Tag: holidays
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Into the Fire
A hooded figure hurried back through the forest, as the daylight was already fading. The weather and trail had been too inviting on a morning free of obligations, and Zenia had lost hours in the deep meadows. The butterflies were dancing at this time of year, a paradoxical good omen that heralded the darkest night…
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Love v1.99b73
JHN-483912 finished his current task. He acknowledged the ten minute break that arrived next on his schedule with a certain thrill. As he neared the room where other workers would gather for break time and friendly discussion, he noticed that his coolant system was experiencing decreased efficiency. As this was the third break in a…
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May the 4th
John keyed in the final coordinates for their current destination and let the autopilot take over. He could use the break, since his copilot had excused himself and disappeared over an hour ago. The kid liked to skip out on the technical, boring stuff, but at least he was useful in difficult landing conditions and…
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The Rabbit
“Okay, we are rolling.” I squinted to my right as her crew member and his clipboard backed into the shadows. Greg, I want to say? The halo of bright lights were intense, but I could just make out the camera lenses. The woman sitting across from me shuffled through the index cards in her hands…
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Paddy’s Day
If Duncan could open his eyes right now, his bedside clock would have not been much help. It was blinking 1:14. Their building was ancient, and the power must have blinked out again, after he and his roommate got home after last call and passed out. It had been excessively windy for over a week…
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President’s Day
Rodolfo tapped the brakes again and brought the SUV to the softest halt that he could. He was now at the end of a short vehicle line, cars his size and the occasional camper waiting for the parking lot just downhill. He shaded his eyes with his left hand and stared through the windshield at…
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Another Year Gone
The cult leader wore purple velvet, distinguishing his status from the other 11 men and women in red. His place in front of the 12 pointed star was primary, inlaid in silver versus their simple maple ornamentation on the large dark table that dominated the center of the room, though they gathered as equals tonight.…
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Day of the Turkeys
“Hey, Evan, have you seen Charlie? I can’t find him anywhere. Did he have sentry duty downstairs again today?” Evan shifted in his chair next to the East stairwell. He nodded to the calendar hung on a corkboard next to the stairs. The 23rd had been crossed out in marbled gray by a dying black…
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Giddy up, Jingle Horse
Final Report of the Joint Commission of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee for Supernatural Affairs, Investigating the Events of December 25, 2021. RELEASED APRIL 1, 2022 SUMMARY All original goals of this collaborative diplomacy action are reported as successful, albeit with a final warning. The Commission has unanimously voted…
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A Halloween Story
The foul beasts gathered before me in an alleyway, eager to share their night’s scores with each other, as we agreed. It was nearly midnight. This annual tradition, young children in costume roaming the foggy early evening in small groups, was usually easy work. If you knew the right neighborhoods, sometimes there would be only…