It was time for our companies New Years costume party. Kind of a tradition, since this year will be the thirteenth edition of the affair. Over the years the party has changed quite a bit from scary monsters and witches to famous movie stars.

This year Monica, the CEO wanted a more lighthearted theme since with the virus, the depressed economy and so many people unemployed anything to help people forget for a while would be welcome.

Precious Time - Part 2

On the next day the first of my modelling sessions was to take place. After a shower, I addressed the most pressing question facing a girl in my situation, deciding what to wear. After trying a few different styles I chose a pleat skirt in an ecru shade and a tight top which went well with it. Pleased with the how the result discreetly showed off my curviness, I headed down to the restaurant for breakfast. The Plaza provided a tempting choice to suit all tastes but I resisted and helped myself to coffee and a bowl of fruit and yoghurt.

CHAPTER 71
I nodded, with a meaningful glance toward the other passengers.

“Chat later, love. Messy stuff”

“Late, then. One question now, though: is he all right?”

“I think so, especially with Alys to look after. Later, though, be best”

A Step Too Far?

by Suzie Dalkin

This was written without any idea where it was going. As a result, readers may find it funny or offensive – or neither – or both.

Edward Arley was a very organised young man. His parents were staid pillars of the community who for many years had run a successful estate agency business in Sutton Deering, an old market town about 50 miles north of London.

"Come on, come back," Remi whispered, pacing the clearing as Brother watched with evident concern. Her bare feet had long since toughened against the rough stone, but she kept moving more from nervous energy than any real purpose. "Just bring him back safe. Please." Speaking aloud helped maintain some connection to her humanity, even if the words were meant for no one but herself.

David sprinted toward the crosswalk, glancing at his watch with growing panic. He was cutting it close—ten minutes until his shift started at Morgan's Grocery. Mr. Morgan wasn't exactly known for his flexibility when it came to tardiness.

CHAPTER 70
Murdo had been incredibly generous, but he remained a very sharp businessman, and springing for accommodation as well as the venue would have cost rather a lot, so we were booked on a late afternoon boat back. Rod had arranged a small coach, and Phil a few taxis for those we couldn’t fit in. Tradition had to be observed, and so we bounced back over the water before trundling up to King’s Park, where Kul did his video thing and Neil the snaps.

From the time I got up this morning till now, today has been one shitty day. I ended up having to get my car jumped because of a dead battery. The service I paid for to handle such occurrences taking their sweet time to get here. Thus I arrived late for work missing an important meeting, my immediate boss livid that I had missed it.

Then my computer failed a little after eleven A.M. requiring the IT guys to replace the hard drive. Three hours of work that I had performed this morning lost in the process. Then the final touch to my horrible day occurred.

Loren was having a good time dreaming he was a beautiful blonde named Josette. But more and more, what he's experiencing is seeming less and less like a dream.

Accessing Patricia
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

Part 1

He was a nobody. A laboratory assistant in the testing area at the back of the Padonox complex – a rat wrangler – a tissue slicer. He was unimportant, and he was working in an area where nobody would have known, even if he had been of any interest at all. But he wanted to get ahead. When he had the chance to be important, he decided to take that chance.