Five Minutes explores five minutes of a life in one hundred words. Five minutes is edited by Susanna Baird, with editorial support from managing editor Maria s. picone, newsletter editor kate meen, and founding reader bobbi lerman, plus our rotating team of guest readers, who you can meet in the latest newsletteR. Five Minutes was founded in October 2020, with the Salem (Mass.)-based writing group Carrot Cake Writers supplying the journal’s first pieces. We’d love to read your five. Submit here

Camouflage

A fair, clear complexion, coupled with a large stature and professional voice, promotes me to the front—the only male bank teller. To my left is Maria, burdened with the accent of our home country. To my right is Consuela, skin darkened by our shared heritage. Alone we speak in snappy Spanish. With customers nearby, we switch to slow, polite, American English. An officer walks in, hesitates, and heads towards me. “Could you explain this fee, please?” He’s soft-spoken and courteous. I’m happy to solve his issue. “I’m glad you’re here,” he whispers. “These wetbacks don’t know what they’re doing.”

Mexican-born author Germain M. C. grew up in the Southern United States and was unfortunately born to write.

Rebel

Poolside