Inner Thoughts

Time was running out and Clara was panicking.  Her blood was pounding a tick-tock in her ears, counting off the seconds.  The more she heard, the faster they came, building until her hands shook and she had tunnel vision.

Clara could hear her own inner voice floating outside the panic, looking on and commenting on her sad state.  "Maybe sit down and relax for a minute?  Why do you do this to yourself?  Look at yourself.  This certainly isn't helping."

"Nothing is helping!" Clara sobbed, her whole face running.

"A tissue, Clara.  For god's sake, get yourself a tissue before your snot adds to the scene you're making."  Clara stumbled to the bathroom, hand cupped under her chin.  "Look at yourself.  Wow.  Your head is going to be stuffed all night."

"I don't care, I don't careIdon'tcareIdon'tcare..."

"Clearly."

Off the Grid

In all her years--growing up in an upper middle class house in a quiet suburb, graduating high school with honors, going to college, getting a Master's degree, working various well-paying jobs--Natalie never thought she'd find herself dumpster diving for food.

It wasn't a lark, as some college-aged kids tried to live "off the grid".  Natalie was actually leaning over the metal rim of an actual freaking dumpster actually touching actual garbage.  She tried to work fast because being caught would be too embarrassing, and she managed a partial loaf of bread, wrapped safely in the original plastic bag, three apples, and a take-out container with half a sandwich and a handful of fries.  Nat started to cry as she slipped the treasurers into the pressed-fabric reusable grocery bag for what she told herself were her "shopping trips".

Perpetual Motion

Jack was seven when he became friends with Willem, who hadn't seen seven in sixty years.  Jack and his mother had just moved into the apartment above Willem one week and one day before the strange noises coming through the floor in his bedroom caused him to investigate.