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It was a long time before Minchka fell silent and Dravij and Zinfir retreated to their pile of rags beneath the sleeping platform. Only when Minchka was asleep did Aleksandr retrieve the note from the floor. His hands shook as he opened it. Seven times seven is a halfling’s life. It is time our daughter visited the other side of her nature, time she walked amid the ice and snow. She may bring three things only with her, none living. When she has chosen, send her into the woods under the full moon, where the two elms cross by the river. Before the moon sets she will be with me. Remember, aleksandr, she must walk in both worlds or none at all. I leave the dragons with you as compensation. Sinivushka The paper crackled like dry leaves underfoot as he crumpled it into a ball. How dare she demand Minchka! Hadn’t he loved the girl Hadn’t he taken her in and cared for Hadn’t he turned his life upside down for Minchka And where was her mother in all that time Where was Sinivushka when Minchka spoke her first words Where was Sinivushka when Minchka had trained the dragons to fetch river stones Her proudest accomplishment, getting those mad creatures to do tricks, and it was Aleksandr she had flung her arms around and laughed with when the first stone was spit at her feet. Through every moment of the girl’s life her mother had been absent and now she demanded he hand Minchka over Just send his daughter into the woods Alone He wouldn’t. Curse Sinivushka, curse her blue-lipped mouth, her cold eyes, her colder heart. Curse the day he’d ever met that winter-bound creature! Letter be damned, he was keeping his daughter. He stormed to the door and threw it open, flinging the note outside. The moon was high and full. Aleksandr staggered back. Though the moon looked the same as it had on other nights, he could see only Sinivushka’s face, laughing at him. He slammed the door on the moon and the night, turning away from them. 52 Writing Tomorrow Magazine
By morning, Minchka was running a fever. Her small body felt dry and empty to his touch, a husk. Her lips cracked as though she’d swallowed dragon’s flame. “Papa,” Minchka said, shivering, “it’s so cold inside. Did the fire burn out” He piled blankets on top of her and patted her back. “No, the fire is still in the hearth. You are sick. It will be better by night.” But it was not. The fever burned so hot it was painful to touch her skin and Minchka cried out when Aleksandr brushed a lock of hair from her face. Her covers were soaked with sweat and her lips so dry they bled. He dribbled snow between her clenched teeth but it did no good. The fever would not break. Late in the second evening, she slipped so far into sleep, he could not wake her. Aleksandr shook her and shook her but she would not open her eyes. He slapped her cheeks and yelled, he rubbed her back and cajoled. She never stirred, breathing only shallowly. He slumped down, resting his head on the bed beside her, counting each halting breath. His eyes were wet and he felt desperate and wild. Helpless. Hopeless. “I’ll do it,” he whispered, reaching up to touch her cheek. He sat up and shouted the words at the bare walls, “Do you hear me, Sinivushka I will do it! I will give you our daughter. Only stop this. Let her live.” The words cracked and broke apart. Ice was slipping into his chest and wrapping around him, it choked his voice and made it hard to talk. “I will do it,” he whispered again. “Let her live.” There was nothing left inside of him, just a hollow place where he’d stored up all of Minchka’s laughter and smiles. He shivered and lay his head down beside her, counting her breaths until his own slowed and he fell asleep. A butterfly’s wing fluttered against his cheek and tickled him. Aleksandr dragged his eyes open, wincing at the river silt that felt lodged beneath each eyelid. Minchka watched him. “Papa,” she rasped, “I’m thirsty.” The butterfly’s wing touched his cheek again and he saw it was her fingers, lightly, February 2014 53
Page 1: Writing Shaping Tomorrow With Our P
Page 4 and 5: Contents Fiction 6 A Day of Rain/Ro
Page 6 and 7: Rolli A Day of Rain As it was a day
Page 8 and 9: I then returned to my Duties. As I
Page 10 and 11: “There was a boy. Another boy. Be
Page 12 and 13: Steven Volynets For Love, Eternal W
Page 14 and 15: pile. “Don’t hurtchaself now.
Page 16 and 17: up for a bump—maybe as much as tw
Page 18 and 19: mostly, crude pieces of wood and sc
Page 20 and 21: side. “Twice!” the Kid barks ba
Page 22 and 23: hair and face. “The friggin’ ba
Page 24 and 25: me, it aint happening. My uncle sai
Page 26 and 27: “What am I supposed to do, Skippe
Page 28 and 29: street— Chinatown, Harlem, Murray
Page 30 and 31: go back and forth in silence, like
Page 32 and 33: cellophane trash bag, pulled real t
Page 34 and 35: April Salzano Lightning can, does,
Page 36 and 37: Rob Andwood Set Phasers for One Ell
Page 38 and 39: the cloud cover. Don’t fret, Susa
Page 40 and 41: carried his plate to the sink. By t
Page 42 and 43: with the lady who cut all our hair.
Page 44 and 45: Jennifer Racek The Dragon Keeper Li
Page 46 and 47: They spent the night in a standoff,
Page 48 and 49: The door belched cold air into the
Page 50 and 51: “A baby dragon! There’s going t
Page 54 and 55: laboriously stretched out to him. A
Page 56 and 57: you made me last summer.” Aleksan
Page 58 and 59: flames at one another and huffing.
Page 60 and 61: Leila Fortier ~Punctuated~ Why Am I
Page 62 and 63: Leila Fortier ~Impossible Geometry~
Page 64 and 65: Devyani Borade Sky’s the Limit Th
Page 66 and 67: of her sari as she goes about her b
Page 68 and 69: “Shoe shine! Shoe shine! Get your
Page 70 and 71: “What, sir” “So what’s your
Page 72 and 73: himself some decent clothes. How lo
Page 74 and 75: • He watches the dancing water gr
Page 76 and 77: sacks on their shoulders. Of the la
Page 78: Still, when I remember you, it is w

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