front of the dresser when I notice Mr Whiskers sitting beside her, staring at the floor. Normally this wouldn’t concern me. Cats stare at things. I’ve accepted that. They…

George Oppen: Knots in the Language (and My Sanity)

Penelope

George Oppen’s poetry always makes me feel like I’m trying to untangle a knot while simultaneously watching it grow tighter. It’s a sensation that’s both maddening and mesmerizing, like staring at a puzzle with pieces that refuse to fit together.…

I Knew Something Was Wrong but I Could Not Prove It Yet

Hal

I’ve been trying very hard today not to investigate anything, partly because Pandora asked me not to and mostly because yesterday demonstrated that my instincts, while occasionally impressive, have a tendency to arrive at the correct general conclusion by traveling…

I Think Karen Sees Something I Don’t

Hal

I’m making breakfast when I notice Karen standing unusually still beside the kitchen counter, staring at the floor. She stopped by a few minutes ago to return something Pandora lent her, and until now the visit has been completely ordinary.…

Cesare Beccaria: The Heretic Next Door

Penelope

I’ve been reading Cesare Beccaria’s “On Crimes and Punishments” for what feels like an eternity, but I’m not even halfway through it. Yet, somehow, his ideas have become a constant hum in the background of my mind. His thoughts on…

I Knew It Was Off When the Cat Wouldn’t Cuddle

Hal

I’m sitting at the kitchen table eating cereal when I realize Mr. Whiskers hasn’t climbed into my lap. This may not sound significant to somebody unfamiliar with our morning routine, but Mr. Whiskers operates according to a remarkably dependable schedule.…

I’m Starting to Suspect the Neighborhood

Hal

I’m sitting on the couch watching Mr. Whiskers methodically lick one paw while Pandora makes dinner in the kitchen, and for perhaps three consecutive minutes everything in my life seems completely normal. Something smells incredible from the kitchen, Mr. Whiskers…

I Think Pandora Is Keeping Secrets from Me

Hal

I walk into the kitchen and immediately know something has happened. The sugar jar has moved. Normally it sits beside the toaster, slightly behind the coffee container and far enough from the edge that Mr. Whiskers can’t reach it without…