Adrian lay in the hospital bed with his leg swathed in bandages. Jacqueline, a petite blonde nurse, likely in her mid 20s, tended to his wound. "We need to dress this properly," she said with a reassuring smile. ‘’ Let me grab the dressing, and I’ll get you right fixed up in a jiffy.’’ Adrian winced as she worked, but he trusted the hospitals judgment. His usual nurse, Susan, was out for the week. So the hospital had sent Jacqueline in as her replacement. And she seemed nice enough. "Make sure it's well-dressed. I can't afford any infections," he joked with a weak smile. Jacqueline nodded, focused on her task. "Don't worry, Adrian. This dressing is excellent. And it’s great for compacting moisture." She assured, her brow furrowed in concentration. As she applied the dressing, the door swung open. Adrian's mother shuffled in, a fresh cup of coffee in hand. ’’ Why, hello, my baby boy! Are you feeling any bet——,’’ suddenly, her smile faded as her eyes widened in horror. Her coffee cup hit the floor with a thud, immediately shattering to pieces. "Why are you putting dressing in my son's wound?" she exclaimed, staring at the nurse in disbelief. Jacqueline looked up, confusion etched on her face. "I beg your pardon? It’s a very deep wound, Mrs. Parker. It needs to be stuffed." Mrs. Parker pointed at the wound, "That! That's not medical dressing; that's turkey dressing!" The room fell silent as Jacqueline‘s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Oh dear," she murmured with a nervous chuckle. she glanced around before returning to the cart with a smile. ‘’ Let me just grab the saline, and I’ll have you right fixed up in a jiffy!’’

Sebastian drives faster on the highway His thoughts going even faster He quickly turns off the turn pike Almost running into the divider A.J and Ghost are right behind in their Cars Sebastian didn’t slow his speed for them They all knew the way to the warehouse Sebastian cut across the sidewalk, then pulled into the parking lot he put the brake down then ran inside the warehouse It was large and daunting, once inside Sebastian snuck around quietly It seemed abandoned and quiet Until he heard a scream Skye’s voice Sebastian ran down the corridor he was about to open the door when the handle rattled, Sebastian quickly ducked behind some crates the door was flung open “Do you have the kids detained?.” A gruff voice said “Of course, the husband didn’t expect the old lady across the hall.” Said a young woman “Excellent work Natalie.” Once they came into view Sebastian bit down on his wrist to muffle his gasp Sargent Taylor is part of this….?! And miss noris! Once they where truly gone Sebastian snuck into the darkened room. Sebastian saw a figure tied to a chair his heart skipped a beat then ran to the person “Skye!.” Skye looked up at him with tired eyes. Skye felt relived to see Sebastian alright Sebastian took the gag out of Skye’s mouth “I missed you,.” Sebastian said Skye mustered the strength to speak “trap …it’s a trap.” He said in a weak voice But it was too late Jack stood behind Sebastian, then knocked him unconscious “To late to save your lover, Skye I should have taken a longer coffee break. Now I have a new person to interrogate.” Jack said tauntingly while twirling the crow bar in his fingers “You should have told us where the plans where sooner.” Jack looked Skye real close in the face “I warned you, and now your family will suffer too.” Jack said with a sweet poison tone Jack tied Sebastian to a chair then gave them both gags “Sarge will be pleased tonight.” Jack said in a Singy song voice while walking out the door

I looked at the typewritten characters on the page dissatisfied with the story written. The content of the tale left me feeling discontented, as if I had been chasing my tail all day. Not a single character possessed any redeeming qualities. The ducks didn’t duck their heads underwater and the flies didn’t know how to fly. The battery of baseball playing bears had stopped swinging their bats at the same time that the batteries for the animatronic bats stopped working. It was too much to bear! The protagonist of the story, a mathematician snake, spent his days working as a loan officer at the bank. Although it was rare for him to leave the building for lunch, the adder adder sometimes parked at a National Park, curled under the leaves on a riverbank, plotting ways to build a better life. The window for advancement was closing unlike the stationary window in his office which couldn’t open. A wave of nausea filled him whenever his boss waved a dismissive hand in his direction. He moped around riding his moped. Refusing to be cast aside like discarded refuse, he often submitted resumes for better paying administrative positions. All the while, he hoped to resume the work from his youth. Working on a combine harvester at a farm combined his love of the outdoors with his desire to make a difference. While deliberating how best to address the issues in the story, I knew that a deliberate correction was needed. It was obvious even to the oblivious. The time had come to turn my back on the story. With balled fists, I punched at my journal before balling the paper up and backing away from my writing desk. I needed to clear my head. I booked a dinner reservation, grabbed a book to read while eating, and headed to an Indian reservation casino for dinner.

The play begins at fore I knew this a long time before I was so excited I couldn’t wait I didn’t want it to start late I drove to the place with a cup My wife said to hurry up With a club I wind up my swing at before four I started the play at fore After the play was over My wife attitude was polar When I try to explain myself that I wanted to play She said you wanted to play you could’ve watched a play

One a day like this I really have nothing to do. The sun is in the sky the wind is the right amount of coolness and most people would consider it a good day to have some rest. It’s just one of those days you think some sort of god is looking down at us and smiling. Shame. Since I’m bored all of that’s about to change.

What’s a word without its meaning? Another sound elicits the tone? But how could one discern the meaning? Perhaps cannot, instead assuming. A kind of person shakes each hand; Their heart is kind and understands. To mean one thing by cutting up; They come off mean and abrupt. Lie back down. Don’t tell the truth. Know the current Of the youth. Oh Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, Who’s the fairest of them all? When’s it coming, can’t recall? Express the hatred of the gall. Right the wrong. Don’t turn left. With the tire, Can’t go deft. Topsy-turvy spins the ring; A jeweled ring fit for kings. Strike the match and watch the flame; The match in heaven turned insane. By definition, this may sound mad. But how could one know the plan? In the end, what’s the use? Each own decision is made by you.

Leaking walls While it rains in the halls It all seems so tall While days seem to fall But why even bother to crawl When floods rain through the halls Left frantic in the ball While colours learn brawl Peace left to squall When my reign starts to fall

“The name of the game is Hide Behind what? — you might ask. Good — good question indeed. Words. Go! Save your own! Do not care if they are doing Well. Do not care if their date has come To get them. This game is about you! And you — Alone! So, go! Hide. Save yourself From the barbaric hands of the world. How? You may ask. Good — good question indeed. Words! It all comes back to Words. — yours! — “

The day started with bright sunshine and soon the temperature was climbing into the seventies—very warm for early March. I didn’t have to work today, and Dina, my bestie, was also off. I sent her a quick text, asking if she wanted to have a picnic lunch at the local park. She responded and agreed it would be the perfect day for it. I told her I would bring an assortment of cheese, crackers, and fruit if she could bring the drinks. Knowing Dina, she would stop by Jenna’s Cakes and Cookies and pick-up something for dessert. We met in the parking lot just prior to the baseball fields. The area has some larger shade trees and a couple of benches. “Shoot!” Dina exclaimed, meeting me at the back of my car. I glanced at her while opening my truck. “What’s wrong?” “I forgot to bring a blanket.” She scanned the area, apparently looking for a picnic table. I laughed and pulled one from my trunk. “You should know I’m always prepared! I was a Girl Scout!” She rolled her eyes. “That was a long time ago, silly.” I grabbed and blanket and cooler. She had a bag of goodies and a smaller cooler. We decided on a spot under a sprawling oak tree that wasn’t too far from the restrooms. We lounged under the tree, talking books and boys while grazing on the food I’d brought. Too soon, however, a car load of teenagers dressed in baseball uniforms pulled into the lot. Sadly, our peaceful reprieve was now over. We grumbled and groaned and then decided to call it a day. I started packing up the leftover food. “I need to run to the restroom before we head out,” Dina said. “If you wait until I get back, I can help you load the car.” I waved her off. “Do what you need to do. There’s not that much to carry. I don’t mind taking care of it.” She wasn’t gone two minutes when I heard screaming. Dina came running toward me like she was being chased by the hounds of hell. “Oh my God! Oh my God! You wouldn’t believe what I just saw!” She bent at the waist to catch her breath. Dina isn’t known for her athletic ability. I had all kinds of scenarios racing through my head. I couldn’t imagine what would have made her so upset. We were the only ones there aside from the baseball team. Maybe one of guys mooned her? “Kari, are you listening to me?” She snapped her fingers in front of my face, still trying to catch her breath. “Sorry, what?” I probably should listen to what happened. So much for being a good friend. “Now, tell me what happened.” “I saw a bat!” She turned and pointed toward the restroom. “A bat? Like one of the guys left his baseball bat outside the bathroom?” I couldn’t understand what the big deal would be. “Did he threaten you with it?” Despite her hysteria, she managed an Oscar-worthy eye roll. “Are you completely dense? I saw a bat! The animal, rodent, whatever they are. So creepy!” Light dawned. I squinted my eyes, trying to see if I could locate a dark spot hanging from the soffit. No such luck. “So the little critter with wings that eats bugs at night?” “Yes! You’re finally getting it …” Her voice trailed off. She suddenly found a spot on the ground to be of great interest. “Spill. What else? I know you too well. You’re hiding something.” I crossed my arms in front of my chest, trying to wait patiently. “Well, I mean, maybe I’m just imaging it, but I swear it winked at me and then licked one of its fangs.” She wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Like in a sexy way.” I know I should be supportive, but I just couldn’t help myself. I burst out laughing. “So you saw Dracula? Is that what you’re telling me? You saw a blood-sucking vampire in bat form?”

Orange. They said they wanted an orange shirt. The color, I thought. But no. We collected the peels from many a confused neighbor. We spent the night and day sewing a shirt. It didn’t fit, it was falling apart, but at least it looked roughly okay.