Imogen Howe

Westcity
ages ago as reply to Waste

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe gas Spacecity Jeannie Hammond Ivan Babikov Georgie Wilcox Subaru gas station
Imogen Howe was exiting the zone. For five hours she had driven nonstop. The same ten songs playing on repeat. She had felt like a machine the entire time. There was nothing that was going to stop her. She passed by each car smoothly. Hit no potholes. Hardly touched the...

Westcity
just like back in high school as reply to Stay for Awhile

Abraham Kim
Gardetto's McDonalds Imogen Howe Jeannie Hammond mcnuggets
She was thinking about Chip from the gas station. He was an older man. Not death bed old, but old enough to be... well older than her dad. He had a walking stick. She didn't see him stand up and walk, but she could imagine him walking with a limp.

She...

Westcity
chip's gas station as reply to The Exact Address

Abraham Kim
gas station Imogen Howe Westcity town gatorade Gardetto's
She was at a  gas station called Chip's. Out in the middle of nowhere with nothing else around.

Imogen Howe was pleasantly surprised to fill her car up at gas station that didn't belong to a franchise. She couldn't remember the last time she used any station other than Marathon,...

Westcity
gas as reply to To Space

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe Toyota Prius gas electric vehicle
There were cars now that could get over 40 miles per gallon. Not hybrids. Just pure gas burning cars. Full sized ones too. The world was changing so fast. It blew  Imogen Howe 's mind.

Back when she was a kid, 30 miles per gallon was considered a lot. And that...

Westcity
she needed a payphone as reply to Better to be safe than sorry

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe fear payphone
A domino was pushed. Signals were sent. An irreversible chain was underway. All because  Imogen Howe took that exit off the highway.

She didn't know this yet though. The phone call that came was just like any phone call. In fact she missed it because she was asleep. Only saw it...

Better to be safe than sorry as reply to we got a code blue

Drew
Imogen Howe
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

“Hmm.”

“Like it’s not just me right. She’s definitely like why would she be googling these things. This is like the stuff we report right? You know?”

“Hmm.”


“I’m not like making it up right I just never though we’d have to call on someone. I mean I...

Code Blue as reply to town felt so far

Drew
blue Spacecity Imogen Howe
The  blue Roof Hotel. Was a subsidiary of the Blue group, which was Blue Inc, but after the whole Spacecity fiasco had to rebrand. 

"Bigger bolder Blue" the CEO said at the time. 


The Blue Roof Hotel was nothing special. From the outside it looked cheap and dilapidated, but inside...

Westcity
town felt so far as reply to Her Notebook

Abraham Kim
Spacecity notebook Imogen Howe town
Because she coudln't find any info on  Spacecity , she wrote about it in her  notebook . Simple statements like "Spacecity... what is it. What do people do up there. Did people really live up in space for that long?"

That's what  Imogen Howe did when she couldn't find information to...

Westcity
launch site for spacecity as reply to Exit Sign

Abraham Kim
credit cards Imogen Howe Spacecity
Alan could keep the cafe running while she was gone. He'd know how to run the place for at least a few weeks. So she didn't need to get back anytime soon.

But she would need to withdraw cash before alan locked the account. She didn't expect him to do that....

Exit Sign as reply to all she could do

Drew
Imogen Howe gas food sleep
On the road  Imogen Howe only thought about necessities.  gas and  food the only things that would keep her going. It had been about ten hours she thought. Already going through her phones battery, for some reason she noticed it getting darker. It woke her up.  sleep the next thing...

Westcity
out there as reply to Times like These

Abraham Kim
New York Imogen Howe
"And also. If she was rescuing a puppy, wouldn't she answer my calls?"

"You got a point there."

Alan didn't say anything. Aaron could sense that his friend wanted him to volunteer to call Imogen again.

"Yeah but I can call her. I'll do it now. How about that?"

"Thanks, Aaron."

Aaron hung up and...

Westcity
all she could do as reply to Earphones

Abraham Kim
gas Imogen Howe
When the call came in her gut said don't answer it. She was overthinking though. Like always.

Answer it her mind said. It's your boyfriend. Girlfriend's don't ignore their boyfriend's call.

She was driving though. That could be an excuse. But she'd have to answer eventually. She couldn't drive forever. Not even...

On the Coast as reply to you're a good kid

Drew
Imogen Howe
Alan at home. Liked the quiet, liked her not knowing what he was doing. For some reason he felt in control then. He played music she didn't like. Sometimes even microwaved fish. He was now listening to jazz. Noisey horrible jazz. He didn't even like it. But he liked that...

Westcity
you're a good kid as reply to Berlin Wall

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe Subaru town
"Imogen what happened to that cafe? It had so much promise. I remember. This was years ago. I visited. And now I hear you're working a regular job. What happened?"

"It was really. really hard to run a cafe."

"Mmm. I bet. But I thought you had a knack for it. The...

Berlin Wall as reply to at the same time

Drew
Imogen Howe
"Do I have to come to cafe? Can't you just pick it up here?" Alan said. 

A teetering pile a new plates and cups had been delivered to their house instead of the cafe.

"Its not like this is the first time this has happened  Imogen Howe ."

Silence on the other...

Wow the Girls as reply to made him smile

Drew
Imogen Howe
The sound of the round made him tired. Alan was drifting off a little. Aaron was up front and Jack was next to him.  Imogen Howe was driving. 

"Before we go home, I feel like we gotta see the water." 

"I know you said that but why?"

"But why? I've worked...

A Little Longer as reply to we should do this again

Drew
Imogen Howe
"But yeah, I uh should be going, I gotta hit the hay, then go to sleep." Sean said and he extinguished his cigarette by rubbing it into the ground.

Alan was so tired he just responded with "Yeah man. See you around." The sky was starting to get lighter now, it...

Westcity
sean is cool as reply to Like the Rest of Us

Abraham Kim
Westcity Imogen Howe Boston
Alan knew hating Sean was childish. He'd played this scene before. Knew where it headed 99 out of 100 times, and still he couldn't escape his role.

Sad too. He liked Sean. Always had since they said hi while Alan moved in. They probably would be friends had they had something...

Like the Rest of Us as reply to cool people butting in

Drew
Imogen Howe Westcity
The house was big, rooms on every floor except the basement where the show was. 5 or so bands Sean knew. It wasn't his house, but as they walked there he told Imogen that he practically lived there. He was an organizer, an ENFP he said to her. Alan could...

You Get a Refill as reply to cool people butting in

Drew
Imogen Howe
"Yeah there was uh I don't remember this show, or maybe it was in Anthony Bourdain's autobigraphy, but there's this game we should play before we go."

"What is it? Cards against Humanity? Not interested."


"Do you have an egg?"

"Uhh, I think, but I think its pretty old too."

"Yes, so, uhh  gather...

Westcity
cool people butting in as reply to Don't Forget the Mustard

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe tallboy
He was surprised that the comment came from Imogen Howe . It was something Aaron would say. Or Jack after a few drinks. Were they rubbing off on her? He was overthinking things. His face reddened more, continuing to think that she knew what he was talking about.

But on her...

Westcity
like a guitar that had been tuned as reply to Silence

Abraham Kim
Espresso Royale Imogen Howe Chicago
The sound of a tuning guitar brought back memories. College.

Ashley was still college aged actually. She had attended for only a year before dropping out. It had been a mess. A waste of twenty grand.

Afterwards she was too embarrassed to move back home. She worked at a cafe near campus:...

Silence as reply to Gettin Jjigae with it

Drew
Imogen Howe
Ashley had been trying to reach her for awhile, calling her, leaving her voice mails. She'd been distant the past week, but now she was better.

In Chicago she was busy, living in a more communal place, taking the room of another friend in a big house cooperative. The house...

Westcity
the chill breeze as reply to Like Death

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe death hangover coffee cold showers
It had taken everything in him to get up. But he was suddenly able when Imogen Howe mentioned visiting coffee shops.

Until then he felt like death . Didn't care what the others did. Alan only wanted the time to pass. Time was the only thing that could cure a hangover...

Like Death as reply to first time out in a while

Drew
Imogen Howe Westcity
Alan doesn't remember much of the night. He remembered at one point coming too, and both Jack and Aaron were carrying by the arm. Then he remembers seeing the girls. Then theres a bush and he was puking again.  Imogen Howe was getting mad at Aaron and Jack for letting...

Westcity
high school rules as reply to Stumbled Out

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe Death Cab for Cutie Westcity
Imogen Howe listened to Death Cab for Cutie while driving up highway 47.

It was an older album. Reminded her of high school.

During the day it felt more like she was in the middle of nowhere. But in the dark she could imagine and reminisce. She'd feel like she was in...

Change as reply to don't you live around here?

Drew
Imogen Howe
Alan felt trapped. He felt like he should stay here. Or maybe more he forgot to text  Imogen Howe it wasn't like they were dating but they had potential plans. He asked her if she was free later then she said yes, then now he never texted her. 

He was...

Westcity
bed as reply to She Found it

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe
She fell asleep early. If she was being honest with herself she would've just gone to bed. The drink wasn't that good, and the show wasn't much better. Over the years she had gotten used to tiring herself out by watching things late into the night until she was too...

Alan Replied as reply to the cafe had some dark times

Drew
Imogen Howe
"Do you guys really think they'll have protein powder?" Jack asked.

"Dude the coffee shop for sure, like yeah totally." Aaron replied. 

It was now Alan realized Jack hadn't been living the same life he was, as he watched Jack walk up to the counter and ask for a protein shake,...

Westcity
the cafe had some dark times as reply to Heart Sunk

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe cafe Westcity town Thievery Corporation
Alan wondered if anyone else in town was thinking of calling in. He wondered if they might spill the beans that Jack was in  town . Hiding.

The windshield wipers pushed the snow that had accumulated while he sat inside off. The wiper did this twice more before Alan hit the...

After as reply to alan's new routine

Drew
Westcity Imogen Howe
Alan's mom was happy, a little concerned, as Alan was paying rent in  Westcity , but it was nice to have him home. She thought about asking him the night before at dinner, but he was talking a lot, he was letting her into his life. So that was nice....

Westcity
under the moon as reply to You Up?

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe moon SUV cigarette New York
"Yeah. Why are you up so late?"

"Couldn't sleep."

Then before Alan could reply, "why haven't you been replying? You've been... weird."

Alan suddenly forgot about his lost friend. Only Imogen Howe mattered now. He tried hiding his emotions from Aaron. But Aaron was too bored with looking for Jack now that he...

Drifted Off as reply to already a fifth year senior

Drew
Imogen Howe
Alan put his seat back. The sun roof was open, and the sky was dotted with stars and the moon. 

"Dude its a full moon crazy."

Jack reclined his seat and looked up too. 

"Its crazy all that. You know." 

Alan's eyes were shutting and he was fighting to keep them...

Westcity
already a fifth year senior as reply to So Quiet

Abraham Kim
India China Imogen Howe
The weed was old. But it got them high.

It was too cold outside so after swinging on the set shivering for awhile they returned to the car and blasted the heater.

"Do you think we have a chance?" Alan asked.

"What do you mean? Like with Imogen?"

"No. I meant like we as...

Like This as reply to idk

Drew
Imogen Howe
Imogen Howe was there with another guy. Alan didn't see him or maybe saw them driving away, but by the time he'd got there it was just his friends. 

"Its probably her brother other something, don't worry."

"Yeah man he looked like a pussy anyway." Jack said. 

Alan still felt like...

Westcity
limbo as reply to Imogen

Abraham Kim
winter break Imogen Howe Westcity
That light always took too damn long. During the day you noticed less because there'd be traffic you'd wait on. But at night when nobody was around the waiting became unbearable. They needed to turn that intersection into a blinking yellow on one side and blinking red on the other...

Westcity
with milk as reply to Nothing Too Special

Abraham Kim
Westcity Imogen Howe
When he got home he couldn't to any of the usual things he would do. He was jittery. When trying to look at a screen he felt like puking. The only thing he could do was close his eyes and sit there. Eventually he laid down. He didn't fall asleep...

Nothing Too Special as reply to don't you forget it

Drew
Imogen Howe
Alan was now at his limit, but Aaron ordered more coffee, and the girls shook their heads yes.

Imogen Howe made some comment about how she drinks so much coffee at the cafe that it doesn't effect her. Jack didn't buy that, saying there is no way caffeine doesn't affect...

Say a Word as reply to in the morning

Drew
Imogen Howe
"Look who I found."

"Sup baby face, oh you a bit tired still. Haven't had your milk."

Aaron walked in putting a cup on the table. 

"Come on get ready we gotta meet them."

Alan checked his phone.

"Not for like another hour dude whats your deal?"

Aaron plopped down and started the TV. 

"Get...

Westcity
in the morning as reply to Interesting

Abraham Kim
Westcity Imogen Howe diner
When Alan awoke he could tell by the sound and air that he was alone. His mom was probably at her dance class. But Jack? He had no clue. Alan didn't think Jack would leave without saying goodbye. thus Alan could only assume that Jack went outside for a walk...

The Music as reply to surprise

Drew
Imogen Howe PBR
"I like him"  Imogen Howe yelled in Alan's ear. The music loud enough that you couldn't have normal conversations. 

"He's nice, brings out a different side of you"

Alan wanted to say something like "Yeah, but you should seem him when he's drunk." 

But he didn't just smiled and danced. Nodding...

Westcity
2 tallboy smooth zone as reply to Jack Smiled

Abraham Kim
PBR Imogen Howe tallboy
Two tallboys of PBR . That was all he needed. The rest of his buzz would come from the party. Probably mixed drinks or something. Alan hadn't told him about the party but he had found out about it. Was looking through some old friends' social media while at the...

Jack Smiled as reply to nobody

Drew
tallboy PBR Imogen Howe
Alan was washed with anxiety. His face reddened and he felt like his heart beat was in his throat. 
He had two options, one was tell Aaron where he was, in some ways it was likely the only place to go. Or just not say a word, and pretend his...

You Want a drink? as reply to jack and alan head to the 'dance'

Drew
Imogen Howe
In the parking lot they pulled up,  Imogen Howe had already changed the sign "Party today, open late.".

"Wow man it hasn't started yet?" Jack said.

"No, not yet, but Imogen needs help, its what I've been doing you know." 

"But I uh, my image man, you don't go to parties early."

"Man...

Plate of Lasagna as reply to jack is back

Drew
Imogen Howe
"I was thinking of making lasagna, you know your favorite. I know you have that dance thing tonight, so I'll make it earlier."

The words felt like a just a noise. 

All Alan could he was "Jack is here.".

He pulled the car into the lot of a tire shop. The guys...

Come Back as reply to jack flees

Drew
Imogen Howe
Alan was listening to a podcast about relationships.

"In some ways if you stay in a bad relationship just for their like hapiness, your kind of killing yourself."

"Yeah, totally agree." The other podcaster responded.

Alan nodded he never thought of it that way. Not that he really had a relationship before, he...

Westcity
someone else as reply to Not a bad idea

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe
"So what's up with you, fucker?"

Alan smiled. This was his chance.

"I've been home for winter break. And you remember  Imogen Howe --"

"Man. Fucking. Always some fucking thing isn't it?! Sorry man. I gotta go. Someone's knocking at my door. Call me later and tell me what's been going on okay?...

At some point as reply to yo

Drew
Imogen Howe
Before the call Alan thought about what he was going to say. Okay yeah just listen, then like bring it up "you remember  Imogen Howe ? I think I am in love with her."

"Like nothing has happened but we hugged a few times, and it felt different like. You know...

Westcity
yo as reply to Drove home

Abraham Kim
Imogen Howe
He usually didn't have much to say in particular on any given day. The two texted each other more out of habit. Sort of like the digital version of cavemen grunting at each other with no communicative intent other than saying 'i am here. I see you over there.'

But on...

Friday Party! as reply to white morning

Drew
Imogen Howe Westcity
He was happier than he should be just driving to get cat food, then going to a coffee shop. He was imagining what he'd say to Imogen Howe . Maybe he would pretend he didn't know her when he walked in, or maybe he'd just say the usual. He wanted...

Back to Sleep as reply to alan is confused

Drew
Imogen Howe
His dreams surrounded him. Like he was plunged into water. There was a sandy hill, and he was running there was some kind of dinosaur. Then all of a sudden there was nothing, like he'd fallen through the sand. Black surrounded him and then he was up a hot air...

Westcity
nice to be here as reply to This Month

Abraham Kim
Westcity GPA Imogen Howe
That other girl went to  Westcity Community College the first year out of high school. The plan was to apply again during that first year and transfer to a university. The plan then quickly changed to transferring after two years. She could save more money that way.

Her  GPA was over...

This Month as reply to in the future, he'd remember

Drew
MSU Imogen Howe
She woke up that day from a nightmare. One that once she really got up she was fine, but during she remembered how bad she felt.

During that time of school everyone had a place to be, people would come in wearing shirts of the colleges they got into. While...

Seen as reply to in the future, he'd remember

Drew
Instagram Twitter Imogen Howe Westcity
He read something last night. Maybe it was on  Instagram or  Twitter , where you don’t remember like the top writer or the top football player, but you remember a good teacher or a good coach. These people you read about don’t really matter it’s the people who are close...

Westcity
in the future, he'd remember as reply to Choose Here

Abraham Kim
coffee Westcity winter break Imogen Howe
He awoke later and later each morning. Soon he realized that he was waking up at 11. He needed to get out of here. HIs parents house. It stirred a laziness in him. Maybe moving back with his mom would be impossible. He began to understand why some of his...

Choose Here as reply to what would it be like?

Drew
Westcity Imogen Howe
In the car he took a drink of his coffee. Damn, he thought, that was good. Way better than  Westcity and cheaper, he checked his bank app 3.10 for that a scone, Jesus.

He drove back through familiar streets, he decided to take the long way. That was nice, he liked...

Westcity
what would it be like? as reply to She asked

Abraham Kim
Westcity Imogen Howe home
Aaron was doing well on paper. New York City. Chef. Self Made.

But because he texted him everyday he knew that his personal life was different.

"He's doing fine." he said. He could've said that he was doing good. But he didn't. Why?

"That's good." Imogen smiled. Did she hear him wrong? Good?...

PO Box 915
after closing as reply to the heist

Abraham Kim
cafe Imogen Howe barista gas station Georgie Wilcox Cheez-it
That night, she stayed at the  cafe later than she should've. Had she left with the final employee two hours ago then she would probably already be showered and ready for bed. Comfy at home.

Instead she was now leaving into an empty parking lot to the sounds of the summer...

X Series [0]
V, VI

Imogen Howe college cafe Westcity GPA tea depression support group white tea graphic designer
V. The first time around Imogen Howe didn't treat  college seriously. She blamed her  depression . This time it'd be different she said.

But she was still depressed. So she looked back again hoping for other reasons for her failure. With each recall she could't find anything unrelated to herself and...

X Series [0]
IV

barista coffee Facebook college beer Imogen Howe Westcity service industry blue chip
She thought she might be able to be a  barista forever. So long as she owned the cafes one day. Making 12 bucks an hour plus tips was just not going to cut it for the rest of her life.

The people and their tips were nice. They meant well, but...

X Series [0]
III

cafe Imogen Howe Jeannie Hammond California beet stains coffee stains roadtrip sarcasm Indiana
After the two guests leave the cafe she feels light. Rather than smiling faces and hungry attentions she is greeted by empty cups with beet stains and coffee stains at the bottom.

Imogen Howe doesn't enjoy having random people from her old life crawling into her current one. Which...

X Series [0]
II

cafe Imogen Howe Jake Raynor coffee barista smartphones gps beet juice
In front of the cafe they were greeted by Imogen Howe who was standing outside as if waiting for them old school style like people used to for someone at the train station before smartphones and gps .

Jake Raynor didn't know how to approach the greeting. He didn't actually...

Jeannie Hammond
Two Cigarettes

cigarette American Spirits Imogen Howe Jeannie Hammond
One thing she hated about the suburbs was that you could never run into someone while standing outside.

Though you didn't get any privacy either. It was the worst of both worlds.

This night she pretended she was downtown smoking her  cigarette and someone might pass her and ask to bum one...

Flash Fiction Practice
Untitled Shared at Dec 02, 2021

cafe Subaru COVID Jeannie Hammond Imogen Howe
She showed up to town a day early.
This surprised me. I was used to her being fashionably late wherever she went.

Final Friday, some no name party at a no name  cafe out in the middle of nowhere. Why did she come out such a way for this?

She drove her  Subaru...

Flash Fiction Practice
On the road

Airbnb Westcity cigarette Imogen Howe staycation Chicago Camel
She liked the idea of a stranger in an Airbnb in town. It felt more exciting than a local just doing a staycation , which was a word she'd never heard before. At first she thought she might want to do a staycation, but then she couldn't ignore just how...

Flash Fiction Practice
Staycationer

Busch Light Airbnb Imogen Howe Jeannie Hammond
It was Tuesday when it began looking like it would rain forever. Maybe Jeannie wouldn't want to go to the beach this weekend after all. 

Imogen hoped for this. "I want to see you in a bikini" Jeannie said, joking, with a  Busch Light in hand. "You always wear one...

Flash Fiction Practice
Cafe Instagram

college Instagram cafe New Yorker Imogen Howe
When you're 23, the most exciting thing on your mind should be the new features you are unveiling to users this Friday. The most exciting thing should be that trip to Boulder next month. The most exciting thing should be how one day the startup you've just joined will make...

Flash Fiction Practice
A mysterious visit

Facebook Jeannie Hammond Imogen Howe
Her invitation came out of the blue. A message over Facebook sparked a conversation. We talked nonstop until we agreed that she would visit me during winter break.

It was strange because we hadn't kept in touch until that message over Facebook. But once we began chatting it felt like...

Jeannie Hammond
Anybody interesting has their String Story

coffee Jeannie Hammond Imogen Howe diner enamel Sam Harris teeth
Lately I've been hearing a lot this quote from Sam Harris: you might have done something for the last time today. We go through our lives thinking we have endless horizons. That we will have yet another shot at everything. But this isn't true. Sometimes you tell a friend goodbye,...

Echo and Narcissus Writing Club
An errand -- Week 6 assignment

Ivan Babikov Jeannie Hammond beet carrot smoothie Kransz Mart Imogen Howe Georgie Wilcox
It was from Imogen that he learned Jeannie Hammond would need his help that afternoon. The tone within the texts although far from scathing couldn't be considered warm. The neutral, room-temperature tone made him expect the worst. What had Jeannie done this time?

After the ritual of scrolling up and down...