Caroline Szpak has a writing degree from the University of Victoria. She was born in Istanbul, and has lived in Poland and now Canada. Her poetry has appeared in This Magazine and in the chapbook Expense Account (Horse of Operations). She lives in Toronto.

Ahasuerus

Zachariah Wells

It was a colossal case of crossed wires.
When he stopped to beg a drop of water,
I misheard him. His mouth was gummy,
there was a horrible hubbub and my ears
have never been quite right. I thought he asked
for a pair of sandals.

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*Donne in

Yvette Nolan

Night. A man stands on the railing of a bridge, looking down at the water. He leans out over the water hanging on with one hand.
Sound of a car door.
Max enters behind Donne.
Max:Huyah!!
Donne:Aaauch! (he grabs the upright, clings) Christ!
Max:Couldn’t do it, eh? That was your big chance.
Donne:What the hell are you talking about?
Max:Could even’ve told yourself it was an accident on the way down. In case you’re a Catholic.
Donne: I’m not - I’m not - I wasn’t going to - (pause) I was chased up here by a dog.
Max:A dog.
Donne: Yes, a dog.

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A Drop of Coffee

Sifa Asani Gowon

 
This is a bad idea, she told herself. Maybe you should forget it and walk away while you still can. The pride in her rose to the fore, the taste of it metallic in her mouth. Meeting him was a last ditch effort to get things right- right for her and for Nadyezhda.
She rubbed her palms on her silk skirt, whether to smooth out imaginary wrinkles or wipe the sweat off, she was unsure. Her right eye was starting to twitch; an annoying effect of nervousness and one she had tried vainly to erase. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Relax Salima, she told herself, it is unpleasant but it must be done.

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It takes a long time for a man to look like his portrait.

100, rue Blainville Ouest
- Gwenaël Bélanger

Volunteers for Issue 11

For copy-editing this issue of MTLS thanks:

- Lequanne Collins-Bacchus

Acknowledgement

MTLS is grateful to Jetioluwa Olafimihan (Cotta Red Creative Studio) for her hard work on web development and management.

Dedication

To the memory of Stephen Potts