{"id":19153,"date":"2025-03-19T18:34:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T23:34:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/?p=19153"},"modified":"2025-03-26T11:11:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T16:11:50","slug":"grand-theft-auto-dawg-nomads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2025\/03\/19\/grand-theft-auto-dawg-nomads\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Theft Auto Dawg &amp; Nomads"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>Grand Theft Auto Dawg &amp; Nomads<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-765c4724 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61556140010887\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-instagram  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/boudin_mcneese\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12,4.622c2.403,0,2.688,0.009,3.637,0.052c0.877,0.04,1.354,0.187,1.671,0.31c0.42,0.163,0.72,0.358,1.035,0.673 c0.315,0.315,0.51,0.615,0.673,1.035c0.123,0.317,0.27,0.794,0.31,1.671c0.043,0.949,0.052,1.234,0.052,3.637 s-0.009,2.688-0.052,3.637c-0.04,0.877-0.187,1.354-0.31,1.671c-0.163,0.42-0.358,0.72-0.673,1.035 c-0.315,0.315-0.615,0.51-1.035,0.673c-0.317,0.123-0.794,0.27-1.671,0.31c-0.949,0.043-1.233,0.052-3.637,0.052 s-2.688-0.009-3.637-0.052c-0.877-0.04-1.354-0.187-1.671-0.31c-0.42-0.163-0.72-0.358-1.035-0.673 c-0.315-0.315-0.51-0.615-0.673-1.035c-0.123-0.317-0.27-0.794-0.31-1.671C4.631,14.688,4.622,14.403,4.622,12 s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Susan Israel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>Grand Theft Auto Dawg<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Mom says, \u201cWhere is Smokey?\u201d and you suddenly realize he\u2019s not lying at the foot of your<br>bed warming your feet and you look around for that heap of golden retriever fluff and jam your feet into well-chewed bunny slippers and slide across the hardwood floor, thinking he might have not been able to hold it; six hours is long for an old dog\u2019s bladder. The pee pad in the hall is dry. So is the bathroom floor. The TV blares, \u201cWe interrupt our regularly scheduled<br>programming for this bulletin. A city police cruiser was carjacked less than an hour ago and was seen driving over the Q Bridge. Witnesses claim that it was being driven by a dog. Some kind of retriever. This can\u2019t be right. There are conflicting reports.\u201d The broadcaster clears his throat. \u201cA retriever was seen in the driver\u2019s seat of a local police cruiser. Folks, this is not a drill. This is not April 1. This is preposterous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">You move in right in front of the plasma TV screen and stare at the video. Is that Smoky?<br>What is he doing, driving away? He can\u2019t leave you, he needs you, you need him, you\u2019re a pair.<br>The TV announcer is interviewing witnesses. <em>Looked like he knew what he wanted to do, jumped right in, popped that ignition button. Smart dog.<\/em> \u201cI think I need a drink,\u201d the announcer says. The scene immediately cuts to a commercial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cSmokey? Smoke?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">He\u2019s left you, you realize, turning over in bed, he\u2019s gone to another realm. So has mom.<br>They\u2019re together and left you behind. They\u2019ve been gone for years. You rub your eyes awake.<br>The TV is off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>Nomads<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The rain comes down harder as Michelle\u2019s eyes dart from tent to tent to see where there\u2019s<br>room for her and her friend today in the crowded encampment. Another day of searching and<br>she\u2019s come up empty again. A torturous succession of no\u2019s and a quick stop at her former<br>roommate\u2019s place to shower and change her clothes. So she looks presentable at work. So<br>nobody she knows <em>knows<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cYou know you can stay here until you find another place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cBut Charlie can\u2019t, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Her friend shrugs. \u201cIt\u2019s in the lease. I can\u2019t afford to get kicked out. I don\u2019t know why you<br>didn\u2019t try to stay. People deal with this all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Michelle looks around the apartment, so minimally decorated, so Architectural Digest, void<br>of anything to be emotionally attached to. Except maybe plants. Maybe she talks to her plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cSo where are you staying anyway? You didn\u2019t say. Maybe you can stay there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Has she ever woken up tasting dirt?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Michelle says, wondering if that will be her fate. She\u2019s going to have to<br>at least find another place to temporarily store her things. So there will be no more questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>How long is temporary?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">She stuffs an extra change of clothes in her backpack, wedged between a bottle of water,<br>some food for Charlie and a couple of bowls. And now she squeezes between bodies and<br>sleeping bags under the tent. Charlie nudges her. \u201cWant to eat, girl? Come on.\u201d She empties the small bag of kibble into one of the bowls and slides it under the terrier\u2019s nose, then fills the other bowl with water. She uses the eviction notice as a placemat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"338\" class=\"wp-image-19192\" style=\"width: 450px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/03\/IMG_0176-e1742437389528.jpeg\" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Susan Israel<\/strong>&#8216;s dashing dog, Fluffy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Susan Israel<\/strong>\u2019s work has recently been published in <em>MacQueen\u2019s Quinterly<\/em>, <em>Blink-Ink<\/em>, <em>50 Word Stories<\/em>, <em>Backwards Trajectory<\/em>, <em>Flash Boulevard<\/em>, <em>Does It Have Pockets<\/em>, <em>Bright Flash Literary Review<\/em>, and several others. She lives in Connecticut with her dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>__________<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"438\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg 438w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1-300x145.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">\ud83e\udca0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2025\/03\/21\/the-summer-of-the-eight-legged-calf\/\">Back<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2025\/03\/19\/the-favourite\/\">Next<\/a> \ud83e\udca1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">To learn more about submitting your work to <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/boudin-submissions\/\">Boudin<\/a><\/em> or applying to McNeese State University&#8217;s Creative Writing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/mfa-application-submissions\/\">MFA program<\/a>, please visit Submissions for details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grand Theft Auto Dawg &amp; Nomads Susan Israel __________ Grand Theft Auto Dawg Mom says, \u201cWhere is Smokey?\u201d and you suddenly realize he\u2019s not lying at the foot of yourbed warming your feet and you look around for that heap of golden retriever fluff and jam your feet into well-chewed bunny slippers and slide across&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[228],"tags":[75,146,101,26],"class_list":["post-19153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-second-annual-pet-writing-contest","tag-boudin","tag-fiction-2","tag-microfiction","tag-fiction"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19153"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19296,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19153\/revisions\/19296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}