PTE

u

hroat, and I risked a se

they still s

e of clothes, I'd opened the door to the guest room and collapsed onto

ake you up,"

the neck up. His four gazes held me however I moved about the room. Depending on which direction I glanced, the man laughed, smiled gently, or gazed proudly. All pleasant enou

. No mirror

blokes; clos

irt, and bra, balled up the middl

ange at Dera's, i

t concern for it. I rose when my body was jolly well ready. I peeked aga

ood time for Der

ext

wa

stice. Yes, she would wait, but just as assuredly she would soon text back. She wa

would give me time

the clink of dishes and silver, and the tinkle of glass. Warm smells of cin

ved through it, and sto

room, and this morning all but two were filled. I

epped back from view

my dad's idea. Before Mum lost h

he Great

he third, or on any adjacent day, which is why Dad chose it for our annual celebration. For me,

and ate, and always our flat fille

a memory cancer, spreading and aching and reminding of al

oices trailed off. I succeeded in su

pi

oom once again filled with conversation. Apparently, I had been accepted into the tribe. She

ok my

tially taken care of that." She winc

poked its antlers into the room, and ha

e to feed you." She leaned over and whispered

that moose a

ble by the fireplace. Elis sketched on a

ve a visitor. I be

he said. "Wh

at a chair and we both sat down. "

ot unlike it had on the plane. He finally set it down and peeked up

n in his gaze. His face remained fixed and i

ted, "welcome! I'm

d the table, grabbed Elis's chair with both hands, and yanked

s too short. I tugged at my bag and finally gave a mighty pull. The entire moos

mly extracted the strap from t

ht of man

to the ground, and jammed it onto his st

remaine

t hoisted the moose head back over the bracket. It hun

me down and sit."

ew I was bum to the floor. He took a seat on

hate him, as I did that grotty moose. But

him frown all the more, which

you organised my

tiff

, I believe, yo

d

t did yo

back to me. "I didn't find a

w." I thought a moment. "What did

jea

apkin on my lap. Elis wat

be the jeans. And wh

et, and soon a pair of black underwear lay on the butter dish.

ths ago from another POE twelve. There was good reason to

t know what thes

think I'm wrong. There

reclaimed my garment, stuffing it in

ed back and quickly disa

me. "Where are y

i?" I waited, and sighed. "En

Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the

I unde

water glass. "But clearly those pla

are impressive,

live h

shook my head. "N

h Elis. He doesn't . . . he d

at his

hat proves

menu upside down before me.

have coffee, black, and one of the cinnamon r

ould see his lips moving. "

n, and I glanced up at the moose. "He s

me, his skin a lovely shade - perhaps Hispanic - with teeth

he underwear on

eal with these h

or anything beyond the salt and pepper, I s

eñor Tilson texted. He wants me to do his lawn perfect for

chool remedial. And Lord knows, he needs some normalcy afte

n. Thank you. Count

t so much as glancing my wa

ow to get Elis to remedials. I can't leave the guests

ed for my bag. You have already experienced more genero

with good character stays overnight to keep the peace." Guinevere placed her hand on my forearm. "You're so good with him. It's

wouldn't trust me with him. I don't . . . I haven't always be

ll God's children, and I can't ima

e T and winced. If

the largest rolls I'd ever seen. He se

't I, Chloe ?" Hi

nevere, sitting with rai

ve." And to his mum, "

ld give me one more chance to ask Elis about the sketchings; was it paranormal knowledge o

Need 2 w8 3 days for your websit

and returned a st

rent account. Need to sta

he one thing I'd been slogging away from. For Guinevere, I was now back on a cloc

done all th

ry! Lo

ed by the clang of a large bell, rang out through the first f

pede of footsteps stilled above my head. I ascende

ople in all. Old and young, all chatted happily. I recognized many of the

There was a bell . . . Is this

rom embarrassment to frustration, and I raised my hand

r gentleman. "Take a seat - your name will probably b

w moments each with him. Last year there were

he gentleman turned back towa

I had no desire to return to the four-face room. "If you're sure." I slowly approached and joined their large circle, and for the next ten minutes I listened

nd walked toward the closet, returning with an oversized bingo t

that Doucette and I had little time with him last week. As you know, Elis wa

softly. "Last week w

our with Elis in Salem." The woman seated next to Jakob placed

umbler. "Juan had to leave early, and he asked

ne s

ull will be for Juan. Be

heet, and the entire group leaned in as Jakob opened the tumbler door, c

five hours this

. "One, he is not here. His turn should be forfeited. Two, he drives El

" I said quietl

idea what the lottery meant - but it seemed imp

will soon be joining us in the lottery. We may as well be friends." S

d until everyone exc

an

ette

eau

ob

e would trade four of her

away in the closet, and

d she stopped near the d

time in Salem. We meet here each week to decide how man

Where is Sa

pointed to her head.

s imagin

re, no place could be more real. What makes any country real?

ranged. I'd just witnessed a lottery where the winner's purse was time in an i