Mark John Hiemstra

…and then after that we ended up at the Kino Café to watch some flamenco dancers and we made small talk for a little while when she confessed to me her obsession with hockey and I told her about the time my stripper girlfriend had to ask the left wing from the Oilers to go home because he'd been partying way too much, then she asked me if I only dated strippers because didn't I go out with that girl the genetically perfect one and I said oh yeah well just a couple of them but then I wanted to say that if I had ever seen anyone who fit the description of genetically perfect that it was her and that she is without a doubt the most beautiful woman I have ever met and not just because of the way she looks because I could look at her all day and it's all I can do to keep myself from kissing that excruciatingly beautiful curve on her neck but then the apple pie came and I unfolded a napkin and put it on her lap and she looked at me and smiled and said you are sweet, aren't you? and I wanted to say something but then she was looking at the girl next to her who was saying something and the flamenco dancers started and she turned to look at them and I put my hand on the small of her back and it fit…and the girl next to her said something and she laughed and tilted her head back just far enough that I could see her smile and she leaned back even farther and asked me if I'd heard what she said and I don't think I could've heard anything right then so when we left we crossed the street and I wanted to take her arm and put it in mine but she was just a little too far away for me to do it and then the next thing I knew she was there beside me and she had hooked her arm in mine and I felt her warmth right up against me and again, she looked up at me and smiled and pulled me in close and I spread out my hands on her back just in that space where my hands fit...

Mark John Hiemstra currently lives in Jasper, but will relocate to Montreal with his beautiful French girlfriend this spring. Mark John was a finalist on Book Television Presents the Three Day Novel Contest, and is currently in the process of editing the manuscript he churned out there. Mark John writes fiction, and does freelance work for magazines and newspapers occasionally. He does not enjoy writing about himself in the third person, but can be persuaded to, from time to time.

"Chess Game"

Jennifer Balkan

current - submissions - archives - contact us