Phillip Gillis

not just a hardware store

by phillip gillis the store felt... different. yellow numbers- once vibrant-painted on the uneven concrete floor- stretched the length of the building (chipped and tattered). painted by a grandfather repainted by a son rerepainted one last time by a grandson every five feet- once measured wire- once measured chain- once measured rope- now lay lifeless covered in dust. “If you ...

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almost a love song

by phillip gillis NJ ♡’s LB “Where are we going mom? Is this it?” Noah asked as he stared out the window of the ‘96 Buick. His mother put the car in park as she bumped the curb with the front wheels. She adjusted the rearview mirror so that she could see his eyes and just a small bit of ...

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thirty-one degrees

by phillip gillis The window looked out over the pond… frozen. slightly. but alive. fish beneath the surface, home for the winter, reluctantly ventured out. A call at 5 am on a cold December morning meant one thing and an unscraped road was perfection. the hood of a car was not just a hood- however a trash can lid worked ...

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Never Say Die

Story by Phillip Gillis Photos by Darby Gillis The calendar said it was early summer, but the chilly breeze coming off the lake through the trees forced Eric, James, and Robbie to huddle around what remained of the fire they started six hours before a few feet away from the tent in Robbie’s backyard. The once low flames gave way ...

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passages

by phillip gillis I. “Summers” the yellow bar stretched across the driveway (it was actually more rust than paint). blocked the entrance for a few more hours under the moonlight. weeds edged up near the gravel path. the sign read Last week of the summer. Pool opens at 9 in the morning. the boys laughed as two hopped over the ...

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…in person

https://happyendingspublications.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/Vol-2/InPerson/inPersonByPhillipGillis.mp3 by phillip gillis Where a doorway between two pharmacies, once led to Oz in the mind of a child, now leads to Diagon Alley in the dreams of his children, might lead to something or someone or somewhere or… Where you could rent a movie- (comedies in the front and horror movies up the ramp in the back) or ...

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…notions

  ...notions by phillip gillis I. open the door like your mama taught you you’re welcome thank you please go see your grandma and grandpa tomorrow yes ma’am yes sir romance-not courting-but dating i and love and you family reunion in the supermarket between the apples and tomatoes tell your mama i said hey disheveled hair and a confused look ...

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They Are Waiting – Hope for the New Year

they are waiting… phillip gillis   A baby- cooing on her mother’s lap- waiting on a world of hopes and dreams... and promise. the world stands ready before her (arms open) her legs flailing and dancing in the air in anticipation of what this next year holds.   A couple, sometimes in (and sometimes out) of love, stand waiting. champagne ...

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