400 Words


Stories

400 Words content. True personal stories that might or might not also appear in the print magazine.

Toes

by Milly Strelzoff—Age 29—Hattiesburg, MS As a baby I was never aware of my toes. I might have sucked on them but I don’t know. If someone sits down and cares to tell you, you have babyhood. Even that is impossible if no one noticed. No one counted my toes out for me so I [...]

Book Reader

by Maureen—Age 23—New Haven, CT Five weeks into my third semester at my second attempt at college, I padded down three flights of stairs on a Sunday morning in my slippers and PJs. In one hand I carried a coffee press, full and hot, as well as a coffee mug with a carton of half-and-half [...]

An Autobiography of My Best Friend

This is a variation I haven’t seen yet: a 400-word “autobiography” of someone else. I like the way it reminds me of The Catcher in the Rye on lithium. —ed. by Krammer Abrahams—Age 24—Boston, MA I was born a Jew. My brother was born a gay Jew. A dog lived with our family. I have [...]

Patton, 28, Texas

by Patton Quinn—Age 28—Austin, TX Age 0: 29 January, 1980. 5: Find dead body at Cedar Creek Lake, Texas. Teach myself to do headstand. 7-9: Win 13 trophies in every handstand contest at gymnastics. (Mom eventually chucks trophies.) 9: Dad shaves beard, I faint. 12: Form “Dumb Penis Gang” (DPG) with best lady friends: Cassandra [...]