by Michael Czyzniejewski

My first lie was that you could trust me, a liar’s frequent opener. But you needed that donkey so bad, you believed a stranger in a turtleneck and red Celica was headed to the same ranch as you, the same livestock auction. You counted your money, wishing me good luck—you should’ve suspected something when I asked, “For what?” “The bidding, silly,” you teased, like a longtime pal. You tensed when I passed the exit, understanding fully when I grabbed your bills and tossed them through the sunroof, mouthing Shhhhhh as you begged me to stop and let you out.

Michael Czyzniejewski is the author of four collections of stories, most recently The Amnesiac in the Maze (Braddock Avenue Books, 2023). He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Moon City Press and Moon City Review, as well as Interviews Editor of SmokeLong Quarterly. He has received a fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts and two Pushcart Prizes.