Build-a-Pet

by Mary E. Lowd

Originally published in Hexagon, Issue 9, June 2022


“…she’d seen an older kid playing it earlier, and that kid had left with a brand new purple and green cuddle dragon nestled on her shoulder!”

Leslie yanked the toggle on the Build-a-Pet arcade machine with one hand and mashed the big round buttons with the other.  On the screen looming above her head, a colorful, twisted ladder bent and spun around, and large friendly letters spelled out words she couldn’t read yet.  Though she did recognize the letter L.  She knew that one from her own name. Continue reading “Build-a-Pet”

Cats Playing and TV Shows Resonating Strangely

I love how when my cats Piper and Julian play together, Julian makes these pretty, purring, “I’m so happy we’re playing!” sounds and Piper makes these growling, angry, “I wish you were dead!” sounds. The contrast is hilarious.


A Man on the Inside is a lovely little show, but it’s kind of surreal for me how much Ted Danson has aged into looking like my Grandpa Wes… who also lost his wife to Alzheimer’s after promising he’d never put her in a care facility. So that aspect was kinda intense.