Many of the solo photographs of my father show him at his desk, working. In each photo a long line of smoke, thick as a brushstroke, leads to the cigarette between his fingertips. The cigarette is the same length, held the same way every time — a magician’s prop, permanently installed.

Bob Thurber is the author of six books. Regarded as a master of Flash and Micro Fiction, his work has appeared in Esquire and other magazines, been anthologized 60 times, received a long list of awards, and been utilized in schools and colleges throughout the world. He resides in Massachusetts. Visit his website at BobThurber.net.