Stella went inside the Police Station leaving Ethel to switch to the drivers’ seat.

She returned a few minutes later grasping a small piece of paper and got back into the car.

“They were very helpful about a possible place to stay but it is unlikely that there will be a train north tomorrow. Apparently, the line washed out earlier today after a landslide.”

Ethel gripped the steering wheel a lot tighter. Stella noticed this.

“I know that it looks bad but at least we have some wheels unlike those stuck at the Railroad Depot…”

Less time between chapters this time, and I think this is the longest chapter to date: Dawn.

Stone

Chapter 31 – Racism

“I really CAN talk you know,” Andi declared. Startling me. “I just hate the sound of my damned voice.”

I stood in stunned silence. She sounded almost exactly like Harvey Fierstein.

“OK.....” I said. Mostly for something to say. She glared at me.

“SEE???” she held an accusatory finger at me. “THAT'S why I keep my damned mouth shut! That look.... that ….look.... you're giving me.”

“Sorry.” I muttered. “It's just ….so.... I was taken by surprise.”

Andi snorted. “Tell me about it.... story of my damned life.”

“OK.” I said again just for something to say.

She brushed her hand in the air tipsily. “It's a loong story.” she scowled.

“Wanna hear it?” Zoe grinned wickedly. Then she turned to Andi with a pleading look like a dog begging for table scraps.

Andi regarded her for a while. Blinked a few times, then seemed to remember Zoe's request. “....fine.” she sighed. At which point Zoe lit up and beckoned Tina to join us.

I quickly suspected the high-octane margaritas were never intended as a hostess gift. They were Zoe's not-so-secret weapon to loosen Andi up. Dave had pretty much confirmed that. When Zoe beckoned Tina over, he shooed her with a grin and said 'thank God she's finally talking.'

“Hey slowpoke. C'mon....” Andi called out to Tina slapping the sofa cushion next to where she sat, legs folded under her. “I'm NOT telling this twice!” she grinned.

Stage 9: Where the Monkey Meets the Man

I sat in one corner of the kitchen with Skully and Ayle in the corners on the far side of the living room.

The couch was turned on its side.
The book shelf was destroyed—and a lot of my books were shredded.
The DVD player had played its last disc.

I would also need to buy a new TV.

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Chapter 21
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Pixeletta crossed the rooftop, and blew warm air into her gloved hands, rubbing them together. It was night time in mid-December, and it was only going to get colder in the next couple months.

The League had split into two pairs and a trio, because of safety and efficiency in numbers. For this reason, Mortar Mage accompanied Pixeletta while she took a look at the view from the top of the building.

They were on a skyscraper.

Raven opens her eyes and yawn. It takes her eyes a while to focus as she looks at the dresser that was across from her. She also felt something soft, pressed against her back. She realizes she wasn’t in her bedroom, but in Clair’s and in her bed.

They had come back to Clair’s place yesterday, after spending several hours at the park. Clair had made them dinner, while they listened to her collection of classical music. One thing leads to another and the next thing she knew, she and Clair were in the bedroom removing each other’s clothes.

CHAPTER 26
Life went on. It sounds trite, but I came to realise that my decision to choose continuing to breathe had been made when I went out of a window in Runcorn; what followed was simply fine detail. It didn’t make the process of living any easier, but the days or hours I managed to get things into some sort of perspective kept me on some sort of even keel. In the end, I simply had to look at the two people who had rescued me for validation.

Only thirty-five thousand people on a whole world! George hadn’t thought it through, but one thing was crystal clear to his intelligent, albeit informally educated, mind, there had to be plenty of opportunities for him to pursue his passion, and he doubted any would even care. No keepers, wrathful farmers or water bailiffs to be avoided here. Maybe he could have a shotgun.

Steady progress is being made by drug addicted Angela to wards a cure while Olivia and Lola continue living at Bab's canalside cottage with police protection.

P.S. I've noticed that comments seem to be falling off right accross the board on Big Closet.

Comments are the life blood that supports motivation for many authors on this site. Might I respectfully ask that readers are more forthcoming with comments. Authers often find the feedback helps their creativity.

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Chapter 19
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Dear Diary, November 20 –

I haven’t updated this in a while, but it’s been a crazy couple of weeks.

Adamast Cross started a new tradition back on the 6th. He decided to do the friendly thing and buy me a Japanese lily from the store we’d passed. He said it was a simple thank you for helping him learn new tricks with his ice powers. While the flower sat in my room over the next week, I found myself aiding another hero who isn’t in the League.

“You are mothers to be.” Gosellyn had explained, “To the Folk, both you and your unbirtht are precious. Don’t be surpriest if you receive an offer of marriage from someone you have never met before, and don’t reject it out of hand. Say you will consider it, and then have spaech with one of us or a member of the Master at arms office if you need advice. We have a lot of men who loes their wife to the fevers a year over. Their year of mourning is now over, and many are seeking a wife and a mother for their children. Your pregnancy makes you very attractive and desirable as a wife to our men, and you will be well come to their families, kin, clan and kith. The Folk value a mother and her children.”

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Chapter 18
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The three men and one woman were taken into police custody within Talos Hospital, where their identities were uncovered. They were the group responsible, years ago, for blackmailing a number of celebrity daughters into making underage sex videos, and then threatening to release those if the celebrities didn’t send money to offshore accounts to be picked up.

It took a combined effort of heroes and numerous agencies to cut those funds and try to keep the videos from getting out.

Not What We Expected by Tiffany B. Quinn "I don't know," she admitted, "but I promise that this will be the last time that I bother you about getting pregnant. If this doesn't work I will quit trying and we'll find happiness without children. We will continue to be best friends." "You promise?" I asked to make sure. "I promise", she sighed with resignation.

Chapter 3

Yoomarrianna heard her screams and ran to the barn to see his wife struggling on the ground as a stranger was attempting to rip her clothes off. He picked up the nearest tool to hand, a spade he used for chopping fodder beet which was as sharp as a razor on all three edges after his morning’s work sharpening tools, and hit the man with it’s edge in the middle of his back. Llyllabette’s struggles pushed the screaming man off her and Yoomarrianna hit him again with the spade.

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Chapter 16
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“These medium range earphones are great, Mortar. Good work.”

“Ah, it’s no problem at all. It’s the least that I can do. Is everyone in place?”

“All set. Are the girls not patrolling tonight?”

“We’re both at the festival enjoying ourselves, sweeties.”

“Aw, is little Pixeletta dressed up in a cute and embarrassing outfit? I want to see.”

“I happen to have a camera, and I’m posted nearby.”

“You guys do know I can hear you too, right?” Judy whispered hoarsely.

Webster’s dictionary defines Speed as the fallowing: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time over a set distance. In other words, the quicker you can get from one place to another. The question is what would you do, when your family has spent the last two generations in search of ways to accomplish this goal faster and faster. Would do you do when the family business is the search for more Speed. For Robert ‘Robby’ McGuire the answer is easy. You grab your sister and strap on a pair of Formula One racecars then go for broke.

Olivia becomes engaged in Angela's treatment for her criminally enforced addiction by the rape gangs.

Title track: Time Machine By Joe Satriani

flashback