Derrick, Kally, and Taylor waited for the interviewer in lab two with Dr. Fraiser. The second, much smaller lab was freezing, and no amount of squirming in their seats helped fight it off. Derrick peeked at Kally and waited for her to nod before they both snuggled up to either side of Taylor. He grunted ...

Ingrid bounced little Erik in her arms while she waited for Helgi’s answer. His haggard face scooped firelight into the hollows of his cheeks and the curly wisps of his beard. She thought back fondly to a time when he hadn’t been able to grow even a short goatee. When she stumbled across that sixteen-year-old ...

Rionan was nervous. She knew it would come to this. She tugged at the cords that bound her hands and hissed when they held tight. Abandoning the endeavor momentarily, she sighed and leaned against the church basement wall. Gunnar hadn’t been subtle in the last few months as he prowled around town, inserting himself into ...

Dr. Fraiser pushed them hard. Derrick had never pulled so many all-nighters in his life. He fell asleep for a few hours at a time on the student lounge couch and woke up to work again. It wasn’t just the artifacts that had them struggling; they had to write an analysis and review all the ...

Sigrid was pale against the pillows. Ingrid patted the sweat from her face while the midwife carted away bloody rags and sheets. This one was the daughter of the last midwife they’d consulted. She’d arrived, saying her mother was ill and couldn’t make it, took one look at Sigrid, and explained she was much further ...

Rionan bowed her head for the end of Mass prayer. She tried to conceal her sneer when Gunnar did the same in the front pew. This was the third Mass she had to endure seeing him at. Each time, his demeanor was quiet, and he dressed in solemn colors. Once the bruises had faded, he’d ...

A HAWAIIAN MANICURE A week-long cruise around the Islands in Hawaii was decided by the Turkey group, a Bell Labs softball team. It is a non-stop fun time. On-board cultural classes are offered. I have opted for hula-dancing lessons, while others enrolled in ukulele classes, or the art of stringing leis. On the first day, ...

Derrick clutched the game piece and context information in one hand as they waved goodbye to Ira and Callum and headed toward the bus stop.  “Dr. Fraser will not believe this,” Kally whistled. “A mystery that predates the first millennium being solved by yours truly.”  The bench sat in a puddle of white light, and ...

It’s been a chaotic few weeks. I had to find a new psychiatrist in two days due to insurance issues after feeling like I was making progress. I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned, but change is hard. Especially when you made progress, and you realize the techniques that helped no longer work. There are new ...

For three years, they grew their farm and their family. Helgi and Sigrid married in the first spring after the lambing time. By the next spring, the house, long completed, hosted Ingrid, Helgi, Sigrid, Rionan, and the one-year-old. Helgi and Sigrid manned the farm and the animals, while Rionan and Ingrid made the town their ...