William was the first one to arrive in class the following weekend, fifteen minutes ahead of time. I was putting down the class’s graded homework on their desks. He came straight towards me in the empty classroom, without his usual gang of shoveling boys.

The kids always waited until the absolute last minute before dragging themselves into my class, William usually being the last of them. Toda...

I remember my night-light watch read 12:03 for the last time. It was five minutes ago? Or maybe a few hours. The deep ocean water pressure has since cracked it, leaving 12:03 the last time known to me.

The headlamp on my suit is still working, with an unsteady flicker now and then. Blurry shapes swim in and out of sight, brown and grey and no other colors. Some even brush against me, or ram i...

Yada is born to a young single mother in her early twenties. She is born with big brown eyes and an easy smile.

I’m so lucky, her mother tells everyone, she is such an easy baby. Once fed and changed, Yada cries little, smiles often and seems very content.

In her early months Yada’s eyes are still developing in order to focus. She could see only within a foot or so at first. Because her mothe...

What I want more than anything in the world is auditioning for the Little Swans.

Every girl my age knows the Little Swans is the most prestigious ballet school in the state.

Their TV advertisements have all the girls wearing pink ballet dress and ballerina hair buns.

I want more than anything to have my hair in a ballet bun, wrapped with a net.

Mom says I’m too young to wear my hair in a bun. ...

THE FOLLOWING TRANSCRIPT IS THE STATEMENT MADE BY CECILIA IVERSON, HAIRDRESSER AND OWNER OF ROSENFELD BEAUTY SALON AT 186 MAIN STREET IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ROSENFELD:

“Last time I saw Margot was last Friday, at 4:30pm.

“I remember because I looked at the clock when I saw her walking through the door. Margo comes in at 2pm first Monday of every month. And She never comes in on Friday after...

Ok, I signed up for bungee jumping so that Timmy and the guys stop busting my balls. A little stupid, sure. But some tough-guy credit will guarantee to shut them up. I know it.

On the jeep ride over to the bridge I focused on my breathing. The jumping coach was going over instructions, which was entirely unnecessary, except to fill the nervous silence. It is very obvious that Bungee jumping i...

She is alone.

“Do you know how many calves are born each spring?” She has been asked by her mother. “Birthing is an every-female thing, women or animals all the same. Not some earth-shattering miracle. If you don’t want to suffer, don’t be born a woman.”

So with a farm to tend to, which is a daily dawn-to-dusk kind of job, her mother isn’t there with her.

Her husband is still working in th...

“You are royal stupid.”

Bob puffed out a cloud of smoke and squinted at the wind shield. In front of the car visibility was five feet, tops. Fog everywhere, white as milk and heavy as sand dunes.

“Driving by yourself at midnight, in the Rocky’s damned fog, no cellphone reception, and your shit night vision…” he counted with his fingers.

“They ought to induct you into some kind of Hall of Fam...

The year is 1934.

Seventeen is my age.

My Daddy is a textile tycoon.

My Mommy is the “handler” of me.

Oh how they hate to be called

Daddy!

Mommy!

— Speak properly, Leonora!

Just more the reason

I keep calling them,

Especially today.

Today I am presented at the court,

Court of King George V.

...

At the beginning of time,

my father was reading to me from a big book.

Book of animals,

fairies,

princesses.

Now and then it gets dark in the book.

Like when the little girl

walks into the dark woods

And floaty eyes begin to glowwww……

No no Daddy, skip skip!

Read the part about the party again,

Pleeeease….

I only want to hear about all species,

real or imaginary,

having a dance party,

...