James Swansbrough

James Swansbrough received his BA from Davidson College and MFA in Creative Writing from The University of the South. His work has appeared in Cathexis Northwest Press and Cagibi, and is forthcoming in the inaugural issue of Please See Me. He resides in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, with his wife and two daughters. They raise champion breed unicorns.

The Nocturnal Florist

The bicycle is his harbinger. Sammy flies the American flag from a three-foot stick duct-taped to his rear basket. We see that flag and know he’s coming. Both the rear and front baskets are interlaced with red, silver, and blue tinsel. By day the baskets may hold lawn-care tools or groceries. At night, they’re filled with flowers. Sammy is unimposing: few inches shy of six feet, not an ounce of spare flesh on him. He has the sinewy muscle common to laborers, endurance athletes, or users. Leathery dark skin taut over his sharp cheekbones and jaw, teeth set in a slight underbite. Weatherworn fingers, and bony, like they could lick fire from a harmonica.