Henry never got letters, and really, this wasn't a surprise because no one got letters anymore. Henry sometimes felt USPS was funded solely by utility companies and political funds, neither of which he wanted. But he was old enough to remember when sending a message across the country was cheapest when one paid a few pennies for a stamp and wrote a letter. Because of this, when he saw an envelope lying by his front door, slipped through when the mail carrier, he was filled wi

'Tis the morning of Christmas, and the family is awake, looking at the stockings which were empty again. The youngest boy accepted this fact as it was, Santa may come next year, if he ever does, with an iPad or MacBook for his brother or him. The oldest boy remembered a Christmas that was much different, where toys were abundant every year. Years ago, Santa Claus ran the show in the North Pole, leading the elves through preparing toys. On occasion, the elves would make things

Navon was on the bed, taking off his shoes and socks. He placed the shoes neatly at the foot of the bed and stuffed the socks in a small laundry bag with dryer sheets, a ritual Michèle has insisted on for trips like these so the whole room wouldn't smell like feet. Navon was preparing to take a shower, slipping the Union Flag shirt over his head and tossing it on the ground beside his sock bag. At this, Michèle, who too had undressed from her blouse and slacks, came up behind

The salt of the sea tickled Kat's nose as she raised her head from the sea. The sky above the beach was darkening, and the moon was making an appearance, already giving its gentle tug on the water, creating tides that filled Kat with a thrill. She felt the tides added a little danger to swimming. Already having been at the beach for two hours, her head was bobbing from being rocked around. The beach was already at reduced numbers when she arrived after dinner, and now the las

I'm looking up into the loving, scared eyes of Helen as she fusses with a ribbon around my neck. Sweet, naive Helen. I'm hamming up my performance with a cutesy little smile, swaying my hips back and forth in this Sunday dress, asking why I have to wear this thing around my throat. But I know why. Because she thinks this is reality and that I am her daughter. I've seen humans do it a million times, based on some old reminder system. But it never works, because if one of us is

Waiting to get judged for your life on Earth is boring, which makes sense when you consider I’ve been here for six centuries and some change, sitting in this limbo, unable to do anything but prepare a “highlight reel” of why I’m worthy of a reincarnated. Some do not have to go through this. Those considered “worthy without a doubt” are given immediate reincarnation. Despite the circumstances, I still believe I was a decent person. How many good deeds do I need to compile to m