Stone Soup Magazine
— A young person addresses someone who left without explanation, cycling through questions, pleas, and the haunting memory of their whispered apology.
— A young writer observes the creek behind her house, cataloging its life—fish, flowers, frogs—and recognizes it as her private world of peace.
— A young observer discovers the ocean's hidden music — from crashing waves to a tiny crab's clicking claws to shells clinking in the depths.
— A bucking bronco narrates his life from birth to rodeo legend, revealing the fierce determination and isolation that define his existence as 'the fighter.'
— A family drives through the night to grandparents' house after eviction, their old truck barely making it as a girl reflects on loss and uncertain futures.
— At a dreaded family cottage, a teenage astronomy enthusiast meets an eccentric boy in mismatched clothes on a rock under the blue moon, finding unexpected connection.
— A girl arrives at summer camp hopeful but becomes the target of exclusion, watching the group turn on different girls throughout the month.
— A boy spends his summer earning money for a BMX bike, falling just short until his best friend arrives with the final dollar he needs.
— After her father loses his job, a girl moves from a suburban house to a rural farm, resisting the change until a friendship with neighbor Willa helps her find home...
— A young magician overcomes performance anxiety when his uncle appreciates his card trick despite a mistake, teaching him that perfection isn't necessary for connection.