Planning a Future
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

Chapter 4

I parked at the museum, beside the OB van, and went in. Matthew was organising the set, which didn’t take long with our morning preparation. Steve was in his official uniform and there had been a sign on the main door announcing that the museum was closed until five for a private function.

"Psst... have you heard about Benny's party? It's going to be next week."

"Yes," Maya giggled quietly. "But obviously I won't be attending.”

The possibility of two graves on the property presented DCI Pascoe with another huge problem.

“Constable, please go and tape up the ground around the suspect areas. At least 5m away from the possible graves. Red tape that and add another yellow ring a further 10m away. And be sure to keep everyone’s size 15s off the yellow area until we can get the scientists involved.”

A Token Transsexual

It had all started with the bathroom debate and assorted legislative bills. I am sure most of it was strictly political, a way for a local representative to gain some political clout at other people’s expense. Just another way for a legislator to correct some imagined injustice, although his correction often far worse than the original problem.

I woke early on Saturday, excited and terrified by the thoughts of the coming day. Probably more excited than terrified, yesterday’s excursion having done much to allay my fears. I checked the time; 5am. Still time for another snooze. I turned over, snuggled further into the duvet, closed my eyes, and stayed fully awake. After about 10 minutes or so, I decided I might as well get up and start to get ready. I wandered to the bathroom and was just about to step into the shower when I saw a small box on the shower tray with a note.

Wear this in the shower.

Chapter 3

When the crew had packed everything in the van, and Bernie had put his cameras in my car, Matthew opened an ice box and we all sat on the sand and talked about the day. Matthew proposed a toast.

“To Carol and the insights that she has brought to us.”

We clinked bottles.

Maltese Escape
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

They called ours a family, but it was not as you understand that word. A family is supposed to be a safe place to bring a child into the world, to nurture that child when very young, and to support him or her in at least the first part of a journey through life. That is what a family is supposed to be – not a money-grubbing enterprise where every member is expendable.

Part Six

A TURN OF THE MOON
Day Six
by
Jessica Drew

My spoon clinked against the bowl as I finished off the fresh yogurt and strawberries. It was a brighter day today. The rain clouds had moved on and the morning sun lit up the kitchen just the way I liked it. I sat at the counter in my peach PJs, with one thigh crossed over the other, gently swinging my dangling leg.

We sent people to explore the empty ships right away. And we found... more documentation. In the parts of the world needing cleanup over the facilities, all the large bodies capable of helping with the cleanup were deployed that way. But here, I was free to participate in another document translation effort.