No news today - Guest Post - Richard Chiem

WASTE A LITTLE SHAVING CREAM

In the space ahead of her, there seems to be something. In another room the noise is more muffled and less revealing. Her identical twin sister is close to climax a few feet away from her through the walls behind a David Bowie poster. Chloe walks barefoot on the wooden floorboards back and forth in her own room in pale movements. She regrets knowing her own face so well and feels a need to shave or cut something. She wants more from her refrigerator other than subdued light and loose condiments. She says Ketchup and Dijon mustard. Because she owes so much money she stays inside her house on nights and weekends. Lately, she has been reading more stories of people trapped inside their houses voluntarily. She says, Did you know there is a man in Tokyo who has never seen the city of Tokyo. He only knows the inside of his apartment dozens and dozens of pizza boxes, a broken empty telephone. Finally her sister orgasms arms outstretched knocking the wall between them like a door in brief parched momentary pleasure. Both sisters are quietly transported, now laying motionless on either side of the wall. Although she knows better Chloe does not feel deep significance anywhere. She goes and answers the front door and of course no one is there. She says, Why hello person.

Richard Chiem (b.1987) is the author of two e books WHAT IF, WENDY and OH NO EVERYTHING IS WET NOW (with Ana C.) He is a Pushcart Prize nominee. His work has appeared in Monkeybicycle, Magic Helicopter Press, and Everyday Genius. His first collection of short stories YOU PRIVATE PERSON is forthcoming from Scrambler Books (2012). He blogs here: http://richardchiem.blogspot.com/