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

Puppy Love

A large white pup meandered north on the French side of the canal. A small black pup sauntered south on the German side. As they passed one another, their yearning was so intense that their bodies strained toward one another across the water. Their humans were firm in their commands, and the dogs’ hindquarters barely remained seated in obedience. Such was their suffering that miserable howls and whimpers came from both throats. The humans looked across at one another and softened. The dogs, immediately aware of the shift, joyfully ran toward the bridge for an ecstasy of sniffing and wagging.

Christi Byerly is passionate about making the world a braver and more loving place. CEO of Awaken Coach Institute, she trains life coaches to listen at depth. Her students join from around the world.

Birthday Call

Mother