Iran and Italy - macro economics assignment Essay

Iran and Italy - macro economics assignment - Essay Example ay before it was hit by recession Italy was already experiencing poor economic performance of an average real GDP growth of only 1% per annum (Morsy and Sgherri, 2010, p.3). This was the period between 2001 and 2007. This growth rate was almost half the euro area growth rate. After the onset of recession in 2008, Italy faced a 7% decline in the GDP. In the first quarter of 2010 the economy started to recover from the poor performance. The recovery was halted in 2011 when the country reentered recession for the second time. The GDP fell by 0.2 % by the second quarter of 201l. By the end of the last quarter the GDP had declined further by 7%. This condition persisted in the first quarter of 2012 and then there was a little improvement although the GDP still remained negative. After the long contraction of the economic performance the GDP started improving in 2014 but it was still negative. The GDP is expected to become positive in the current year. Although a positive GDP is being anticipated the level expected will still below the euro average GDP. Iran on the other hand started facing a contraction in its business cycle in 2011. At the beginning of 2011, the country was facing a constant GDP growth rate of around 6% to 8% per annum. This increasing GDP was halted in mid 2011 when the GDP faced a significant drop. The GDP growth rate fell below 5% and the downward trend continued until July 2012. At this time the GDP had fallen greatly and was on the negative side. The growth rate at mid- year 2012 was estimated to be -10%. This was the lowest level achieved during the period. After the 2012 drop in GDP it started increasing at a constant rate until early 2013 a downward movement. The drop was short term and by mid 2013 the GDP growth rate had started rising again. By mid-year 2014 the GDP growth rate was positive again at a level of around 5%. One of the main reasons for the downward economic growth in Italy was the high public debt. The shrinking GDP in the

Importance of Peer Review Essay Example for Free

Importance of Peer Review Essay A student in a graduate program must conduct research during the course of study. The purpose of this assignment is to discuss how one can determine which references are credible and which are not. Importance of Peer Review As a scholar-practitioner it is of utmost importance to know that information is obtained from a source which is peer reviewed. When a journal or article has been designated as peer reviewed this means that the information has been submitted to several of the authors peers for content review. The reviewers must agree that the information has been gathered through the use of proper research methods, and that it is accurate and original. Knowing that Articles Retrieved are from Peer-Reviewed Journals The articles I downloaded for this week’s application are peer reviewed. The Walden University library has a search feature which allows one to find only peer reviewed articles quickly and easily. This is the procedure I followed when obtaining my articles. If an article is obtained from a source other than the Walden library, verification of peer review can be done through Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory. Importance of Peer Reviewed Articles My area of interest is nursing education. It is important that the information I share with students has been peer reviewed. I want to make sure it is accurate and credible. Summary In summary, it is essential for students in a graduate program to always make sure resources utilized for research are peer reviewed. The information obtained for assignments must be reliable and accurate. References Cornell University. (April 5, 2011). Cornell University Library. Retrieved from http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill20.html Walden University. (2011). Walden University Library. Retrieved from http://library.waldenu.edu/689.htm

Social Networking: A Modern Day Freak Show Essay -- Social Networking

The carnival grotesque, with its freak shows and abnormal humans, was very popular and controversial back in the late 18th to early 19th century, by then it had matured into a distinct form of entertainment. In the 21st century, has the concept become dated? Has the freak show been revealed for the mistreatment and subjugation of many poor human beings? We live in times where many things that were once discriminated are now accepted and many kinds of people recognized as members of society and although there are instances that would challenge that notion, it is only a minority. This represents the progress mankind has made to understand one another. But has the idea of the freak show been abandoned with this new period? It is unfortunate to say that is not the case. In fact if anything it has only intensified with the advancement of society, particularly relating with technology and social networking. Social networking is the spectacle and barker in this relationship of the freak sho w to modern times. It is because of social networking, that we can see examples of the freak show displayed in our daily lives. I want to explore this further, explaining in greater detail how the freak show and the carnival grotesque have advanced with society as everything else and in fact plays on these advancements to contribute to the spectacle of the freak show and grotesque. Of course, technology is how we advance in society. In advancement, we take on new cultures and let us abandoned many uncivilized ideas. Social media sites like Facebook or Twitter are examples of how we have advanced in talking with more people and social networking. With that, people argue that it has led to â€Å"more communication and not less† (Observer) and makes sociali... ... 16 Nov. 2015. . Marche, Stephen. "Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?." Atlantic. n. page. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. . Marynell Maloney Law Firm, . "Is Facebook Turning You Into A Monster." EmilyVento. Blogger, 22 Mar 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. . Mean Comments. 2010. Photograph. Mean CommentsWeb. 17 Dec 2013. . Nyoung, . "freak shows for our times." Western Morning News. (2007): n. page. Print. The Observer, . "Social networking under fresh attack as tide of cyber-scepticism sweeps US." Guardian. (2011): n. page. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. .

A CRITIQUE OF THE SNOW CHILD, TAKEN FROM ANGELA CARTER’S THE BLOODY CHA

A CRITIQUE OF THE SNOW CHILD, TAKEN FROM ANGELA CARTER’S THE BLOODY CHAMBER. Throughout ’The Bloody Chamber’, Angela Carter takes the highly successful conventions that belong to once innocent fairy tales, and rips them unremorsefully from their seemingly sound foundations to create a variety of dark, seductive, sensual stories, altering the landscapes beyond all recognition and rewarding the heroines with the freedom of speech thus giving them license to grab hold of the reigns of the story. The Snow Child is one such story by Carter, where connotations seen in fairytales such as ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ are in evidence and are fused together accompanied by the emergence of feminism to the foreground of the story, numerous examples of rich and highly effective and evocative symbolism and a certain element of sexuality. In essence, The Snow Child tells of a Count and his Countess who are riding on horseback when the Count suddenly expresses his desire for a girl with ‘skin as white as snow’, ‘lips as red as blood’ and ‘hair as black as a raven’. She then materialises before their very eyes, after which, the Count lifts her up, and sits her in front of him on his saddle. The jealousy oozes from the Countess, who after seeing this, has only one train of thought - how can she rid herself of The Snow Child? The Countess’s place is usurped by the child as is symbolised by the transfer of the Countess's clothes onto her, leaving the Countess naked. Eventually the child dies and the Count gets off his horse and rapes her before the dead body of the girl melts away and consequently, the Countess is re-clothed. This narrative clearly exposes how the heroines of fairy tales are the const... ...s she who demands the girl to ‘Pick me one’ when passing a ‘bush of roses’ - the rose that she picks eventually kills her as she ‘pricks her finger on the thorn’. As a result she ‘bleeds; screams; falls.’ Bizarrely, the ‘weeping’ Count gets off his horse and proceeds to rape the corpse in a horrific act of necrophilia - all the while, the Countess ‘watched him narrowly’, hinting at a spiteful evil glare. ‘He was soon finished’. In my opinion, it is at this point where the Count loses the little respect the reader would have had for him and suggests a certain degree of incapability on his part. Finally, the Countess ‘stroked her fur’ with ‘her long hands’ whilst the Count ‘picked up the rose, bowed and handed it to his wife’, suggesting a transfer of power at this late stage in the story. She drops the rose after touching it, declaring, ‘It bites!’.

Critically Evaluate the Case for Social Partnership Between Unions and Employers

Critically evaluate the case for social partnership between unions and employers The concept of social partnership originates from the Rhenish model of industrial relations. It has passed in to the British lexicon through the European Union. At a European level the social partners are trade unions and employers federations. However in the UK the employers peak federation the CBI has indicated that it is unwilling to fulfil such a role at a national level. Instead the Anglo-Saxon model of social partnership operates a company and workplace level. This essay will investigate the arguments for and against social partnership on the Anglo-Saxon model from the perspective of the employer and trade union. It will recognise that the criteria for judging the efficacy of social partnership differ between employers and unions. The case for social partnership from the employer perspective is ambiguous and will be contingent on management attitudes and business strategy. It will argue that while social partnership undoubtedly presents problems for trade unions it is by far the lesser of two evils when compared with individualised employee involvement and human resource management policies. Trade unions should promote partnership as an alternative ideology to capital driven unitarism. If implemented in the context of collective bargaining mutual gains principals offer a model for company level social partnership. Proponents of the mutual gains enterprise are quite clear that it is not a universally applicable prescription. To be made to work it requires high levels of investment in human resources, employees cannot be treated as just another cost, to be trimmed where possible. However companies willing to pursue ‘mutual gains’ policies benefit from increased productivity and creativity, and consequently higher profitability. Companies that are trying to compete purely on the basis of lowest cost would not be able to implement the principles. Kochan and Osterman marshal considerable case study evidence to support their theory. However at the moment the empirical research to validate it does not exist . Freidman (1977) has proposed that employer strategies towards the workforce are contingent on the economic cycle. When factors are favourable employers are more likely to emphasise policies with elements of employee involvement and greater trust that are likely to win loyalty and support of the workforce. While in times of recession, declining profitability and an unfavourable labour market positionemployers are more likely to fall back on authoritarian policies, cutting back wages and increasing supervision. This may provide a framework for understanding the conditions in which employers are prepared to enter into social partnership agreements. Kochan and Osterman offer the further hypothesis that mutual gains theory will work better if the enterprise recognises independent trade unions. They argue that union based voice mechanisms are more effective than the alternatives because they recognise that the interests of the workforce and the company will not always be in unison. Where conflicts do arise union voice mechanisms allow them to be negotiated and resolved without compromising the climate of co-operation and trust. This is not a view shared by everyone. Nestle provide an example of a company introducing HRM practices to achieve mutual gains objectives in parallel with traditional collective bargaining. In the long run Nestle management expect traditional industrial relations to wither away, replaced by individual relationships between the company and its employees. (Taylor, 1994:131). Given that there are conditions in which employers are more likely to pursue employee involvement policies I would offer the hypothesis that the union attitude is an important factor influencing the way in which an employer introduces HRM and employee involvement strategies. If the union is not prepared to work in partnership the employer may proceed with policies that would have the effect of de-collectivising the workforce and marginalising the union. If the union side are prepared to engage in partnership at a strategic level then the form of partnership may be considerably more favourable to unions and there members. There is currently no data available to test this hypothesis rigorously, however case studies may shed some light on the area.

Vegetation Recovery Using Remote Sensing Image In Yellowstone National Park after the Fires in 1988

Vegetation Recovery Using Remote Sensing Image In Yellowstone National Park after the Fires in 1988 Literature Review The Connection between Vegetation Recovery and Burning Severity of Fires Before analyzing the images produced by means of remote sensing, it is necessary to analyze the aspects and criteria according to which the images can detect various patterns of vegetation recovery after the fire. Specifically, much research has been done on the analysis of connection between biodiversity and remote sensing techniques as well as other methods for types of recovery vegetation.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Vegetation Recovery Using Remote Sensing Image In Yellowstone National Park after the Fires in 1988 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Kennedy, remote sensing contributes greatly to the analysis of vegetation cover and provides sufficient information about atmospheric chemistry (133). In particular, satellite remote sensing techniques can provide exhaustive data on the patterns and criteria n ecessary for analyzing sophisticated interactions and mechanisms connecting fire density, vegetation cover, atmospheric chemistry, and climate. The researcher has found that gas emitted into atmosphere as well as shifts occurred to the atmospheric ratio is possible to effectively detect with the help of remote sensing. However, the examination of such dependencies does not provide viable solutions to the analysis of vegetation recovery in relation to temporal scales. Still, there is a possibility to identify the nature of gasses emitted. More detailed information on this issue is provided by Turner et al. who have managed to provide sufficient justification to remote sensing images and how they can be used to identify various types of forests and vegetation (306). According to the researcher, â€Å"†¦recording numerous densities at different heights throughout the canopy and enables three-dimensional profiles of vegetation structure to be made† (Turner et al. 307). With the help of this data, it is possible to detect the potential for such techniques as mapping of sub-canopy layers and emergent tree species. A great contribution to the analysis of distribution patterns and habitat categorizations carried with the help of remote sensing techniques. This examination has been provided by Debinsky, Kindsher, and Jakubauskas (3281). The researchers have also applied to Landsat TM data analysis in order to evaluate various forest and meadow types in Yellowstone Park. Importantly, the studies also seek to define the relation between vegetations areas and animal species distribution which is quite essential because the foci of birds and animals can be the indicators of dense vegetation.Advertising Looking for term paper on geography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Particular species can be affiliated to a particular vegetation pattern. Interestingly, the research conducted by Debinski et a l, reveals â€Å"large differences in species distribution patterns among remotely sensed meadow types† in different temporal dimensions (3283). The same concerns are considered by Gould (1861). White et al have also been more consistent and pertinent to our research considerations (125). In their studies, they emphasize that aside from vegetations patterns, there are also burning severity patterns resulted in different topographic vegetation. The patterns are received with the help of satellite data that show significant changes in physical characteristics of burnt areas. The researchers have discovered that it is necessary to be knowledgeable about electromagnetic energy. In this respect, they have also defined that â€Å"†¦more severely burned areas have less vegetation cover and different radiation budgets in post-fire years† (White et al.124). Such important deductions will be of great relevance to our research because different patterns of burning severity w ill assist in analyzing the patterns presented in Yellowstone National Park. With regard to the consideration presented above, it should be emphasized that the vegetation recovery change patterns largely depend on the burning severity of fire. This linkage is revealed through carbon dioxide density, biophysical characteristics of burnt areas, radiation and spectral analysis, and electromagnetic energy. Spectral Analysis with Regard to Vegetation Recovery Patterns A possibility to distinguish the changing patterns of vegetation recovery and burning severity cannot be solely relied because such factors as the process of spectral analysis and carbon dioxide density are crucial in providing an accurate and consistent examination of temporal characteristics of vegetation recovery. In this respect, it is necessary to analyze the connection between carbon dioxide emission, and how they relate to fires and vegetation patterns. It is also imperative to prove why remote sensing, spectral anal ysis and Landsat TM techniques are crucial in identifying the influences of fire on vegetation recovery.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Vegetation Recovery Using Remote Sensing Image In Yellowstone National Park after the Fires in 1988 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The research provided by Jakubauskas and Price offer a clear picture of the relations between biotic factors and spectral analysis of forests in the Park (1375). With the help of multiple regression models, the researchers have provided the correlation of digital spectral analysis and biotical factors. The results have revealed that â€Å"tree height and diameter combined to form an index of crown volume, which in turn combined with density for an index of canopy volume† (Jakubauskas and Price 1379). The scholars have also detected other crucial, though less significant, factors and dimensions of spectral analysis such as leaf area index a nd vegetation index. Although the research provided by Jakubauskas and Price is of great value for further examination, it can be supported by the studies analyzing vegetation dynamics with regard to temporal scales (1378). In particular, Shannon and Lawrence are more close to the analysis of vegetation recovery patterns in relation to temporal scale (551). The value of their research consists in presenting change vector analysis with help of 1985 and 1999 images. This analysis is â€Å"a rule-based change detection method that examines the angle and magnitude of change between dates in spectra space† (Shannon and Lawrence 551). The process of change detection has succeed in presenting the changes within herbaceous and shrub land vegetation. The spectral and change vector analyses have detected that â€Å"there was a decrease in grass lands and a relative increase in srublands† (Shannon and Lawrence 554). The presented research can greatly assist in the exploration of vegetation recovery patters of change in Yellowstone National Park. The above-presented research provides consistent information about pattern distributions, but it lacks information about fire factor and its impact on vegetation recovery and accuracy of the research. This gap can be complemented with the explorations provided by Turner, Hargrove, Gardiner, and Romme (731). In general, spectral analysis plays an important role in identifying the changing patterns of vegetation recovery. It is also significant in defining various species of vegetation and describing pattern distributions on a particular geographic area.Advertising Looking for term paper on geography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Technical possibilities and Limitations of Remote Sensing Techniques Remote sensing approaches can differ with regard to various resolutions of remotely sensed images. In order to succeed in researching our objectives, the analysis of advantages and limitations of these techniques is crucial. The studies presented by Wright and Gallant (582), Asner (2), Cohen and Goward (535), and Murtaugh and Philips (99). All scholars provide a comprehensive evaluation of all limitations to using remote sensing tools. In order to critically assess the technical possibility of remote sensing techniques, Wright and Gallant have provided a historical background of previous researches dedicated to the efficiency assessment (582). The results show that â€Å"remote sensing is the moderate spatial and spectral resolution of multispectral instruments like TM sensor† (Wright and Gallant 584) Therefore, it will be difficult to distinguish forested upland and forested wetland in spectral terms. The a pplication of remote sensing techniques cannot be solely applied, but in combination with ancillary data. Due to the fact that carbon dioxide is considered to be the indicator of vegetation recovery and burning severity of fire, ancillary technique should also involve carbon mapping as well which will back up the date collected form remotely sensed images (Asner 2). Such devices are quite relevant and applicable to the temporal analysis of vegetation because carbon spectral patterns of change can also be the signifiers of vegetation recovery stage. In particular, carbon densities can be easily correlated with burning severities, and vegetation recovery, and species analysis. More importantly, the carbon analysis includes the acquisition of maps depicting types of forest, disturbance, and deforestation. Remote sensing techniques are also applicable to temporal analysis of vegetation patterns. In this regard, Murtaugh and Philips provide a bivariate binary model for evaluating the shi fts in land cover with the help of satellite images received at different times (99). Such classification is aimed at correlating random variables that are dependent on the pixel resolution. Importantly, the researchers have applied to Landsat imaging for pixel classification and its correlation with land cover changes. Cohen and Goward also emphasize the importance of using remote sensing to assess temporal and spatial characteristics of ecological environment (535). In the particular, they used date obtained from Landsat sensors for constructing biogeochemical cycles and for characterizing vegetation biophysical attributes with regard to biodiversity. The research find remote sensing valid and reliable for analyzing vegetation and land cover change. In contrast, Ravan and Roy consider it necessary to introduce Geographic information systems for the analysis of various vegetation patterns and obtaining relevant information (129). The combined approach is much more efficient in dete cting such characteristics as vegetation shape, size, patch density and porosity. The research results has revealed significant different between different zones of Madhav National Part of India (Ravan and Roy 130). The structural analysis has provided vegetation recovery also largely dependent of biomass distribution and species diversity. Arising from this research, remote sensing and GIS can be successfully applicable to the temporal analysis of vegetation providing more accurate information. Innes and Koch state that remote sensing is considered the most efficient tool in assessing vegetation, and other biophysical characteristics such as structural criteria of forest stands, the canopy type and the present of coarse woody debris (397). The researchers emphasize that it is possibly to rely solely on remote sensing when investigating the spatial and temporal characteristics of vegetations. Interesting discoveries are offered by Turner, Ollinger, and Kimball who also approve remot e sensing techniques for evaluating spatial characteristics of vegetation (574). In particular, the researchers resort to remote sensing tools and ecosystem modeling to study the terrestrial carbon cycling. Pursuant to remote sensing limitation, explain that this device is constantly upgrading and it is possible to select the appropriate resolution of images to analyze the reflectance properties of vegetation and assess biogeochemical processes controlling carbon transformation. In general, the majority of the above-described researchers prove that remote sensing is one of the most efficient instruments in conducting the assessment of vegetation recovery with regard to its temporal and spatial characteristics. Nevertheless, the analysis will be much more successful if to apply this technique together with GIS approach. Overall Recommendations and Conclusion The analysis of image obtained by remote sensing allows to detect various patterns of vegetation recovery with regard to tempor al characteristics. The Yellowstone National Park has been analyzed in three various time – 1989, 1999, and 2010. The image obtained from Landsat TM, ISODATA being an ancillary mechanism revealed that there significant changes in vegetation recovery patterns in relation to temporal characteristics. In addition, classification scheme of vegetation used to shrub land, herbaceous vegetation, sparse vegetation, and bare land has turned out to be flexible and relevant for the research. The presented research proves conducted by Jakubauska and Price (1375) The results have also show that vegetation recovery patterns are closely connected with burning severity of fire. Importantly, the spectral analysis and Landsat TM show biophysical characteristics of burnt areas. The evaluation has also succeeded in defining the changes of species allocation on the territory of Yellowstone National Park. The technical approach used for the data analysis still had some limitations. In particular, it was difficult information without geographic information system because some characteristics were impossible to detect, such carbon dioxide cycle. Nevertheless, the classification of species was successfully identified and carefully analyzed with regard to temporal characteristics. In future, we plan to investigate this area and other territories, but with another combination of techniques either to justify or disapprove the effectiveness of those as compared with the above presented ones. This area is quite wide and, therefore, there is much store for investigation. Asner, Gregory P. Tropical Forest Carbon Assessment: Integrating Satellite and Airborne Mapping Approaches. Environmental Research Letters 4 (2009):1-11 Cohen, Warren D., and Samuel N. Goward. Landsat’s Role in Ecological Applications of Remote Sensing. BioScience. 54.6 (2004): 535-545. Debinski, D. M. and Kindscher, K., and Mark Jakubauskas. A Remote Sensing and GIS-based model of habitats and biodiversity i n the Greater Yellowstone Ecosysyem. Journal of Remote Sensing. 20.17 (1999): 3281-3291. Gould, William. Remote Sensing of Vegetation, Plant Species Richness, and Regional Biodiversity Hotspots. Ecological Applications. 10.6 (2000): 1861-1870. Innes John L., and Barbara Koch. Forest Biodiversity and Its Assessment by Remote Sensing. Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters. 7.6 (1998): 397-419. Jakubauskas, Mark, and Kevin P. Price. Empirical Relationships between Structural and Spectral Factors of Yellowstone Lodgepole Pine Forests. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 63.12 (1997, December): 1375-1381 Kennedy, Pam. Biomass Burning Studies: The Use of Remote Sensing. Ecological Bulletins. 15 (1992): 133-148. Murtaugh, Paul A. and Donald L. Philips. Temporal Correlation of Classification in Remote Sensing. Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Statistics. 3.1. (1999, March): 99-110 Ravan, Shirish, A., and P. S. Roy. Satellite Remote Sensing for Ecological Analysis of Forested Landscape. Plant Ecology. 131.2 (1997): 129-141; Savage, Shannon L., and Rick L. Lawrence. Vegetation Dynamics in Yellostone’s Northern Range: 1985 to 1999. Photogrammetric Engineering Remote Sensing. 76.5 (2010): 547-556. Turner, David P., Ollinger Scott V., and John S. Kimball. Integrating Remote Sensing and Ecosystem Process Models for Landscape- to Regional-Scale Analysis of the Carbon Cycle. BioScience. 54.6 (2004, June): 573-584. Turner, Monica G., Hargrove Willia W., Gardiner Robert H., and William H. Romme. Effects of fire on landscape heterogeneity in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Journal of Vegetation Science. 5 (1994): 731-742. Turner, Woody, Spector Sasha, Gardiner Ned, Fladeland Matthew, Sterling Eleanor, and Mark Steininger. Remote Sensing for Biodiversity Science and Conservation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 18.6. (2003, June): 306-314 White, Joseph D., Ryan, Kevin C., Key, Carl C., and Steven W. Running. Remote Sensing of Fores t Fire Severity and Vegetation Recovery. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 6.1 (1996): 125-136. Wright, Christ and Alisa Gallant. Improved Wetland Remote Sensing in Yellowstone National Park Using Classification Trees to Combine TM imagery and Ancillary Environmental Data. Remote Sensing of Environment. 107 (2007): 582-605.

301 Short Story Ideas Guaranteed to Kick Your Writing into High Gear

301 Short Story Ideas Guaranteed to Kick Your Writing into High Gear With shorter attention spans and increasingly hectic lives, its no wonder readers love short stories now as much as ever. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Shawshank Redemption, Minority Report, and Brokeback Mountain- even Hollywood has taken a renewed interest in short stories.Below are 301 short story prompts and starters to help you become inspired, get past writers block and explore the fascinating process of writing in a genre that Stephen King famously once compared to a kiss in the dark from a stranger.Please feel free to use any of these ideas to spark your next creative project. You dont have to credit us, but it would be much appreciated if you do! A simple link to ServiceScape is the best way to do that.AdventureA group of hunters are on a hunt. Their dress and actions are completely primitive until the end when they change back into suits and leave the area in modern vehicles.Weather patterns across the globe suddenly shift, causing natural law to go haywire. A fa mily tries to make sense of it while getting to safety.A flood swept away an entire town, leaving only the library and its strange secret.Your main character is evicted from their home and forced to call in some favors. Although, those favors take him/her on a wild ride they never expected.The night before an important social function, your main character is tasked with saving the world.Your main characters boat is sinking in the middle of the ocean and he/she only has 1 hour to make a raft from parts of the vessel.Your main character joins the communist regime and leads the party to glorious victory over the capitalist bourgeoisie funded by your antagonists Super-PAC.Your main character has a change of heart and partners up with your antagonist, joining their evil organization and proving a much more capable evil overlord than your antagonist could ever hope to be.Your characters things are packed up and they are ready to leave town tomorrow. Before they say goodbye to their town, they decide to stop by at their favorite bar just to say goodbye. Something that happens at the bar makes them question whether or not leaving is the right decision.When your character is hanging out at their favorite coffee shop, they notice someone loitering outside. As your character leaves, they see a black SUV pull up and a very handsome man gets out. The loiterer goes to lunge for the man, but your character instinctively decides to jump on him, blocking him from attacking the unsuspecting man. It turns out that the handsome man is the governor of the state. What happens next?Two giant fingers reach down and pluck your main character away from what they were just doing, and unceremoniously deposit them on a pirate ship.Your main character finds an abandoned car, keys still inside, parked outside their home.Your protagonist is a corporate CEO who suddenly must hunt and forage his own food.Your characters are trapped in a structure that constantly shifts and changes. How do they find their way out?Sci-fi, Fantasy, and SupernaturalYour main character wakes up in the body of the person he/she most despises.An outdoor music festival receives strange, otherworldly visitors who decide to take the stage for their own performance.A man wakes up to discover he can no longer hear but can see things hes never seen before.A man and his dog go to the dog park to play and the dog finds a bone with strange carvings on it that reacts to the environment in unexpected ways.A group of high school friends cross paths 10 years after graduation to catch up, only to learn that one in their midst has developed special, superhuman powers.A secondary character stumbles upon a talking blade, and they begin behaving suspiciously.Your character wakes one morning and finds that they are physically stronger, faster, and have greater reflexes than when they went to sleep. Each time they sleep, they become stronger.As if losing everything she owned in the tornado wasnt enough, Lila learn ed that shed been laid off from her job. And thats when she started noticing the monsters.A tertiary character is revealed to be The chosen one, and your main character must help them to succeed in fulfilling their destiny.The antagonist dies, but the story doesnt end.Your main character is given a suit that protects them from danger- unfortunately it has a different threshold for safety than seems ideal.A character in your story becomes aware that they are in a story.our character wakes up deaf and mute but sees more colors than he or she knew was possible.Your main character finds that time has slowed for them. Each year they age only several weeks, and slowly those nearest them are beginning to take notice.Your main character makes a pact with an alien visitor to trade bodies for the day to tour around unnoticed.Your main character wakes up in an unrecognizable city that is at least 100 years more advanced in technology than we are today.Lightning strikes your main character and he/she wakes up in the hospital with a small black goblin perched on their shoulder, which no one else can see.The sun goes out, replaced by building-sized lights in the sky over each major city. Across the world, beams of light descend from the sky, and each points toward your main character.A secondary character is visited by aliens. They are told that they have been chosen as a representative of humanity amongst the interstellar accord. They need your main characters advice.Your main character has a theme song which plays for ten seconds every time they enter a room.Your protagonist is visited by a comic book hero who needs their help.Your character cannot wake from a series of back-to-back dreams that feel like he or she is awake.All rhinos have gone extinct except for two, and your main character has been granted guardianship of the last two of their kind.Your character notices a weird growth on their arm one morning. They brush it off as a weird bump or scratch- until it turns into something else entirely.Your character has always thought of their parents in a certain way, but here lately theyre doing something unusual that changes your characters opinion of them.Your main character is the owner of a variety store and an invisible car crashes through the wall, driven by an invisible person.Your antagonist and protagonist meet in the afterlife, hundreds of thousands of years after your story takes place.Your antagonist and protagonist get freaky-Friday-ed. When they wake up, each is in the others body.Your main character is suddenly invisible, but they dont know how long it will last.Your main character wakes up, in high school again, and finds that they are late for an important test.Your main character is granted a single wish, but must be careful, because the genie granting the wish will attempt to misinterpret any wish they make.Your main character finds himself/herself in the video game they were playing.Your main character is the leader of a random group of apocalypse survivors who must now forage for food.A cell phone is found locked inside a cabinet in a home recently purchased by newlyweds. On it is a recorded message from their future children. What does the message say and how did it get there?Your main character and the three people standing closest to them, are thrown backwards in time three hundred years.Your protagonist can see the future and doesnt want to leave his/her home.Your main character discovers that they are a wizard, and that this means they will have to leave their family to learn how to safely practice magic, in a school they have never heard of.Suddenly, your main character can hear the thoughts of everyone who is wearing the same color shirt as they are.Your protagonist dies. The story doesnt end.Your main character is really a guardian angel in human form.Your protagonist meets a man claiming to be God. He/she doesnt believe the man, but then miracles ensue.Two adult sisters discuss a fateful night wh en they were teenagers and ran away from home, only to encounter a pack of vampires waiting to take them in.A family comes together for Christmas, only to discover that they have somehow switched bodies and perspectives over the course of the meal.A man or woman wakes up as his/her dog or cat and its breakfast time.Two writers discover theyve written the exact same text, word for word, 1,000 miles apart from each other.A parent and child encounter their ancestor, who has been dead for centuries, and they go on a walk through the city/the woods.A lost Incan treasure is found in the basement of a school in Ohio. How did it get there? And more importantly, how is it glowing?Your main character suddenly loses his ability to see but can hear things he hadnt heard before..Its 2050 and most of America has become one large city except for a small area in the middle of the country, considered uninhabitable by most people except for a few. Who are they and how do they survive?Romance and Dram aA secondary character starts their own business and enlists your main character to help it succeed but falls in love instead.Your antagonist wins over your main characters best friend, convincing that friend of their good intentions.Your main character gets a new job, working at the evil corporation run by your antagonist- but the work they would be doing could really help people.Your main character and their best friend find themselves in a love triangle with your antagonist.A couple is having an argument at the table beside your character at a restaurant. Although they are trying to avoid eye contact, your character realizes that one of them is the ex that the other never quite got over.A tertiary character is seriously stressing out, and your protagonist feels the need to reach out to them with a kind gesture. It does the opposite of help.Your character is talked into going to their romantic interests mothers dance recital, and their romantic interest doesnt show up.Your charact er is at a friends house for a dinner party. Suddenly, someone they absolutely despise walks in. What do they do now?Your characters boyfriend of five years surprises them with an engagement ring at a dinner with their whole family. They pause for a minute before they answer him. But if he knew their secret, there is no way he would be proposing right now. The whole room is waiting for the response.Your character gets matched up with a famous person on Tinder. What happens on their date?Your characters friend introduces them to someone at a party. It turns out that your character and the other person actually know each other quite well. However, neither of them acknowledges this fact. The friend steps away. What do they say to each other now?Your characters mom seems really tense when they are out to dinner with her one evening. They ask her whats wrong. I have something to tell you, she says gravely.Write a story about a father and son reuniting for the first time in 20 years. Why did they go so long without talking? What finally brought them together?Your main characters romantic interest finds one day that they are much more interested in your antagonist.Suddenly, a tertiary character confesses their love for your protagonist, getting down on one knee and producing a ring. But your protagonist loves someone else.One night when your character is at a bar with all of their friends, a mysteriously charming stranger starts talking to them. They are instantly captivated by their every word. They ask for your characters number, but theres just one (major) problem.Mystery and HorrorA writers manuscript contains words he didnt write†¦ghostwriting in its truest form. But who is his co-author and what does the ghost want?Your main character comes home to find that their family is missing.Your character wakes up covered with strange tattoos and cant remember how he/she got them.Your protagonist awoke from a nightmare to find an object from his/her dream laying on the pillow.Two cousins hitchhike along a deserted country road, following a stream of black smoke to an abandoned house, where there is no one tending the steadily burning fire.Your main character wakes up in the trunk of a car, their head throbbing.An escaped convict leaves behind evidence of his innocence for the search party to find.Your protagonist wakes up aged considerably, after a Rip Van Winkle-esque 20-year nap, and his friends dont believe his story.Theres no way out of the concert hall but the concert-goers tried to find it anyway. Behind them, the snarling monster prowled.Lost in the woods, two teens encounter a witch-like woman who offers them all theyve ever wanted in exchange for one small thing- their baby sister.Your main character discovers a long-lost sibling who is down on their luck.Your main character is given an important heirloom, an item passed down for generations in their family. But it is cursed.Your main character finds a black mahogany door in their ba sement, shut tight with chains.One night while your character is camping in the woods with their family, theres a loud noise from inside the tent. At first everyone thinks its an animal, but this sounds like nothing theyve ever heard before.Your main character has a conversation with a ghost from their past, either literally or figuratively.Your main character goes broke drinking and gambling and wakes up the next morning with a small white rabbit perched on their chest, possibly stolen from the magic act they saw the night before.Your main character wakes up on a rooftop, in their underwear.Your main character inherits a vast fortune, but they must stay in a creepy old house for an entire night in order to earn it.Your main character sells their soul and seems to have all of their problems solved, only to find out that the devil is a blood relation, and there are no catches.Your main character wakes up to find that  ¾ of the worlds population has suddenly disappeared without a tr ace.Two adopted twin sisters embark on a journey to find their birth father, only to find that hes been close to them all along.Your main characters dog goes missing in the night, and they arent the only one missing a pet. After some sleuthing they discover that a friend has become a werewolf, and that their best friend is the cause of the missing animals.Your main character wakes up wearing a strange ring which glows with sparks of blue electricity.People find that if they dont concentrate on keeping their soul attached to their body, it begins to separate. Without continuous concentration, everyone becomes ghosts of themselves.Your character discovers that theres something really mysterious happening at the neighborhood park. Your character finally works up the nerve to go down there one evening, and what they find is even more peculiar than what they originally thought.Your main character is trapped in a dream that is quickly becoming a nightmare.After a particularly grueling day at work, your character groggily returns to work the next morning. The secretary, who your character has said hello to every morning for about five years, suddenly has no idea who they are. When they tell her their name, she responds: No one by that name has ever worked here.Your character wakes up one morning in what looks to be a hospital. They try to move, but it appears they are strapped into the bed. A nurse suddenly enters the room and calls them by the wrong name. What happened to them? What happens next?The doorbell rings. No one is there, but a mysterious package was left behind. Your character opens it up and find something inside thats very unexpected.Write about a scenario where a character does something terrible and gets away with it completely.Your characters sibling is wanted for a serious crime. They swear that they didnt do it, but your character is not so sure.A ghost of your antagonists great-great-great-grandmother visits your protagonist, warning him to stay a way from her great-great-great-grandchild.On your characters walk to work, they notice that the streets are suspiciously empty. Brushing it off, they finally get to their office. Theres no one inside at all. They walk around searching for someone, anyone to ask whats happening. They find no one and nothing.A child draws scenes that end up happening exactly as he/she draws them. His/her parents try to understand what is happening.OtherYour main character has been knocked unconscious, and another character from your story needs to step up and take their place.At the library one afternoon doing some research, your character notices an unusual photograph. Your character is immediately captivated by it. Whats in the photograph?Your characters grandma recently passed away. In her will, she left your character something very strange.Your main character has just come face to face with their worst enemy, and they are monologuing.Your antagonist has finally won, accomplishing their greatest f eat. Now what?Your antagonist and protagonist swap places for a day.Your antagonist and protagonists are placed in the same dorm room at university. Hilarity ensues.It turns out your antagonist was right the whole time, and now your protagonist has some explaining to do.Your main character or antagonist wins the lottery, a jackpot of 3.4 million dollars. But he/she doesnt want it.Your main character is contemplating suicide until a stranger stops him/her.The king dies, and your antagonists best friend becomes the new ruling monarch. The catch is, they dont seem too bad, other than the fact that your antagonist keeps whispering in their ear.Your protagonist is incredibly late for their next scheduled meeting, and he or she just keeps running into obstacles which stall them further.Your characters birthday wish that they made when they were blowing out the candles actually comes true. What is it? Is it everything that they hoped for?Your characters home is a little worse for wear. It seems like everything is broken and your character has no more money to invest in this money pit. In the garage, they see an old can of gasoline. Would they do the unthinkable? What is going through their mind right now?Your characters family has a lot of traditions. They go along with them, except for one. If their parents knew your character broke this rule, they would likely disown them. What is it? What would your character do if they found out?Your character is a pretty shy, introspective person. One day they wake up and realize that they are saying everything that they think. They cant control the words that are coming out of their mouth at all. While this is helpful when they are trying to talk to friends and acquaintances at work, it really starts to get them into trouble.Your character is a member of a family that has always feuded with their neighbors over trivial issues, and now must ask his/her neighbors for help in an emergency. How do the neighbors respond?Story Starte rsThe place where the world stopped was not so strange, but the vertigo was overwhelming. The girl could not decide whether or not it would be wise to jump.The gear turned, interlaced with another, and another. His eyes traced the inner workings of the machine to the place where the light shone.Static played between the cracks of the monitor, the spark and hiss of the television muffled as the living room filled with water.The hand was pale, as if circulation had long stopped; and the ring upon the creatures finger seemed to glow with a spark of interior fire.They say that when you die in a dream, you die in real life. I can tell you that isnt true; because I died in a dream, and what happened to me was much stranger than that.The girl spun, dragged by the momentum of her backpack, tilting from one foot to the next so that her balance was tenuous, her motions growing wilder.The face in the mirror was not his own. It was handsomer, his eyes more vibrant, his skin clearer. He frowned, uncertain, but his reflection smiled.Once upon a time, in a night with no stars and no moon, there was a shadow in the darkness.Bright blue water held the stars reflections, until she dove beneath the surface. Then for a long moment the lake was still, until I began to grow nervous. When she finally returned, she held aloft over her head the star which had hung in the North, the wish-making star.It was, as the wave of mud descended, sprayed by the wheels of a yellow taxi – it was that moment which made that day the worst of her life.Again, try again. Concentrate now, it will not come easily.Strange, to see her here. She seemed out of place. Not the soft out-of-place, like an uncle entertaining unfamiliar nieces and nephews, but the hard of out-of-place which drew every eye in the room.It was a trick of the fingers, and a twist of the wrist, which changed the shape of the shifting cloak. One moment the garment was a heavy green wool, and the next it was black satin, suitable for the nights entertainments.I have been many things: a pawn, a dancer, a master of the blade; but none of these in the way you might think, and none of them for less than a moment.The torch hissed as he plunged it into the river and let the current sweep the light away. Then he was alone in the dark with the red-ember eyes.Like a dream she had drifted from the room, and like a dream she seemed unreal, and like a dream she was gone.The pencil was now stuck in the ceiling, the glob of green hanging precariously from it; and before I could dash across the room, or throw the stapler again to dislodge it, Mr. Smythe reentered the classroom.The lower level was waist-deep already, flooding from a number of breaches along the starboard hull. Younger crewmen were wading through the water in search of bailing buckets. Older crewmates were racing toward the ladders, offering prayers beneath their breath.The river was home to a great many, and together they drifted along it. It was never fast , never sudden, but always full to brimming of fish, and always clean to drink.The sphere was some metal he had never seen before, like steel but with a faint blue hue. It stood out nearly three feet from the earth; and where it was exposed to the air, lightning struck it repeatedly, illuminating his surroundings with each strike.The woman swung her scythe with the steady clockwork motion of a pendulum.Frost spread across the ground. Slowly at first, with the lingering laziness of autumn, but then with greater fervor; and the creature flew along behind it as it spread across the field.Doom blanketed the town, like silence might have on a more peaceful night.Typical, he thought. Another throwaway evening. Not a soul in town, and not a sound to be heard; but that night was anything but typical.She didnt blink. Not when he made faces, or when he screamed; not when he brought out the joke about the garden gnomes, or the one about the flea circus. She didnt even blink when he resorted to the feather, or when he made a motion like he might poke her in the eye.His favorite color had always been blue. Not because it was depressing or anything – it wasnt – but because it seemed to soak in the light, and then give some of it back. Like black, he thought, but less dead, less drab.The ballet slipper would not fit, and that would never do. Only moments now, before they knocked on her dressing room door, and her sisters slipper would not slide onto her foot.You arent supposed to have conversations through the wall of the changing rooms, especially not the fancy kind where a woman waits outside to ask if everything fits just right. And yet, here she was, knee deep in the most awkward conversation she could imagine.There was no gravity here, and so she floated, waiting to come close enough to something solid that she could push off from it, and toward the exit.They say bleach for blood but the odor is too strong. Best to take it out with hydrogen peroxide. Then again, it looks strange buying thirty bottles of hydrogen peroxide at three in the morning, so I settle for a couple gallons of bleach.The doctor looked up from the manila folder in his hands and said, Your test results are positive.Just as she settled into the backseat with her suitcase and carry-on bag, an oncoming headlight illuminated the drivers face and she realized this wasnt her Uber driver. He was the man theyd been showing on the news the last few days.As the doctor handed the newborn bundle to her, she gasped.As she threw her head back to soak up the flowering spring trees, she saw her ex-husband watching her from across the street. How could he have known she was here?The young girl was maybe 5 or 6 but there was something about her that chilled me to the bone.She might never get the chance to be alone with him again. Her husband was across the country; hed never find out, so why not?Is this your handwriting? the policeman asked with a scowl.Story starters are a great wa y to practice writing short stories.I could have been anything- a doctor, lawyer, architect. Instead, I became a carney.When he saw the state troopers standing on his front stoop, he thought they must have the wrong house. But when the troopers took off their hats and one of them asked, Are you James Cooper? he couldnt find the strength to answer.I knew youd come back to me, she whispered. Its been a lifetime but I knew youd come back.The doctor emerged from the double doors and said, There were some unexpected complications.This was the moment hed been training for. He strapped on his helmet and got in position.She continued running, but as the trail of blood got thicker and the splattered drops got closer together, she started following the blood instead of the greenway path. She had to find the source of all this blood. Was it animal blood... or human?When he looked around, he froze. Hed been here before. This was the same place where he kept getting stuck in his dreams. Would he be able to find his way out in waking life?She shut off the kitchen light and turned to go upstairs to bed, unaware that two sets of eyes were watching her every move.He frantically searched his lab, but he found no sign of the invisibility potion. How could someone have stolen it before he even got the chance to use it?As she listened to him snore on the pillow next to her, she wondered how much longer she could stay married to him. She prayed he would die in his sleep or get hit by a car. Then her eyes fell on the pillow at the foot of the bed.Mr. Dempsey, theyre not both going to make it. We can save your wife or the baby, but we cant save both. You need to let us know your decision in the next two minutes, or we may lose them both.Are you sure you want to do this? the man asked as he positioned the needle over her heart.Nothing had grown in that patch of grass for 50 years. It had been a barren dirt patch ever since that stranger had conjured a fire bolt and scorched the ground . But Tommy definitely saw a green sprout growing in the middle of the barren square. What was it, and how could it produce life in a place that nothing else could?The car rattled as if shed gone over a speed bump, but she knew there were no speed bumps on this road. She looked in her rear view mirror and thought she saw blonde hair†¦ and maybe a human form on the road. She wondered if she should turn back. Had anyone seen her?If you walk out that door right now, I dont ever want to see your face in my home again, his mother said.I will get my money back one way or another, he growled, as he pinned her arms beneath her back.The price of freedom depends on what youre willing to pay. Tell me, sir: how much is your freedom worth to you?She fumbled in her purse for her keys, but her hands were clumsy with fear. Just as her fingers grazed the familiar key fob, a sweaty hand grabbed her shoulder.Hed seen her. She could tell by the smirk on his lips. She pushed through the thick crowd in hopes of making it to the exit before he blocked her way.She glared at the thick bracelet on her bicep. Why did her parents make such a big deal about never taking off? It was heavy and not even stylish. She found clasp and fiddled with it for a moment. Surely her parents were exaggerating about all the awful things that would happen to her if she ever took this off.He extended his hand to her and said, Hi, Im Finkel Wolfson. She looked at his outstretched hand as if it was crawling with spiders and roaches. Oh, Ive heard about you, she said with a sniff. Finkel panicked. He was 3000 miles away from home; how could she have heard about him?One of us has to try it, Amir said as he pointed to the lumpy, unfamiliar fruit on the tree in front of them. If we dont, well starve to death. Death by poison seems worth the risk in case its edible, doesnt it?The night winds rustled as the door to the old womans home slowly opened.She laughed when he told her the news. It was exactly what sh e expected and she knew the lie was over.He glanced in his rearview mirror and saw that the blue sedan was still following him.She stepped off the elevator with a sense of purpose. This time, she would succeed.He flicked the stub of his cigarette onto the pile and walked away without a second look.Just as they got to the edge of town, the car started making a terrible clunking sound.Whats that smell?He rolled down his window and called out, Hey- do you want a ride?You better get down to the station. It happened again.The dog raced toward her with such intensity that she didnt have time to get out of his way.I dont think youre capable of love.He picked up the glowing rock and inspected it. Where had it come from, and how had it ended up in his backyard?By the time Johnny got home, thousands of sheets of paper had piled up on the floor beside the printer, each with only one sentence printed in bold type: I am coming for you, and theres nothing you can do.How could you have married him ? You promised youd wait for me.Ive lost him, she screamed, but none of us knew what shed lost.For a moment, time slowed, and the sound of the approaching storm was all that we could hear.Look out! he shouted.Id never last long in the slammer. I get all frantic when Im in tight spaces, start tryin to climb the walls and such.Tears filled her eyes as she scanned the list a second time. She didnt make the team.Im pregnant.He watched her leave, knowing that she only locked the flimsy doorknob behind her. He had at least two hours before shed be back home.Where am I?What happened to you? She asked.There are three things you never mess with if you know whats good for you: heroin, border patrol, and the Valdez cartel.She fell to the floor when she heard the first explosion. She didnt know if she should try to escape or try to hide.Were sending you to live with another family. Its for your own safety.As she watched this hulking, hairy animal lope across her backyard, she wondered what two creatures collaborated to make this tremendous beast, and what was it looking for?She hasnt spoken a word since the accident. Our friend said that you might be able to help her.Dont lie to me. I already know the truth.As he walked away, his smile grew from a smirk to an all-out grin.Why is all of Daddys stuff in the front yard?He counted his register drawer again. How could he be short $2500?The teacher looked at his gaping shoes and tattered clothes and knew she had to find out what was really going on at home or this kid would end up in the system. She called him up to her desk and asked, Do you want to help me on a project this weekend?If he hurried, he might be able to get back to work before anyone found out what he had done.Do you have experience with demons? she whispered from under the table.This medicine numbs the pain, but it will also permanently numb your ability to feel pleasure. Do you want it?Mr. Whipple, weve just learned that your wife is an undercover agent with th e Russian government. We need your help apprehending her.Once shed confirmed that no one was looking, she ducked into the unmarked building.When she walked outside the next morning, she realized his curse must have worked.He pulled his hat low over his brow and tried to blend in with the crowd, hoping no one would realize who he was.He was inside the video game! But wait- if he was in here... who had the controls?She bent down to pick up the strange-looking shell from the sand, but as soon as her hand touched it, the earth started to shake.He opened the letter and sunk to his knees in the middle of the driveway.What are we going to do once the last of this food is gone? he asked.She looked closer and realized that this tree was growing dollar bills instead of leaves and quarters instead of acorns.There is never a better time to say Im sorry than when karma is kicking you good.When the pigeon swooped down in front of her, she realized it had a note attached to its right leg.Ill need to speak to at least three of your ex-girlfriends to check your references before Ill go on a date with you.Mommy, theres a ghost in my room!Something wasnt right. No one seemed to recognize her. No one even really seemed to see her. Could he have erased her existence?They had never been this high before. As she reached for the next rock outcropping, she wondered if it was actually close enough to reach, or if she was about to fall into the canyon.This is something we dont usually show visitors, the museum docent whispered as she unlocked the door marked DANGER!He looked both ways before crossing the street, not realizing that he had just made the worst decision of his life.How did you get that scar?He muttered a few extra spells as he stirred the potion. He couldnt risk it malfunctioning this time.Every person on the street and in the mall looked identical. They were all wearing red shirts and blue shorts, and every single one was a man with light skin and short brown hair. What ha d happened, and how was she the only one who was still different?You dont understand, she said, looking at him sadly. I am not who you think I am.All the lights in the city went out and they knew the monsters were surrounding them.If you take one step closer, itll be the last step you ever take, he said, pointing the weapon at the strange figure in front of him. But his threat was useless, since the creature had no feet.There, nestled within the grove of trees, was the thing hed been waiting for since he was 12 years old.Whos there? Her words bounced off of the metal walls of shipping containers when she awoke. But there was only the echo of her own voice to answer her.They were lost in the woods and they knew it, although this time was different. This time, they were hunted.Looking into the fire was the wrong thing to do. He found he couldnt drag his stare away.It wasnt until my father pushed me off the cliff that I believed he was telling the truth.The sign hit them like an inanim ate object.The pumpkin would not stop growing, despite the application of the second potion. The witch had lied.All four tires were on the ground, but I had started floating toward the surface.Smoke leaked from the exhaust pipes of the Mustang as the plane began to descend. She looked into the jungle below, dreading the impact.Picture us, standing against the world, armed to the teeth, walking out into that blizzard.If romance is dead, then I suppose there are none to blame but the hopeless romantics. It was a boy, not too long ago, that taught me romance – real romance- isnt something hopeless, or unenergetic like stale poetry, or futile like canned compliments.Its impossible to tell really, just how many times Ive come back.When a pet passes away, the moment is strangely dense. That moment as I held the shoebox was the longest of my young life, but there were harder times to come.The girl crept past the open door, listening with piqued interests for clues revealed in the vo ices beyond it.Thunder does not crash like a wave, but ripples outward like a pebble tossed into a pond. When the lightning struck, I was the first to hear that thunder.Heroes wear masks for all kinds of reasons. I wear the mask so they cant see the grey at my temples or the weariness of age in my eyes.The sun never shone like it did that day. It baked my skin until I felt I might burn in the shade, but I never did. Nothing went wrong that day.The paper tore once, twice, three times. I shredded it and scattered it to the wind.Ma always told me not to climb so high. Always lookin out for me cause I aint look out for myself. Too bad Ma aint here now.They think they know me, but they dont really. I hunt only at night and only when I know I have the advantage over my prey.City slicker like myself doesnt have a wit of business in the country. They knew it. I knew it. Not a one of us in that room was happy Id purchased the land.Heres the thing about family. Family sticks together, but its almost never roses and sunshine. Family sticks together when you have nothing; so when you have it all, well, things get complicated in a different way.It wasnt my idea to paint the damn cow, it was Johnnys; but I suppose Im to blame for going along with it.Stars spin real slow. So slow you cant see it, unless you have the time and the resources to take a really close look.I cant say I ever much liked gym class. Ive never seen the point of running unless you were being chased. But Im running now, arent I? I guess Im glad I never skipped gym.Its been a few years since the guns got off the street, and the drugs. Didnt happen all at once, but it did happen fast. Not sure I like it.My dad raised me believing that time is money. Now that money is time though, Im not sure anything he taught me means what I thought it would.I realized that something was wrong when I thought Im getting married, instead of Im getting married to John.It wasnt a happy winter, but it wasnt so sad either, consi dering.Blood is thicker than water, we all heard that. What people dont do is say it out full: The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb, which, (if you ask me, which you didnt) means almost the opposite.Never thought Id dance on his grave, not really.Clouds parted that night, while I was bending picking weeds in the dark- fool thing to do- and the moon shone down on my garden.There are dreamers like me, but none as vivid, and none who know the clouds and sunshine of my mind as I do.You cant sing- cant really sing- a happy song when you are sad; but I know now that you can sing a sad song, and fill that song with life, when you are happy.All it took was one step into the water and I knew I was home.If love stories begin with wonder and end with tragedy, this isnt really a love story.She looked out the window and saw moving shadows, as far as the eye could see, and was thankful at least for the light from the window on the house on the hill.Im falling for you, h e said. But he knew that look and he regretted it immediately.Give me five minutes and Ill turn that girls silly smile into a look of shock.At dawn, we were swallowed up by the darkness, but it didnt matter, really. We had waited for it all night long.If loss were a taste, youd spit it out as soon as you were able to. But it isnt. Its a sound and a cry and it goes on forever.That night in September, the body count was almost as high as the temperature..Theyre not even normal, the little girl whispered. Look Ma, those men have gills for ears.She closed her eyes and remembered the flowers in her mothers yard and how red the roses grew.There was nothing left to say but I love you as they stood together and watched the world burn.Mamma, theres someone here to see you. I knew from the sound of my daughters scared voice who that someone was.Lost in a wonderland of sorts, I wandered the homes slanted hallways until I found the right room.There he is, she shouted. I told you he†¦..! Bu t before I could turn to look, she screamed and fell silent.The explosion could be seen for miles around, but only two people saw it.She couldnt identify the lifeforms standing across from her but she knew they werent human. She also knew they werent friendly.Here, put on this mask, she said. They cant know who you really are.It took 15 days and 11 hours to reach the mountain range on foot, but there it was in front of us, big as we knew it would be.I dont know how you handle this type of thing on Earth, she spat, but here on Mars, we dont let killers run free.