Ander - Part 4: Subchapter 35
35 The day was sunny and beautiful, much too beautiful. This was a day for picnics by the river, or a horse ride in the fields, or just for sitting on the porch, watching the clouds go by. Days like this weren't made for double funerals in the dark...
Ander - Part 4: Subchapter 34
34 He stood before his own front door, feeling absurdly like he should knock, like a stranger visiting a stranger's house. He reached for the knob, still not knowing what he was going to say or do, when it was pulled open from the other side. It was...
Ander - Part 4: Subchapter 33
33 "James?" He didn't want to raise his head, not after the way she had called his name: so softly, so delicately, like the sound alone might break him. He was fine just sitting here, looking down at his shoes, tap-tap-tapping in his restlessness....
Ander - Part 4: Subchapter 32
32 "And what are you up to, sonny-boy?" James asked, watching the strange tableau his son had created. Luke was sitting cross-legged on his bed, surrounded by all manner of clothes and preserved food items, trying to figure out the best way to stuff...
Ander - Part 4: Subchapter 31
31 "So what really happened in there?" Luke asked, but to Valery it didn't sound like he actually cared that much. Also, she didn't like the way the gaps in the barn's walls threw lines of light across his face, like warpaint. "Banno scratched his...
Ander - Part 4: Subchapter 36
36 "- all alone in this giant house?" he asked, stepping inside. "Oh, it's not so bad," she said and closed the door behind him. "How are your children doing? Those poor darlings, I can't even imagine." "They're strong. Amazingly strong. Sometimes I...
Ander - Part 4: Subchapter 37
37 "The weather sure is fine today, isn't it?" Laura said, peeking out the window at all the beautiful buds starting to bloom in her garden. There were marigolds and hyacinths and lilies, but the yellow roses were her favourite by far, like miniature...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 6
6 He wasn't lying on the cold, hard ground anymore. No sharp stones or scratchy twigs digging into his back. This was soft and warm. He knew this feeling. It was the peace of sleep that always lingered for a few minutes just before you woke up...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 5
5 Ander always knew there was a special kind of magic in creating something. It didn't matter whether it was just a little drawing in the dirt or a massive undertaking like building a house. Making something real that wasn't real before, first...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 4
4 - in my bar!" That voice startled Kiana out of her daydreams and slammed her back to earth with an almost audible thud. She looked around, trying to figure out who had shouted so strongly, and then the door to Othello's banged open to the strangest...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 9
9 - her hands over her mouth and her eyes wide with shock. "Oh my word, I'd nearly forgotten all about that!" she said. "I'm so sorry, Sarah! I don't know what came over me. That was such a terrible time for me, and to hear you talk like Ander was...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 8
8 It turns out 'a little something' was actually a whole lot of big somethings. Kiana was sitting at their kitchen table, staring in disbelief as Sarah rummaged around in every cupboard and drawer, pulling out the most random assortment of foods and...