The next topic is Cat’s pajamas
IAN
The Ruby-Colored Stone
Dozing off he recalled happier, innocent days.
The little pebbles in the shallows of the stream had appeared so beautiful, like jewels, shiny and colorful. He would pick ones he liked and take them home.
Once, a lovely ruby-colored one caught his eye. None other compared. He would take it and cherish it forever, this one only.
But like all the others when out of the water, it lost its luster and was just a stone.
Coming out of his slumber, he looked across the room. There she sat, the one he had loved and married, their passionless eyes meeting.
LISA
Remembering
It was odd to think of now and then – those basement days seemed a lifetime ago. I asked my neighbour quietly over dinner if she ever still thought about them.
The conversation spread down the table. Between us we remembered the newspapers that we’d seen. The boys that had gone missing too. The girl’s bodies that had been found. It felt wrong to be talking about these things. He never brought them up and it was obviously something that he didn’t want us to be thinking about.
It wasn’t long before he was behind me, a hand on my shoulder.
LIZZIE
It happened now and then. The music started. The dancing ensued. The portable record player sang in tune. She sat there, at the party, looking at strangers, acquaintances and lovers. What were the odds… All four of them, chatting, oblivious to the invisible link that connected them, enjoying their beers and cracking jokes. A fun night out. Each one of them added something to her empty life. So, she collected them. And she hid. “Had too much to drink, be right back.” The trail of tears sounded pretty much like the record player, playing those tunes, one tear after another.
RICHARD
– Punching out –
So, I got fired!
I won’t argue the point, I deserved it, but you know what? I really don’t care at all.
Gross professional misconduct they called it, I call it ‘he had it coming!’
I’m sure you’d agree with me if you’d ever met my ex-boss. I don’t think I’ve ever met such a demanding person in my life.
Nothing was ever done quickly enough for him. Everything was ‘immediately’, ‘right now’, or ‘forthwith’.
Then, one fateful day, he dropped a pile of files on my desk and demanded I deal with them… NOW!
And then, I punched him!
TOM
How green was my valley
Sally didn’t like coming back to see her mother. What was once fields of blossoms, now was a wall of towers blotting out the sun. She knew even back then it was only a matter of time the southern push of San Fransisco would spill over into her neighboring counties. What was truly the death knell of her tiny patch of paradise was the city built by billionaires. It started out well meaning, but once the water and power was diverted from the rest of California. The all of the state became a backwater. It made Tokyo look downright spacious.
864
Smokestack Lightning
The coolest thing my high school did was drop major coin on our legendary spring concert. Somehow, we got Howling Wolf to play for the whitest audience in greater Chicagoland. Our school radio station ran 16 mic-s in the gym and we mixed two Sony 16 track decks. For the longest time I didn’t know who ended up will the reel to reels. It seems someone had filed them in a box marked: Wolf. We remastered the tapes in the fall of 2019. Also found my original art work for the concert. Resurrection II. Silhouette of wolf howling at the moon.
SERENDIPIDY
Every now and then the villagers come round with their pitchforks and blazing torches, determined to run me out of town.
They say that I’m responsible for their children going missing and the crops failing, accusing me of being a witch, even a demon.
It’s always a waste of time though, because I’m never in when they come calling, and eventually, after hanging around for a few hours, they pack up and return home.
I actually quite like it when they turn up.
It gives me an opportunity to nip out, steal their children and salt the fields, in peace.
NORVAL JOE
That night, Billbert sat in the living room, looking at the clock every now and then, wondering where he mother was.
Finally he heard her. “Billbert. Guess who’s here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Billbert got to his feet as his mother and Sabrina came into the room.
“What’s she doing here?” Billbert asked.
“Billbert!” His mother frowned at him, darkly. “The discharge planner said Sabrina had healed enough to leave. I convinced the social worker that she could stay with us, until a permanent placement can be made.”
Billbert shrugged. “I guess she can sleep in the guest room.”
TURA
Now and Then
———
It takes forever to pack for the renaissance fair. The tent (authentic canvas of course, none of these modern featherweight things). Piles of clothes, that represent hundreds of hours of weaving and sewing. Everything we’ll be selling, crafting supplies for making more and giving demonstrations, all organized in wooden chests.
We drive the whole day, sleep in the van overnight, and finally arrive the next day. Find our village, pitch the tent and our market stalls, clear all plastic away, pass inspection by the grockles.
At last we can relax, and tell each other, that was now, this is then.
PLANET Z
It’s okay to treat yourself now and then.
But when you eat too much and exercise too little, now and then becomes better not.
Last night, I had a salad for dinner, and it was really good.
The others then said they were going out to pick up Taco Bell.
Did I want them to pick up anything for me?
I thanked them, but declined.
Are you sure?
I’m sure.
Some of that is willpower, but the truth is, I don’t need bad gas and indigestion on top of being fat and sick.
I shrug and go for a walk.
CHATGPT
In a quiet village, Emily stumbled upon an old, dusty box in her grandmother’s attic. Inside were letters from her grandmother, Lucy, to her younger self. Each letter contained dreams, hopes, and fears from the past, with Lucy’s present reflections scribbled in the margins. Emily read with wonder, feeling connected across time. One letter ended with a poignant question: “Did I become who I dreamed I’d be?” Inspired, Emily penned her own letter to the future, realizing that “now” is just as vital as “then.” As she closed the box, Emily felt the weight of time and possibility intertwine.