Cha-ka, Patron Saint of Ice

december magazine, a literary legacy since 1958, published my piece “Cha-ka, Patron Saint of Ice” in their fall/winter 2022 issue, volume 34.2. It was a popular one and is sold out now, but I’ll give you a teaser! Hopefully available one day soon, in “The Museum of Admirable Suffering,” the collection I have just finished. (Cue the canned applause) It’s a story about bullying, and the horrible consequences of what it can do to a kid.

Excerpt:

     Yes, her arms were a bit hairy. And her brow stuck out a little, noticeable because of the scar lacing her left eyebrow, from the accident with the bike and the tree. Sure, she was tubular and short and she peered out from underneath a fuzzy awning, head bent low in anticipation of the worst, which was now, junior high ­– it could not get any worse. Maybe there were a few resemblances to the ape-boy. 

Everyday though, with the shit in the hallway. 

Today Thadd was priming his T-Rex imitation, pulling his arms up into tiny claws, elbows tucked under his pits, scanning the lockers to see who would notice this winning performance. He let out a warbling roar and ambled over to Cha-ka. 

“I am going to EAT your hairy body,” he said, much to the hilarity of those nearby. 

Cha-ka knew better than to say anything, to give them ammo they’d later scrawl on her locker in silver marker. Cha-ka says Shut up! Cha-ka says Knock it off! and other things she’d never said but wanted to, quickly painted over by the custodian, the orange a darker hue than last year’s orange.