Brett Pribble

tinyurl.comMiss Daria — Ghost ParachuteMonday isn’t so bad when the weekend is just a concept for others to plan. When each day is part of the same routine: wake up at 5:30am to do laundry, make breakfast and lunch, leave Maria’s breakfast...

Read "Miss Daria" written by @delgeo14.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "Monday isn’t so bad when the weekend is just a concept for others to plan." tinyurl.com/2hu5jp3t

tinyurl.comOf the Sea — Ghost ParachuteMarina wakes, drowsy and disoriented, near the ocean floor. A phantom tremor pulses beneath her skin. As she’s about to scream, a rhythmic sensation caresses her body as it expands and contracts… thru...

Read "Of the Sea" written by @damicandrea.bsky.social and also illustrated by Andrea Damic. "Marina wakes, drowsy and disoriented, near the ocean floor. A phantom tremor pulses beneath her skin." tinyurl.com/ysckyc2a

tinyurl.comWildebeests to a Waterhole — Ghost ParachuteDear Shepherd, I’m alone in the den tonight, gnawing on what you said last September when our little pride lounged poolside in Zanzibar after that terrific Tanzanian hunt. Your graceless comment tore ...

Read "Wildebeests to a Waterhole" written by Catherine Chiarella Domonkos and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "I’m alone in the den tonight, gnawing on what you said last September when our little pride lounged poolside in Zanzibar after that terrific Tanzanian..." tinyurl.com/5yzjv6ry

tinyurl.comMarital Vampires — Ghost ParachuteBefore the invasion when everyone was blissful and ignorant or young and ignored and me and the husband slept peacefully at night, a beetle made its way to the island with a horn like a rhinoceros and...

Read "Marital Vampires" written by @kimsrogers.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "Before the invasion when everyone was blissful and ignorant or young and ignored and me and the husband slept peacefully at night, a beetle made its way to..." tinyurl.com/2uknsydr

tinyurl.comWhat Mel Might Have Thought About if He Had, In Fact, Been Thinking — Ghost ParachuteWhat if he’d stayed home for his daughter, Chloe’s, sweet sixteen party, helped his wife wrap presents, made his “famous” nachos loaded with chipotles, grilled corn, and pepper jack. What if he’d soug...

Read "What Mel Might Have Thought About if He Had, In Fact, Been Thinking" written by @kathrynsilverhajo.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "What if he’d stayed home for his daughter, Chloe’s, sweet sixteen party, helped his wife wrap presents..." tinyurl.com/mr2xjmpj

tinyurl.comWe Buy a Magnet at Every Stop to Prove We Really Left — Ghost ParachuteThe low fuel light blinks on as we pull into a Walmart gas station and I feel the tension in the car ease. We should have filled the tank at lunch but got distracted posting selfies in the truck stop....

Read "We Buy a Magnet at Every Stop to Prove We Really Left" written by @lauriemmarshall.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "The low fuel light blinks on as we pull into a Walmart gas station and I feel the tension in the car ease." tinyurl.com/ptm66wh9

tinyurl.comBaby Carrier — Ghost ParachuteToby rang the doorbell again. A draft eddied leaves across the concrete porch. He reached down to the baby carrier at his feet and adjusted the blanket canopied over its handle, shutting out the wind ...

Read "Baby Carrier" written by Tim Boudreau and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "He reached down to the baby carrier at his feet and adjusted the blanket canopied over its handle, shutting out the wind and the low November sun." tinyurl.com/2ndjj3b5

tinyurl.comMy Mother Cracks Death Over My Forehead Like An Egg, — Ghost Parachutewatches it run down and cover me; says, we have begun the season of dying; (the one for us; not the one for everyone else; that comes later;) my mother tells me to look away from my television: to com...

Read "My Mother Cracks Death Over My Forehead Like An Egg," written by @m-e-arthur.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "watches it run down and cover me; says, we have begun the season of dying; (the one for us; not the one for everyone else;" tinyurl.com/46tvtkxt

tinyurl.comThe Tale of Two PDs — Ghost ParachuteLast night I dreamt PD Walker hosted a murder mystery at his house in DC. He showed us hidden nooks for inappropriate dalliances; he served only chicken salad with sticks of celery. I suspect the sala...

Read "The Tale of Two PDs" written by Court Harler and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "Last night I dreamt PD Walker hosted a murder mystery at his house in DC. He showed us hidden nooks for inappropriate dalliances..." tinyurl.com/34uthvz7

tinyurl.comChristmas Party — Ghost ParachuteMy new neighbor, Julia, with her dangly snowflake earrings and how close she’s standing, laughing at my jokes, touching my arm, electric—the way her red dress clings in all the right places that I cou...

Read "Christmas Party" written by @jennystalter.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "My new neighbor, Julia, with her dangly snowflake earrings and how close she’s standing, laughing at my jokes, touching my arm, electric—the way her red dress clings..." tinyurl.com/mv8ymh66

tinyurl.comMy Monsters — Ghost ParachuteThey are so hungry, my monsters. I coax them out from under my bed, and they won’t shut up. Feed me, says the little one. Feed me, says the biggest. Feed me, the skinny one begs. We leave my room, tip...

Read "My Monsters" written by @skyskkyy.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "They are so hungry, my monsters. I coax them out from under my bed, and they won’t shut up. Feed me, says the little one. Feed me, says the biggest. Feed me, the skinny one begs." tinyurl.com/bdpjsds9

tinyurl.comA Crow Comes to the Window — Ghost ParachuteTap, tap, tap. His beak like a schoolmarm finger. Let me in, the crow says in Crowspeak. You still speak Crowspeak from the time 20 crows banded together and snatched Jimmy Parker away as the two of y...

Read "A Crow Comes to the Window" written by @francinewitte.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "You still speak Crowspeak from the time 20 crows banded together and snatched Jimmy Parker away as the two of you walked to the movies." tinyurl.com/3rhe7k7e

tinyurl.comNot affected by any of this — Ghost ParachuteOr so I thought. It was just a job, just a soap opera. A ridiculous one, sure, what with my upcoming wedding to a monkey. The producers said they needed something to bump up the ratings, to keep their...

Read "Not affected by any of this" written by @taracampbell.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "Or so I thought. It was just a job, just a soap opera. A ridiculous one, sure, what with my upcoming wedding to a monkey." tinyurl.com/bddb69f2

tinyurl.comUnexpected Weather — Ghost ParachuteThey had been full, full, full, and now it is so lovely to be empty, to be so full of potential and not the leavings of people’s lives. It is spring – that month that comes in like a lamb and takes it...

Read "Unexpected Weather" written by @fionamckay.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "They had been full, full, full, and now it is so lovely to be empty, to be so full of potential and not the leavings of people’s lives." tinyurl.com/2s465p64

tinyurl.comPrimate Signaling — Ghost ParachuteBob and I are at the zoo, checking out the macaques from the wide viewing window, when I notice a muscular man in a tiger t-shirt checking out Bob’s ass. And even though coming here on a token date wa...

Read "Primate Signaling" written by @sarahillswrites.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "Bob and I are at the zoo, checking out the macaques from the wide viewing window, when I notice a muscular man in a tiger t-shirt checking out Bob’s ass." tinyurl.com/tcsxvp3a

tinyurl.comHey Trixie — Ghost ParachuteHey Trixie, Meet us at the Fernwood Cemetery this Sunday- we’ll be passing through. Had to cut our trip short after Timmy drowned. Bummer about Duncan’s colitis- I didn’t know dogs can get that. Those...

Read "Hey Trixie" written by @rgvaughan.bsky.social and illustrated by @amymarques.bsky.social. "Had to cut our trip short after Timmy drowned." tinyurl.com/56nuuxjt

tinyurl.comAgain, But No Longer, And Yet, Still — Ghost ParachuteAgain, a road trip. But no longer the seatbelt-less, high-heel, buttoned down tucked, bows on pigtails, paper map, stop for a single precious photo to be developed months hence. And yet, my no-longer-...

Read "Again, But No Longer, And Yet, Still" written by @amymarques.bsky.social and also illustrated by Amy Marques. "But no longer the seatbelt-less, high-heel, buttoned down tucked, bows on pigtails, paper map, stop for a single precious photo to be developed months hence." tinyurl.com/4hy5fm3p

tinyurl.comHow to Free a Caged Heart — Ghost ParachuteThe doctor with the serpentine stethoscope coiled around his neck shakes his head. He insists there’re some unusual murmurs in your mom’s heart, and I’m arguing with him it can’t be the heart. All she...

Read "How to Free a Caged Heart" written by @csquareh.bsky.social and illustrated by @amymarques.bsky.social. "He insists there’re some unusual murmurs in your mom’s heart, and I’m arguing with him it can’t be the heart. All she does is rant, scream, and swear." tinyurl.com/mr3f92uk

tinyurl.comShattered Across the Night — Ghost ParachuteThe night is bitter. My teeth ache, frozen down to their roots. I prod them with my tongue. Sharp splinters blossom from each socket, like shattered kernels of hard winter corn. “Sheila?” No answer. W...

Read "Shattered Across the Night" written by @mynachang.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "My teeth ache, frozen down to their roots. I prod them with my tongue. Sharp splinters blossom from each socket, like shattered kernels of hard winter corn." tinyurl.com/3ndfcfpf

tinyurl.comThe Last Marilyn Monroes — Ghost ParachuteI talked to my sister about it, because sometimes she was wise, even if she was annoyingly optimistic. “Do you think we’re living a lucky life?” I asked. She bopped me on the head with her support mon...

Read "The Last Marilyn Monroes" written by @megpokrass.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "I talked to my sister about it, because sometimes she was wise, even if she was annoyingly optimistic." tinyurl.com/mstxdr6n

tinyurl.comOn This Starless Night — Ghost ParachuteWish you may…. Breathe in clouds of steam as you climb into the bath. Clasp the bar of earthy olive oil soap that your beloved gifted you on your birthday. Press it to your chest as you petition for a...

Read "On This Starless Night" written by Mikki Aronoff and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "Breathe in clouds of steam as you climb into the bath. Clasp the bar of earthy olive oil soap that your beloved gifted you on your birthday." tinyurl.com/27knxusd

tinyurl.comFirst-Borns — Ghost ParachuteMelissa’s baby girl has colic and huge brown eyes with thick lashes. Haley’s baby girl won’t nurse and has chronic ear infections and a full head of dark hair. Lynn’s baby boy has a large birthmark sh...

Read "First-Borns" written by @claudiamonpere.bsky.social and illustrated by @courtneyb77.bsky.social. "Lynn’s baby boy has a large birthmark shaped like Alaska, a dog bite from the family’s German Shepherd, a $60 pacifier, and a live-in nanny." tinyurl.com/3dcy8r9w

tinyurl.comSymbiosis — Ghost ParachuteMa spent every Saturday arguing with our neighbor over the hedges. At first we thought it was hatred, but only later did we learn it was a form of symbiosis, the mating of needs and wants, marriage of...

Read "Symbiosis" written by Claire Guo and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "Ma spent every Saturday arguing with our neighbor over the hedges. At first we thought it was hatred, but only later did we learn it was a form of symbiosis, the mating of needs and wants..." tinyurl.com/ycnr496j

tinyurl.comIn your dream, you turn into a boulder — Ghost ParachuteYou wake up and stretch your arms in the direction of the clouds, you have gotten into the habit of sleeping on the roof, so there are actually clouds above you—you love sleeping on a roof so much mor...

Read "In your dream, you turn into a boulder" written by @dawnsteffler.bsky.social and illustrated by Olivia Mulford. "You wake up and stretch your arms in the direction of the clouds, you have gotten into the habit of sleeping on the roof..." tinyurl.com/35xx78xv

tinyurl.comHa Ha — Ghost ParachuteFirst thing they do is take away her makeup. Apparently a girl can kill herself with a tube of lipstick or a wand of mascara, though Rita’s not sure how. She herself had swallowed a fistful of pills b...

Read "Ha Ha" written by @sfreligh.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "First thing they do is take away her makeup. Apparently a girl can kill herself with a tube of lipstick or a wand of mascara, though Rita’s not sure how." tinyurl.com/mry72n5t

tinyurl.comOld Folks — Ghost ParachuteThe look of things confounds me, Doris said, rolling alongside Vern at the old folks home. Several squirrels looked up from their acorns suspiciously. Vern was new to the home and admired the clean li...

Read "Old Folks" written by @andrewbertaina.bsky.social and illustrated by Olivia Mulford. "The look of things confounds me, Doris said, rolling alongside Vern at the old folks home." tinyurl.com/ydy2dtty

tinyurl.comThe Night Sky Over Tioga Pass — Ghost ParachutePaul the shuttle driver’s 2000 Subaru has crinkled Mcdonald’s boxes, French fries, splattered windows. Doesn’t need my boyfriend to tell him where the parking lot exit is, been doing this for thirty y...

Read "The Night Sky Over Tioga Pass" written by @mamiewilloughby.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "Paul the shuttle driver’s 2000 Subaru has crinkled Mcdonald’s boxes, French fries, splattered windows." tinyurl.com/2fe4dzj6

tinyurl.comButter — Ghost ParachuteI started, buying as much butter as we could afford. I’d just gotten paid so that was a lot of butter, more butter than the closest store had on its shelves. The look on the girl’s face when I parked ...

Read "Butter" written by @mczyzniejewski.bsky.social and illustrated by @courtneyb77.bsky.social. "I started, buying as much butter as we could afford. I’d just gotten paid so that was a lot of butter, more butter than the closest store had on its shelves." tinyurl.com/2s374vh2

tinyurl.comfrozen mango skin — Ghost Parachuteonce upon a time, my grandma had a stroke after giving birth to a stillborn in a crickety bed. she was taken not to a hospital, but to a church. there: the priest adorned her face in holy water & pray...

Read "frozen mango skin" written by @jjpena.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "once upon a time, my grandma had a stroke after giving birth to a stillborn in a crickety bed." tinyurl.com/muzkdc3b

tinyurl.comLiving in Paradise — Ghost ParachuteYou work, you serve, you cook, you clean for others. You do what you need to, but it’s never enough. Sometimes you ask for help. For food. For shelter. For life. And yet, you scrape together what you ...

Read "Living in Paradise" written by @lumchanmfa.bsky.social and illustrated by @amymarques.bsky.social. "You work, you serve, you cook, you clean for others. You do what you need to, but it’s never enough." tinyurl.com/yr8pmwp4

tinyurl.comSomething Worth Saving — Ghost ParachuteMy neighbor, Rooster, is sling-shotting baby doll heads into our backyard the morning my husband says, “we need to talk,” while hunched over the divorce papers scattered across the table. I didn’t bel...

Read "Something Worth Saving" written by @avitusbcarle.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "My neighbor, Rooster, is sling-shotting baby doll heads into our backyard the morning my husband says, 'we need to talk,' while hunched over the divorce papers scattered..." tinyurl.com/5n97kp6t

tinyurl.comA Feeling We Can’t Name in the Arms of our Future Lovers — Ghost ParachuteFather has locked himself in his Subaru Forrester again. He thinks the rain, and the booming thunder will distract us, but we’ve grown older, more desperate for his touch, the smell of his heady sweat...

Read "A Feeling We Can’t Name in the Arms of our Future Lovers" written by @tommydeanwriter.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "Father has locked himself in his Subaru Forrester again." tinyurl.com/5fmphdup

tinyurl.comThe Hippies — Ghost ParachuteI sliced my hand with a steak knife the day after Christmas, sneaking leftover pie. The wound stung and pulsed. I made my way to the sink, rinsed my hand over the piled dishes. It hurt. The water ran ...

Read "The Hippies" written by @patriciaqbidar.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "The water ran over my steel P.O.W. bracelet. The word was, if your P.O.W. returned from Vietnam, he would take you for a steak dinner." tinyurl.com/yc4h4ta5

tinyurl.comWe’ll Always Have Paris — Ghost ParachuteCasablanca is a film of famous lines—“This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” “Play it, Sam,” and my favorite: “We’ll always have Paris.” Rick says this to Ilsa in their last scene together....

Read "We’ll Always Have Paris" written by @kimmagowan.bsky.social and illustrated by @courtneyb77.bsky.social. "When the skies are blue and the sun is out, Paris is like a woman wearing a lipstick that clashes with her skin." tinyurl.com/4nyrmcpp

tinyurl.comThe Infinity of Spaces — Ghost ParachuteI found the light in the crevice between the counter and the stove. Just a tiny glow in a thin line of space. I wouldn’t have noticed it if I weren’t trying to rescue a crumb from falling over the pre...

Read "The Infinity of Spaces" written by @cherylpappas.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "I found the light in the crevice between the counter and the stove. Just a tiny glow in a thin line of space." tinyurl.com/3fvtnjfc

tinyurl.comHeart-Leaf — Ghost ParachuteInside my ribcage is a heart-leaf philodendron. She vines around each organ, springing forth new growth. Fresh green leaves by the day. She’s a stubborn bitch of a houseplant. I don’t water her. She d...

Read "Heart-Leaf" written by @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social and illustrated by @kaystedmanfriedman.bsky.social. "Inside my ribcage is a heart-leaf philodendron. She vines around each organ, springing forth new growth. Fresh green leaves by the day. She’s a stubborn bitch..." tinyurl.com/4ctsmfcs

tinyurl.comCoffee — Ghost ParachuteGi-Gi smelled like coffee beans as she jiggled the bag down the hallway like a maraca. The hallway dark except for the streetlight through the window. Sammy clicked on the emergency light they kept on...

Read "Coffee" written by @sherrieflick.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "Gi-Gi smelled like coffee beans as she jiggled the bag down the hallway like a maraca. The hallway dark except for the streetlight through the window." tinyurl.com/3w3c47n2

tinyurl.comTreadmill — Ghost ParachuteWhen I buried my deceased husband, I assumed he’d stay put for once. But six months later, he called to say he’d moved in with a lady friend and now that he had the space, he hoped I’d surrender the t...

Read "Treadmill" written by Michelle Ross and illustrated by @courtneyb77.bsky.social. "When I buried my deceased husband, I assumed he’d stay put for once." tinyurl.com/47vtver8

tinyurl.comYou Were Scared — Ghost ParachuteScared of bats (rabies). Scared of mice (hantavirus). Scared of mosquitoes (encephalitis). Things that fly. Things that bite. I was scared too. Afraid of everything. I was never afraid of you. I was s...

Read "You Were Scared" written by @writesofkathryn.bsky.social and illustrated by @genevievetyrrell.bsky.social. "Scared of bats (rabies). Scared of mice (hantavirus). Scared of mosquitoes (encephalitis). Things that fly. Things that bite. I was scared too." tinyurl.com/yfde6zzd

tinyurl.comUniverse — Ghost ParachuteI was born to world-famous parents—my father a notorious rapper and my mother a favorite Pedro Almodovar star. My parents can do almost anything they want. Swim with whales. Buy a town. Name a kid Uni...

Read "Universe" by @pamelapainter.bsky.social and illustrated by @kaystedmanfriedman.bsky.social. "I was born to world-famous parents—my father a notorious rapper and my mother a favorite Pedro Almodovar star." tinyurl.com/3rmdffhr

tinyurl.comTongue — Ghost ParachuteThe first person I meet in heaven glares and knocks me down. In life, he claims, I kissed his wife. In heaven, turns out all your questions are answered, even questions like: Who kissed my wife before...

Read "Tongue" written by @djpoissant.bsky.social and illustrated by Brett J Barr. "The first person I meet in heaven glares and knocks me down. In life, he claims, I kissed his wife. In heaven, turns out all your questions are answered, even questions like..." tinyurl.com/35p4x8z5

tinyurl.comArchaeology — Ghost ParachuteMy childhood best friend was beautiful. For many years, she had to wear a back brace. It gave her a dignified air, as if a string were attached to the top of her head, pulling her up tall. She glided ...

Read "Archaeology" written by @kathyfish.bsky.social and illustrated by @kaystedmanfriedman.bsky.social. "For many years, she had to wear a back brace. It gave her a dignified air, as if a string were attached to the top of her head, pulling her up tall." tinyurl.com/bdhrhczn

ghostparachute.comOctober 2026 Issue — Ghost Parachute

The 10 Year Anniversary Issue of Ghost Parachute is here! Cover illustrated by @genevievetyrrell.bsky.social. ghostparachute.com/issue/octobe...

Congratulations to Ghost Parachute's 2026 Best Small Fictions nominees: @pintsncupcakes.bsky.social, @chelseahannac.bsky.social, @allisonfieldbell.bsky.social, @travisflatt.bsky.social, and @mamiewilloughby.bsky.social.

tinyurl.comNot All Parties Are Fun, Actually — Ghost ParachuteEmly held her breath. She gazed at the backyard through the locked sliding glass doors. The air smelled of Watermelon Smash Buzz Balls, sleazy confectionary perfume, and B.O. Edgar’s parents were away...

3 Sept

Read "Not All Parties Are Fun, Actually" written by John King and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "The air smelled of Watermelon Smash Buzz Balls, sleazy confectionary perfume, and B.O." tinyurl.com/5ejzz6pd

tinyurl.comEven to Himself — Ghost ParachuteThe train car smells faintly of damp fabric. Ian keeps his knees pressed together, his canvas bag pulled flush against his stomach so it doesn’t brush the suit coat of the salaryman standing above him...

Read "Even to Himself" written by @zaryfekete.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "The train car smells faintly of damp fabric. Ian keeps his knees pressed together, his canvas bag pulled flush against his stomach so it doesn’t brush the suit coat..." tinyurl.com/3k2ncyen

tinyurl.comMolotov Cocktail — Ghost ParachuteEarl Morgan built a life-sized toy army tank for his boys, Tommy and Scott, in the summer of seventy-one. A rope ladder on the side led up to the top hatch door, and another led down into the hull whi...

Read "Molotov Cocktail" written by @elisabeth-66.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. . "Earl Morgan built a life-sized toy army tank for his boys, Tommy and Scott, in the summer of seventy-onen..." tinyurl.com/z3neau7w

tinyurl.comMeasuring Melancholy — Ghost ParachuteAt any point during the past month have you felt pleasure in your body? Pleasure, that rambunctious barking dog weaving round your feet, leaping and toppling you, paws on your shoulders, while you sta...

Read "Measuring Melancholy" written by @nbrogdonwrites.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "At any point during the past month have you felt pleasure in your body? Pleasure, that rambunctious barking dog weaving round your feet, leaping..." tinyurl.com/ynmpwj2j

tinyurl.comDad Never Grew Old — Ghost ParachuteHe only died old. He was old and gray and tired, and we caressed his wrinkled hands before they took him away, and we stared at his lifeless body, because we knew it was the last time we’d see him, an...

Read "Dad Never Grew Old" written by @happilander.bsky.social and illustrated by @brooksiesbooks.bsky.social. "He was old and gray and tired, and we caressed his wrinkled hands before they took him away, and we stared at his lifeless body, because we knew it was the last..." tinyurl.com/3bh2au2j