In the Attic by Murray Dunlap, read by Meg Pokrass All content in SmokeLong Quarterly copyright 2003-2012 by its authors. Murray Dunlap's work has appeared in Virginia Quarterly Review, Post Road, Night Train, Silent Voices, The Bark, and many others. His stories have been twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize, as well as to Best New American Voices, and his first book, "Bastard Blue," was a finalist for the Maurice Prize in Fiction. The brilliant Pam Houston taught him the craft of writing. He would like to thank his trainers Garrett and Joe at Personal Edge Fitness, and the writers Richard Bausch, Michael Knight, and George Singleton for helping him get his body and brain back together, somehow without making him feel stupid. Meg Pokrass lives in San Francisco. Her stories and poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in the following: Pindeldyboz, Smokelong Quarterly’s Fifth Anniversary Issue,Wigleaf, Elimae, Frigg,Wordriot, DOGZPLOT, 971 Menu,The Rose and Thorn,Thieves Jargon, Eclectica, Insolent Rudder, Chanterelle’s Notebook, Toasted Cheese, 34th Parallel, Bent Pin Quarterly, The Orange Room, Dark Sky Magazine, Canopic Jar, Tuesday Shorts, Flutter, Ghoti, Blossombones, and Literary Mama. She has performed with theatre companies throughout the United States and considers writing a natural extension of sensory work developed as an actor. Her blog, and links with updates to new work, is http://www.megpokrass.com. Interested in subscribing to SmokeLong's weekly newsletter? Click here. An email should be created. Send it as is, and you'll be subscribed. If the link does not work for you, send an email to imailsrv@smokelong.com with Subscribe slq-info in the body of the email (no subject is necessary). You'll receive updates detailing the release of new issues, new reading periods, contests, etc. We do not make our mail list available to anyone else.