Off Track
by Michael Hultquist
© 2011 – All Rights Reserved

“Not a good first week, I take it?” Counselor Ray said. His voice vacillated between mild amusement and dumfounded concern.
Gary sat in the same chair as last week, arms folded across his chest, lower lip jutted out in an uncharacteristic pout. He expected a lecture and felt one coming on, like a volcano rumbling the earth before it spouts off. Isn’t that what counselors are for, anyway? They lecture you about what you are and aren’t supposed to do. They dig …

Orpheus & The Pearl
by Kim Paffenroth
© 2010 – All Rights Reserved

Romwald wordlessly showed her to the west wing of the house, which was separated from the main building by a breezeway. The separate wing consisted of two small bedrooms, a bathroom, and a sitting room. All the rooms were open and her bags were in the sitting room, as though she were free to choose either or both of the bedrooms for her stay. The arrangement soothed her somewhat frayed nerves after the odd interview, for it would make the …