For the greater good

October 10, 2011January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 15 Comments

Redistribution was to begin at the end of the week, but because Collection Teams were facing fiercer opposition than expected, Compliance Squads formed to persuade the more resistant citizens. New pick-up station notices are expected on Monday, ironically the same day I am to report for my new job, redistributing possessions and professions simultaneously. Voluntary … Continue reading For the greater good

A conversation unspoken

October 3, 2011January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 13 Comments

She likened it to packing for a week-long trip - changes of clothes, snacks, drinks, extra shoes, a sweater in case it turns cold, medicine and emergencies contact telephone numbers, a camera, games, toys, the list was impressive. All this for only one person, and a tiny person at that. A morning outing took hours … Continue reading A conversation unspoken

Without a trace

September 29, 2011January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 23 Comments

“Then search parameters need to be widened!” Teams were on foot scouring every neighborhood within a five-mile radius, flyers were distributed to law enforcement agencies in the entire region, and cable news teams were filming sound bites for their evening broadcasts. An Amber Alert went nationwide. The hunt for the missing toddler couldn’t get much … Continue reading Without a trace

Soul food

September 26, 2011January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 16 Comments

She hated making a mess. As a rule she went to great pains to avoid it. Typically clean up meant simply gathering spent casings, wiping down a blade, disposing of a garrote, the usual. This last job was going to be more complicated than that. Even with all her experience, she couldn’t anticipate every scenario … Continue reading Soul food

Study buddy

September 24, 2011January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 14 Comments

“You still at it,” she asked, finding him surrounded by crumpled index cards and dozens of broken No. 2 pencils. “I’ve got to ace my GRE if I hope to get into Harvard!” “If you don’t have it by now, you never will.” “I know, but I can’t shut off my brain!” She closed the … Continue reading Study buddy

Visitation

September 22, 2011January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 14 Comments

I’m taking several liberties with this piece. I have zero expertise in geology, archaeology, ancient or modern Egyptian history. A major earthquake did hit Egypt in the early 1990s, and Al Mokattam Mountains and St. Simon Monastry are real. Other than that, the rest is total fiction. Looking out the airplane window, I could see … Continue reading Visitation