Online Issue: The Aftermath

Image: Anton Massalov

Dear Reader,

For this issue of Barrelhouse, we asked you to give us the beginning after the ending. What happens in the ever after? What might grow in the spaces left by intensity or loss?

What resulted were stories that dissect the realities of grief and redefine the task of survival. We tasted slices of life in the post-climax and characters forced to navigate outcomes they didn’t ask for; we followed them through their villain eras, triumphs, bereavements, and transformations.

From analysis paralysis to the millennial urge to quit your job and open a little store, we are proud to present Barrelhouse’s Aftermath issue.

Keep on keeping on,

The Editors

Note: This online issue of Barrelhouse was produced by students in the creative writing MFA program at Temple University. Thanks to the following students for all their hard work making this issue a reality: Em Avros, Kurt Bauer, Harriet Bradley, Kat Capizzi, Chloe Cullen, Olivia Donohue, Gina Franciosi, Amber Fratesi, LaTasha Goodman, Austin Jones, Lillian Lowenthal, Margaret McNamara, Jo Mulder, Brett Myszkowski, Annie O’Brien, Evangelina Opoku-Nyarko, Mustafa Abbas, Drew Temel, Autumn Thomas, Harris Walker, Penina Warren.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Two Poems by Zach Powers

In Between Times, I Swatted Flies, by Jason DeYoung

when a trio of crows ram a red-tailed hawk into your front-porch window, by Abbie Doll

My Grandfather Shows Me His Photo Album, by Julie Ebin

Three Poems by Jenna Murray

When We’re Ready We’ll Start Over by Opening a Bakeshop, by Chris Cottom

Three Poems by Rozalija Grace

A Whole Unguarded Afternoon, by Ian Li

Evil Stepmother, by Jemma Richardson

Steel Nemesis, Siren, by Phoua Lee

Rightsizing, by Will Cordeiro