Retro Summer, Aug ’25 Editor: Vallie Lynn Watson Guest Editor: Ume Aiman Tariq Managing Editor: Taryn White Associate Editor: Leah Joseph Assistant Editors: Robbie Hess and Jade Turner Intern: Margaret Brantley Jay Edge, “Causeway Bridge from the Marina,” charcoal on paper Letter from the Editor by Vallie Lynn Watson Letter…
Read MoreLetter from the Editor Vallie Lynn Watson __________ Because I’ve never really left school, summer, to me, is the pause of school, the lack of school, the time to take a deep breath before the return to school but, nonetheless, permanently connected to school, and I’m thrilled that we’re releasing…
Read MoreLetter from the Guest Editor Ume Aiman Tariq __________ I came up with the idea of doing a Retro Summer issue a year ago. At the time, I was contemplative and nostalgic about the summer experiences that I had growing up in Pakistan. We slept in until noon and usually…
Read MoreThird Grade Math, Intro to Philosophy, and Other Disciplines Colette Tennant __________ In third grade, my middle son ended up teaching his class math. I questioned how that helped him. It didn’t add up, but the teacher shrugged and said she didn’t know what else to do. When she made…
Read MoreBe stFri end Rachel Beachy __________ Halfway between her house and mine there was a hillwe could bike to, but we met at the corner stop sign firstin our flip-flops and braces and braids. We stole ourmothers’ body spray and smelled like cucumber melonthe whole summer. I still remember the…
Read Moresidewalk chalk Isaiah Alexander __________ we spent hours under the sun,shading our dreams in sidewalk chalk.neon green, blue, and red.we drew until our knuckles bled. we imagined the possibilities:future homes, husbands, wives, babies—the lives we’d build,etched onto cement.our street became a canvas,a testament to youthful ambition,colored with all of our…
Read MoreEmma Goldman-Sherman __________ A Nest of Hornets That summer, I told her, “I’m a boy.” My mother laughed and said, “The hell you are.” After dinner, I chased fireflies. I decided their lights meant green for boys, red for girls even if it wasn’t science. I trapped the red ones…
Read MoreThe Atlantic Grace Ann Elinski __________ I’ve tried to drown myself in the Atlantic a plethora of times. I say drown lightly. Once or twice on purpose, the number blurred by the waves and liquor, other times just so drunk that maybe I might have drowned. Obviously, every time, I…
Read MoreThalassophilia Selene Sezer __________ I remember the day you asked me if I already knew how I’d die. I assumed you were simply starting a conversation and would follow up a second later with your own answer. But no. You, with your green shimmering eyes, fixed on me. I was…
Read MoreThe Fireworks Swetha Amit __________ After I signed the divorce papers last month, I sat on my balcony in my East Bay apartment overlooking Lake Merritt. The cool July air made me pull my blanket tighter around my shoulders. Near the lake, families and couples gathered. Laughter floated in the…
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