The Circle of His Arms by Wayne Scheer Francine rests her head on her husband’s chest. In turn, he circles both his arms around her. The white stubble where dark chest hairs used to be sting her cheek and she rearranges her head to find a comfortable position. She once knew each hair on his body, each mole and birthmark. Now it feels so different. She sees the familiar, slightly raised birthmark just below his left nipple. Memories flash, like lightning in a summer sky; she observes her husband as a young man in the back seat of his father’s new 1965 Buick. She sits beside him, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, unbuttoning his shirt. Her blouse is open and she guides his hand away from her breast, not out of modesty, but embarrassment at him discovering that her bra is padded. Francine smiles, and in her mind she runs her hand over his chest for the first time, seeing his birthmark and kissing it gently. Now, almost forty years later, she touches her lips to the same spot. This time, she listens to his heart race and she tries not to see the pink surgical scar running down the middle of his chest. “Welcome home,” she whispers. “I love you.” She feels her husband pull her even closer into the circle of his arms. His chest expands as he inhales enough breath to say he loves her, too. All content in SmokeLong Quarterly copyright 2003-2008 by its authors.
	After teaching writing and literature in college for twenty-five years, Wayne Scheer retired to follow his own advice and write. His most recent work has appeared in Laughter Loaf, Flashquake, Whistling Shade, Whim's Place and The Phone Book. In 2002, he was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Wayne lives in Atlanta with his wife, and can be contacted at wvscheer@aol.com. Read the interview.
	Issue Three (March 15, 2004): The Lunchbox by Rebecca Marshall-Courtois «» Does It Please You? by Ellen Meister «» The Last Summer by John Mantooth «» Black Mollies by Jayne Pupek «» Mille Fleur by Bunny Goodjohn «» Holy Water by Rhonda Belt «» Jewel by Gary Cadwallader «» Fog by Maryanne Stahl «» The Floating by Brandon Hobson «» Metallic by Ellen Parker «» The Beekman Hill Window Box Contest by Patti Weisgerber «» Raptus Brisk by Brian Gaolor «» Salinger Pays Caulfield a Visit by Terry DeHart «» The Circle of His Arms by Wayne Scheer «» Streetlights in Rome by Aaron McQuiston «» Tea and Biscuits by Louise Jackson «» Mere Oblivion by Jane Sales «» Thirty-Nine Years of Carrie Wallace by Jeff Landon «» The Old Man Who Made Whistles by Tom Sheehan «» For Rent by DJ McDougle «» Interviews: Rebecca Marshall-Courtois «» Ellen Meister «» John Mantooth «» Jayne Pupek «» Bunny Goodjohn «» Rhonda Belt «» Gary Cadwallader «» Maryanne Stahl «» Brandon Hobson «» Ellen Parker «» Patti Weisgerber «» Brian Gaolor «» Terry DeHart «» Wayne Scheer «» Aaron McQuiston «» Louise Jackson «» Jane Sales «» Jeff Landon «» Tom Sheehan «» DJ McDougle «» Cover Art "Lady Considers" by Robert Dornberg «» Letter From the Editor