The office was empty when Jack came back from the archives. He could not hear any sounds or see anyone around. Jack frowned, then went into his private office and dropped the pile of files he had pulled on his desk. The clock on Jack’s desk phone showed eight-thirty. He found it odd that no one seemed to be in yet. Then again, most of his co-workers arrived between eight-thirty and nine so maybe that would change soon. Ja...

Wandering around at the annual church fete, I spotted a bubbly Girl Scout standing beside a table covered in plates of delicious looking cookies. “Please buy some cookies from me!” she begged. “It’s for the charity appeal.” “How much are they?” I asked. “They’re £5 a dozen, except these two kinds over there. They’re £6 a dozen.” Figuring there must be something special about the plates of £6 cookies, I asked why that was....

A bright, warm May afternoon, and 79-year-old Jack Turnby stood on his drive viewing his 2002 Toyota, contemplating whether he might outlive this scarred vehicle. Purchasing a newer model had much appeal. His imminent rebellion against the so-called ‘care’ of his two darling, married daughters stemmed from many things, but each had expressed their doubts about this potential purchase.. “I know you can afford it, Dad,” Mel...

#1. It was the year I was doing a show in Omaha, Nebraska that I met Sandy, a self-proclaimed white witch. I had been fascinated by the dark arts for some time and began to read and dabble in them attempting to expand on my sometimes ESP experiences. I was standing by my stage in between shows when I saw this mildly attractive woman walking by with two children in tow. I looked at her, and the name Sandy just jumped into...

Years ago, I worked the summer exhibitions around the country. In Liverpool, I met an encyclopaedia salesman. He was in his forties, and I was eighteen, but we hit it off immediately. He made it obvious what he wanted. On the last night after dining out we partied and made love for hours in my hotel room. When I woke up, he was gone, but he left me something that would remind me of him for the rest of my life. A complete...

My midwife first came to me and I asked for her, not to touch me. For I had recently been examined on admission and I was progressing as would be expected, for someone whose rhythms had been disrupted by the discomfort of driving to the hospital, and the cold, sterile environment of the assessment unit. Ten years today, and I still vividly remember how quickly I escaped the wheelchair and wandered to the confines of the b...

If we don’t listen to our hearts, How can we find where we belong If we don’t love one another then the world can seem so wrong Forget the attacks and deadly wars Forget the hate and the insanity We are all somehow connected Together as a whole, called humanity We are the woman with cancer who still always wears a smile We are the teen dad with a job To work, he walks a mile We are the one who lost a lover feeling angry,...

4th of October – Season 3 "So tonight you take on the Formula-X Queen, huh?" Thawn took note of Jeremiah's tone. "No, tonight I take out the Formula-X Queen," responded Thawn, specifying. It was the final part of what he called his revenge tour for retribution for his loss at the Second Formula-X Grand Prix in Gauntlet IV. While Thawn had planned this since the first episode of the season, he hadn't expected part of his p...

Entering the jewellers he pointed at a bracelet. "I'll take that one please." The assistant boxed the bracelet and gift wrapped it. "That's an expensive gift, special occasion?" "It's a birthday gift. Only the best for my special lady." The assistant smiled and handed him the gift. Thanking the assistant he headed off homewards. Ringing the doorbell, he waited while she slowly opened the door. Giving her the gift, he gent...

I have a strange tale for you, a very strange tale indeed. I almost don’t know where to start. I suppose the beginning may be a good idea. Firstly, I’m a writer. I write crime novels, perhaps you’ve read some of them. My name is Rambles, Verity Rambles. Oh dear, I’ve only just started and already I’m sounding like James Bond. Sadly I’m not; I’m just a writer. I’m a big fan of the nineteen-twenties. Most, if not all of my...

27th of September – Season 3 Penny Potgieter had never really liked weddings. They were a mess to organize because the people getting married always thought they knew better than her. In the end, it was always an elaborate celebration for people who didn't deserve it that didn't mean anything afterward. It kind of reminded Penny of another celebration that was happening tonight... Queen Stevie's Coronation. It was traditi...

26th of September – Season 3 Devì stared at the Arbour Games poster that had her and Stevie on it and couldn’t help but be disappointed. Does this make me look fat? Looks were very important to Devì and she was unapologetic about it. Devì wondered why they’d chosen to put her on the poster wearing her racing suit considering she was something of a bombshell. It couldn’t be in an effort to pander to the more conservative “...

Late one night, the police phoned to inform us that one of my grandfather’s buildings was on fire. We rushed up to Brook Farm, but could only stand and watch as his old wooden barn burned to the ground. The firemen let us stand nearby as they pumped water from the nearby stream. As we watched the barn crackle and burn, my parents went into the farmhouse to check on grandfather. The real sadness came as my ninety-three-yea...

Many smiles I wish For you today With your smiles I pray To cross your mind A time or two All the memories We have shared Each has a spot in our hearts When my time comes When I am no more The memories we have Of our love We share Love and live in your heart Forever more

He walked into the bedroom, ready for bed. His wife of sixty-five years was already in bed with the covers pulled up to her chin. Her hair was in curlers, her teeth in a glass on the bedside table. As he took his teeth out and put them in a glass on his side, she pulled the covers down revealing she was wearing the red silk nightie she reserved for special nights. “Trick or treat?” She smiled. He sighed. “Doesn’t matter....