The Great Squirrel Incident

The cat, Miso, stared at the ceiling tile like it owed her money. The dog, a golden retriever named Biscuit, had been circling the living room for ten minutes, nose twitching at the scent of a squirrel that didn’t exist.…
The cat, Miso, stared at the ceiling tile like it owed her money. The dog, a golden retriever named Biscuit, had been circling the living room for ten minutes, nose twitching at the scent of a squirrel that didn’t exist.…
Maggie stapled a neon pink tarp to her porch swing, declaring it “modern art.” Her neighbor, Mr. Pudel, squinted through binoculars, muttering, “That’s not a birdhouse—it’s a disco ball for raccoons.” Undeterred, Maggie glued 37 empty soda cans to a…
The jar sat on the counter, unyielding, its lid a circle of defiance. Marcus gripped it, knuckles white, and twisted. Nothing. The jar squeaked like a dying mouse. He slammed it against the sink. Nothing. Marcus, now sweating, fetched a…
Gary stood in front of his closet, muttering, “I am organized. I am disciplined. I am a master of my domain.” He reached for a shirt, only to find it tangled with a sock. “This is just a temporary setback,”…
Kevin stared at his phone, jaw clenched like a bulldog guarding a steak. The TikTok trend du jour—#RenegadeDance—had turned his life into a serial killer’s spreadsheet. “This is it,” he muttered, tapping the screen. “I’m gonna be king of the…
The laundry room smelled like a forgotten gym sock and regret. I bent to pick up the last of the mismatched pairs, only to find Sir Barksalot—my 70-pound poodle—balancing on tiptoe, a neon-green sock wedged in his jaws like a…
Linda stared at the mound of bottle caps, spoons, and expired coupons on her kitchen table, fingers twitching. ‘This is art,’ she hissed, as if the recyclables could hear her. Her roommate Phil leaned against the doorway, holding a pizza…
Dave typed, “Meet me at the coffee shop,” but his phone, possessed by a rogue algorithm, swapped “coffee” with “kangaroo.” He squinted at the screen. “Did I just invite her to a zoo?” He tried to delete it, but the…
Gary stood in the grocery store, determined. ‘I am strong,’ he muttered, lifting a bag of potatoes. The bag split, potatoes rolling everywhere. He grinned. ‘I am adaptable!’ He kneeled, scooping them. A cart came barreling down. ‘I am fearless!’…
Gary’s daughter left her phone on the kitchen counter, screen glowing with a TikTok dance challenge. The caption: ‘Try this at your own risk.’ Gary, 52, squinted at the video—two teens in neon leggings, limbs flying like windmills. ‘What’s the…