The Bluestone Review 2025

Prose

No Strings Attached Linda Hoagland

The flag was tattered and torn by the constantly buffeting in the wind. Even though I was not the keeper of the flag pole holding up the flag, I wanted so much to remove the tatters and give him a brand, new flag. My neighbor lowered the worn flag and removed the flag pole, too, because winter was rapidly approaching. I looked through my window and truly missed the reminder of freedom that we should all take to heart. I was so disappointed with the absence of the flag but I had to do something about replacing that worn symbol of freedom. I pulled out the flag I sequestered on my bookshelf, shoved it into a plastic bag, and placed it on my neighbor’s front porch secretly. A couple of years earlier I had offered to give him that same flag but he wouldn’t take it. I was sure he was afraid there might be strings attached to the gesture. By my placing the flag on his porch anonymously, he might raise it up on his flag pole. I watched and waited for the flag of freedom and the flag pole to appear and they both did. The flag of freedom is flying proudly above my street to remind all of us about the struggles by many soldiers to keep our world free. When the new flag becomes tattered and torn, I can replace it secretly and ‘with no strings attached.’

No Fun Linda Hoagland

“Who is that pulling into my driveway? I’m not expecting company. I don’t want whoever it is to catch me dressed in this tutu. They would think I’m crazy,” Ellen said as she peered through the attic window and she made sure she was standing far enough away from the window so the visitor wouldn’t be able to see her at all. She watched as a body climbed out of the driver side of the car and she squinted hard to try to see if she could figure out who it was. She certainly didn’t recognize the car. It was a woman, she thought, dressed in jeans and a jacket that was suitable for a man or woman. “Who is that?” Ellen whispered as she moved closer to the window. When the knocking started at the front door, she stood stock still. The thought about whether or not she locked the front door entered her head. It was too late to run

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