stickvaughn's profile

Not shocked. I would say they were aghast if that didn't make my friends sound like Jane Austen characters. Whatever the term, Arlun and Cartya tried to laugh at me when I told them that I would be leaving for a traditional three-year religious mission to the Klethi home world. When I didn't smile back at them, Cartya bounced an ice cube off my chest, left her lunch, and headed out the glass door to the sun deck. Arlun squeaked his straw up and down in his milkshake. I was just as surprised t...

Not 'shocked'. I would say they were 'aghast' if it didn't make my friends sound like Jane Austen characters. Whatever the term, Arlun and Cartya tried to laugh at me when I told them that I would be leaving for a traditional three-year religious mission to the Klethi home world. When I didn't smile back at them, Cartya bounced an ice cube off my chest, left her lunch, and headed out the glass door to the sun deck. Arlun squeaked his straw up and down in his milkshake. I was just as surprised...

Sam’s hand tore open on the shovel handle. “Dammit.” His palms, unused to the rub of a shovel, broke into blisters even beneath his gloves. He squeezed his fist, and waited for the sting to peak before fading. From the corner of his eye, he saw his neighbor, Carl, whose yard he was in, wave cheerfully and finally leave for work. “Hey, thanks again, Sam. My cell’s on if you need anything.” Sam nodded, and cracked a smile. Eight o’clock. Good. Some peac...

I have three days to find a man. And he doesn’t want to be found. Not surprising. I don’t want to find him, either. But it’s my job. I find people. Good people, bad people. Some who should never be found. I find those, too. I’m the best at my job. How do I find them, you wonder? Like nobody else does, I answer. When I tell people, they avoid me for the rest of the dinner party. But I’ll tell you. I don’t know you, and I don’t care if you think I&rs...