“If your brother screws up once more…” Cal Arnold’s tirade skittered to a stop at the expression on his wife’s face.
“Yeah? What you gonna do about it?” Marcy’s sneer, as usual, lately, went to Cal’s heart.
The kitchen radio, tuned to Chicago’s super station, WGN, ground out a continuing gloomy winter forecast: flurries, cold, windy.
I was awful glad I found Sherrie to talk to, but it was hard to see her, what with us livin' way out the back a beyond like we did. Howard only took me to town oncet a month. You could count on 'im gettin mighty drunk ever time, though. I could sneak inta the women’s shelter to see Sherrie whilst he was in the bar. She gave me ta see I could leave the snake – no more bruises, cut lips, smashed ribs. I could just stay at the shelter. I decided I would cut and run next trip.
Graduate student Cressa Carraway barely finished conducting her first full symphony orchestra at DePaul University before receiving an amazing offer. Madison Streete has come from Minnesota to ask Cressa to audition for the position as conductor for a chamber group with plans to expand into a full symphony orchestra. Even though it means leaving Chicago and her boyfriend Daryl, it’s an opportunity that allows an escape from the part-time teaching she loathes and an economy with few artistic opportunities.
Mystery writers are always looking for exotic ways to commit their literary murders. Shooting, stabbing, bludgeoning--they’ve all been done to death, so to speak. But poisons are exotic, right? The rare dart gun stuff from the Amazon curare. Or maybe a potion with a secret formula passed down through a family of what might be witches. Well, maybe not. Many writers know this, but I wonder how many non-mystery writers do?
Adele was picky, that’s how her friends thought of it. She herself thought she was discerning. Both she and her friends knew it was hard for her to make decisions. When the washing machine broke down, Jem took their clothes to the laundromat for six months while she examined every feature of every machine in every appliance store, comparing costs and taking notes. Then she started researching every model she could find on the internet. Meanwhile, the twins often wore the same shirt to school two days in a row, sometimes three.
Avery opened the copy of Missy’s Magazine she had grabbed at the grocery store.
“Wow!” It sounded too good to be true. She whirled around and waved the magazine. “This is the best diet ever.”
Avery and her roommate, Alexa, were just returning to the apartment after their monthly shopping expedition. Avery flipped over to page three and scanned as Alexa started emptying the bags. After a short perusal she shoved the magazine in front of Alexa.
Isabel Musik, former werewolf, knew she had to be on the right scent. Her nose was still keen even though she could not transform anymore.
Wanted to buy:
Gardening equipment, esp. wheelbarrow, spade, rose trellis.
Personal:
SWF who likes gardening seeking SWM same. Must love yellow roses. Call 555-123-4567 eves M-F.
Quincy is an escape artist. Give him a door that isn’t quite latched and he’s outta there, always in search of the next fine dining experience. Dr. Ramos, who is a pretty nice guy otherwise, says Quincy is overweight, like fifteen pounds is too much for a cat! The outrage! Since his person, Chase, refuses to give him a decent meal and monitors the treats he gets while working in the office of the Bar None (bar cookies), he has to take nutrition into his own paws.
“Be sure you gouge out the eyes, Imogene,” Hortense filled the Dutch oven with water to boil the potatoes.
Immy attacked the spuds, peeling off skin and popping out the eyes with the pointed part of the peeler. “Why do they call them eyes, Mother?” The operation was taking on gruesome overtones for the seven-year-old. “Potatoes can’t see anything.”
