Michael Marano, 129 TESS A Year Without Drinking/ The Little Bird and the Light: Two Stories, One Ending Little Bird The little bird is scared. The Light has left the cage. The […]
A Year Without Drinking
Strings of Fear
Michael Marano, 129 TESS 45 Seconds of Terror I feel another spoonful of curry-soaked rice drop onto my thigh. My legs are crossed at the 1-foot kitchen table we eat at every night and Apple is perched on […]
A Big Gay Peace Corps Spiritual Journey
Michael Marano, 129 TESS A Big Gay Spiritual Journey A story of strength, peace, belonging, healing, pride, freedom, forgiveness, and acceptance. I love you, but… I sat in the church I had […]
See You Again on the Next Time
Michael Marano, 129 TESS I asked a question that’s only ever been answered in my favor by liars, “Is this going to hurt?” “Yes,” the Peace Corps nurse replied, holding a long, […]
One More Time
Michael Marano, 129 TESS It’s early November and we’re playing Face Off, a game that by now my students can run on their own, but with only 4 months left in my […]
Falling in Love in the Peace Corps
Michael Marano, 129 TESS I arrived at Peace Corps Staging in San Francisco surrounded by a fortress of buttons and wool. Before I entered what was sure to be an onslaught of […]
River Rise
Michael Marano, 129 TESS River rise, carry me back home. I cannot remember the way. River rise, carry me back home. I surrender today. – India.Arie After years of drifting, too afraid […]
The Mystery of the Tooth in the Sock
Michael Marano, 129 TCCS I touched my finger to my nose to remember whether or not I had already washed my face. It slid faster and was greasier than the oiled up […]
Just Love
Michael Marano, 129 TCCS “There’s nothing left… Just love. That’s all there is. Love.” * When I heard that it was my dad who said those words I was alarmed. Not only […]
Not Taking It On
Michael Marano, 129 TCCS There are a lot of things you don’t have to take on. – June Diane Before I joined the Peace Corps I assumed that I would be cut […]
An Island Curse
Michael Marano, 129 TCCS In moments of intense excitement, I tend to feel invincible. Thus was the case as I stood in front of my mirror with a beard trimmer and a […]
Peace Corps Thailand Magazine 