Larks Monthly Review, April 2012

By Daniel Pool

Larks does it again by combing the April editions of Larks Fiction Magazine into one comprehensive magazine for reading on the go. In this issue; Jerry Guarino, Carl Barker, Claire Ashmead, Paul Peppers, Nanda Olney, Jessica Morrow, Jeff Poole, John Skylar, Elizabeth J. Kepsel, and Lachlan David.

In this issue dive deep into the human condition with cosmic sweaters, Indian food, and Giants. This eclectic literature review is sure to please everyone with at least something from its diverse background of chilling, delightful, and insightful tales.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Pool
• Release date: Oct 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301929559

Daniel Pool

Daniel Pool received a doctorate in political science from Brandeis University and a law degree from Columbia University. He lives in New York City.

Book preview

Larks Monthly Review, April 2012

Published by Larks Media

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Daniel J. Pool

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

Cover design by Jessica Rowse.

Cover Image by Eleanor Leonne Bennett, You Will Fly with Happy Thoughts.

Eleanor is a 15 year old photographer and artist who has won contests with National Geographic, The Woodland Trust, The World Photography Organization, Winston’s Wish, Papworth Trust, Mencap, and Dot Dot Dash She was also the only person from the UK to have her work displayed in the National Geographic and Airbus run See The Bigger Picture global exhibition tour with the United Nations International Year Of Biodiversity 2010.Only visual artist published in the Taj Mahal Review June 2011. Youngest artist to be displayed in Charnwood Art's Vision 09 Exhibition and New Mill's Artlounge Dark Colours Exhibition.

See her website at www.eleanorleonnebennett.zenfolio.com

Table of Contents

Issue Fourteen, Volume Three

Anything but Indian Food

By Jerry Guarino

Lover, Come Home

By Carl Barker

Issue Fifteen, Volume Three

Timmy the Mouse

By Claire Ashmead

Swimming Lessons

By Paul Peppers

Issue Sixteen, Volume Three

Persephone Modern

By Nanda Olney

Eighteen

by Jessica Morrow

Issue Seventeen, Volume Three

Salazar, Dent, and Payton

By Jeff Poole

Sweater of the Fates

by John Skylar

Issue Eighteen, Volume Three

The Giant-Killer’s Wife Wants a Real Man in Bed

By Elizabeth J. Kepsel

Full Moon GalaBy

Lachlan David

From the Desk of the Editor;

Hello and welcome to the April 2012 Edition of Larks Fiction Magazine's Monthly Review! The long wait has been worth it as this new and improved edition includes never before seen edits, the full size original cover image, and remastered digital soundtrack*.

We hope you enjoy this issue and that you will cherish it for years to come. It took blood, sweat, and a lot coffee to get here and we could not have done it without your help.

Thank you and enjoy,

Daniel J. Pool

LFM Editor

Issue Fourteen, Volume Three

Anything but Indian Food

By Jerry Guarino

Sid (short for Siddhartha, his given name) sat across from Kelly in the romantic Italian restaurant, in the university town where they were seniors. In spite of his parent’s arranging an engagement for him with a suitable Indian girl in Mumbai, the second-generation college student only had eyes for Kelly, quite possibly the antithesis of everything his parents had planned. Kelly was protestant, preppy and the only daughter of a good, upper middle class family from Boston.

Why don’t we ever go to Indian restaurants Sid? Don’t you like Indian food?

Sid took a bite of his risotto, smiled and looked into Kelly’s eyes. No, I don’t. Cumin and curry are disgusting and every Indian dish has them to excess. Look at Italian food. Elegant, delicate and romantic, like you. Kelly blushed. America is my home. I have no desire to visit India, much less marry someone my parents have arranged.

Kelly squeezed his hand. Sid, you know how I feel about you, but what will your parents say? Sid’s expression told Kelly she had nothing to worry about. They will see in you what I do, the light of my life.

A violinist played an Italian aria accompanied by a heavyset waiter in a tuxedo, serenading the patrons as they ate in a restaurant Kelly had always wanted to visit. This is so romantic. What a perfect night.

Kelly was in love with Sid. He was smart, athletic and handsome. They had been together for a year now. Their relationship had taken off, since she first saw him on the football field. But Kelly loved his mind as much as his body; with a 3.85 GPA in Economics, Sid made college look easy. She took another look at the menu.

Sid, this is so expensive; we could go to four dinners for what this is going to cost. Sid appreciated Kelly’s watching the budget, but this was a special night.

The violin player came over to their table as the tenor began ‘O Sole Mio. Do you know what the words mean in English Kelly? She shook her head. No, but it’s beautiful. Sid translated. It’s about a man who sees the sun come out after a storm, then tells his lover that her face is even more beautiful than the sun. That’s how I feel when I see you. I love you Kelly!

Kelly leaned over and kissed him. I love you too Sid. They could feel the moment, smell the food and were at peace. It was one of those times that don’t come along very often, when everything is in sync.

Sid pulled out his chair, kneeled down next to Kelly and looked deep into her eyes. Kelly Ann Caverly, you are my sun. Suddenly, everyone around them was listening. When I wake up, you are what I want to see. At sundown, you will be the light that keeps shining. With you by my side, I will always have the warmth and light I need. Please do me the honor of lighting up my life. Kelly, will you marry me?

Kelly began to cry. She reached out for Sid, nearly knocking him over. Of course I will. You are my sunshine too. The tenor hit his high note, the other diners clapped and the couple was now engaged. The owner put the Tarantella CD on and for the rest of the night, Sid and Kelly had an engagement party. There were cannolis for everyone and a cake the restaurant reserved for special occasions.

The last year went by quickly. Sid and Kelly were planning their futures and their wedding. Kelly had an internship at Deaconess Hospital and Sid had offers from several banks. On a warm afternoon in May, they walked hand in hand in Kenmore Square, to see a Red Sox game. Outside the stadium, they stopped for a steak and cheese sub, smothered with onions, peppers, mushrooms and grease. Just as smoothly as their life was going, so were the Red Sox, coming off their first world series win in 86 years.

The next week, Kelly was planning on meeting Sid for lunch when she got a call on her cell phone. Sid had been taken to the hospital and Kelly rushed to the emergency room. Waiting for an hour, she began to cry, not knowing what had happened. Finally a doctor came out to see her. Kelly Caverly? She quickly got up. Yes, I’m Kelly. The doctor took her into a treatment room. Sid had an acute attack in his intestines. We’re running tests now. We’ve sedated him, but you can wait here with him. Kelly thanked the doctor and sat next to Sid, holding his hand as he slept.

When Sid woke up, Kelly told him what the doctor said. I’m so glad you’re here, not out on the street somewhere. What do you think happened? Sid groaned and rubbed his stomach, still in pain. Maybe something I ate, but nothing unusual in the last few days. The blood tests were done quickly at the emergency room. A beautiful young Asian doctor came into his room and gave him a tablespoon of medicine and told him to rest. Sid’s face turned sour. Argh. This is terrible. Thirty minutes later, she returned to his room. How are you feeling now, Mr. Patel? With Kelly by his side, he looked exhausted but relieved.

I feel a little better now. Am I going to be all right? The doctor smiled and reassured him. Yes, you had a parasite; just take a tablespoon of this every six hours for the next week. Sid grimaced. A week! It tastes awful doc. The doctor nodded. Yes, I know. It’s the cumin, but it kills the worms faster than anything else.

The End

About the Author;

Jerry Guarino’s short stories have been published by dozens of magazines in the