random passage 1

Note: These are selected passages from some of my favorite books - not my own (although I wish they were). Anyhow, the newest stuff can always be found on the upper-right side of the page. I'll put old ones here as posts. Enjoy!

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He said, "Aren't you my mother?"

"Oh Timmie."

"Are you angry because I asked?"

"No. Of course not."
"Because I know your name is Miss Fellowes, but-but sometimes, I call you 'Mother' inside. Is that all right?"

"Yes. Yes. It's all right. And I won't leave you any more and nothing will hurt you. I'll be with you to care for you always. call me Mother, so I can hear you."

"Mother," said Timmie contentedly, leaning his cheek against hers.

She rose, and, still holding him, stepped up on the chair. The sudden beginning of a shout from outside went unheard and, with her free hand, she yanked with all her weight at the cord where it hung suspended between two eyelets.

And Stasis was punctured and the room was empty.

your paisley tie

It all seems surreal in hindsight. Being invited to an unexpected meeting, where your partner and an HR rep await, nervous and apologetic. Receiving word on how poorly the company is doing and how they have to unfortunately let you go. You grin, not to disguise your hurt, but because you don't know how else to respond.

Everyone is exceedingly polite. The partner gives you a pat on the back and offers you any assistance you might need. Everyone, that is, except the HR rep who asks for the laptop bag back. It seems like a small thing, but almost randomly, giving up your bag is the thing that hurts the most.

You take home your belongings in a small Delivery Fedex box.

Over the following weeks, you experience every emotion you are capable of. Anger at being let go, to fend for yourself. Joy at not having to turn in a stupid timesheet. Despair.

Over drinks, you're asked by a stranger what you do for a living. You stumble uncomfortably for a second before responding, "I'm, uh, in between things."

The stranger laughs and answers "Me too." You both smile. He then adds helpfully, "I don't tell people that. I say that I'm an entrepreneur." Good joke. Everyone laughs.

You consider the prospect of selling your home. It's unsettling, but it's a reality that you take seriously. You search for jobs. You reach out to friends and to recruiters. They say that it's a ultra-competitive market, but not to lose hope. More than one person tells you that losing your job could be the best thing that has ever happened to you(!). You always nod in agreement, but know that it's just a nice thing that people say.

You create a plan, and methodically follow it. It's not easy - you're all nerves and bad feelings. You develop bad habits, like waking up in the afternoon and smoking all the time. But still, you know that submitting your resume every day is progress. Being rejected and told that you're not wanted is the next step. Soon, you've applied to over twenty positions, and know that you're not a serious candidate for any of them, not when 1000+ applicants are vying for that same job. It's almost funny, in a way. But trying and trying and trying again is the only way out.

Then, you finally catch a break. Someone has looked at your resume and wants you to come in. You tell yourself not to get your hopes up, but you believe anyway that this job is yours. You feel joy, no, gratitude. You become excited at the prospect of working again and feel a bit more settled. You walk into your closet to choose an outfit. You look at your assortment of ties and don't want to wear any of them - they belong to a younger, more naive you. You...you stare into the patterns on your paisley tie and realize, for perhaps the first time, that you are starting anew.