“What’s your girl like, then?”
“Eh? Wot?”
“That letter you’re writin’. Go on, tell us what she’s like.”
“Aw, my lady, she’s smashin’. Mad, too.”
“Mad? How mad? Does she throw pans and ‘oller?”
“Nah, mad about flowers. An’ clothes. An’ flowers on clothes. She paints roses on ‘er stockin’s and ties wreaths in her cloudy red ‘air…”
“An’ by cloudy, you mean…”
“Sticks out in waves every which way. Ain’t ever lied flat, s’far’s I can remember. Gives kisses of its own, it does.”
“Sounds… strikin’.”

 March 16

I have just come back from a journalistic tour in Iran. There, I interviewed a Christian pastor facing execution for his beliefs. I asked him why he would rather die than give up his faith in God, as well as leave his wife and children without him.

"Wouldn't it be better," I asked. "To give it up outwardly, and be reunited with the family that needs you, than to go to your death? What is the point? And why would you love a god so much, if he demanded you to do such a thing?"

 If people change as seasons change 

                Jovlin tucked her long dark hair behind her ear as she surveyed the stage below her. She grabbed a black ribbon and tied her hair back as she scanned the room for guards. Then, after securing the white mask to her face, she tied her rope to the rafter on which she was crouching and, grabbing hold of the other end, jumped out into empty space.

 Just then, Sam walked down the steps. Melody snapped back to reality and shoved the sketch in her pocket before anyone saw it. This day was starting out really weird. She scooped up Valiant and turned towards Sam.

            “Hey!” Sam said, “Now that I’m done packing, why don’t we take the dogs for a walk and hang out?”

            “Great idea!” Melody said, smiling “I’ll go get my coat.”

_____________

Chapter 5

That night Amy showed Amicus to his room,which she had created last-minute out of her office with a roll-out bed she had used only once or twice before. He didn’t resist or argue about it, but he did wrinkle his nose at the sheets and demand, "what material is this?"

"Um…Cotton?" Amy replied, not quite sure.

Amicus’ eyes widened. "Cotton? These must be of great value; it is so hard to get seeds out of cotton!"

"Ever heard of Eli Whitney? Or the cotton gin?"

"What?"

"We can get seeds out of cotton now, don’t worry."

Chapter Seventeen

We both looked through the gate once more. The street was still empty behind us.

“How long will it take to cross the mountains to this side of the City, if we are on the other?” I asked. He answered me slowly:

“Two days if we do not halt and keep a running pace.” I shook my head. I did not think we could spare that much time. Yet we were wasting it now. I looked away from everything, and pictured in my mind the course of the streets within Hethwenthor.

Tala backed off as she swallowed a lump in her throat. "Where's Zephyr?" she asked Chathel in a hushed voice. "Shouldn't-shouldn't she be here by now?"
Chathel nodded quickly. "There's no way we can stand up to Blackscar, not even together."
"I'm a Jett, and they're supposed to be brave-but I'm terrified!" Tala moaned quietly. "I feel so scared."
Chathel set her jaw firmly. She was not used to her friend doing this, but she knew she had to say something. "Don't worry. We'll survive." She swallowed and added under her breath, "I hope."