Calliope In Time

by Holly St. Clair

 

Quote One

From Chapter 1: Shoes

Living in the house next to the neighbor who always returned her shoes, was a child who was never out on the streets with the other kids. Calliope's mom, Lou, suggested that she go over and play with this girl. Beth was a few years older than Calliope but did not talk. The two would often play together on the swing set in Beth's back yard, in silent communion. In fact, it was Beth who had given her the idea of throwing her shoes over a fence. One breezy fall day Beth threw her shoes into the wash behind their houses, and they wordlessly watched the Buster Browns float slowly down the small stream.

Quote Two

From Chapter 2: Work

Callie stared at her papers for a moment, set them aside and then said "OK." She threw off her defeatist air and momentarily brightened. "I've certainly done my time as a waitress. Let's see, there was Denny's, Pizza Hut, the Cal Tech cafeteria–I told you about that. Now that was a great job, then the golf course–good tips, especially at banquets. But that was the top of that hill, then came the inevitable demise– Ray's Lunch. I told you about the unusual tips I got there... and the shoot out? Then the donut shop where the owner got really inappropriate with me one day. He had a habit of taking off his shoes and leaving them by the door so I poured batter into his shoes before I walked out and never came back.

Quote Three

From Chapter 3: Mirrors

Callie walked towards the bright yellow Carmengia. She liked the looks of the little car. Besides, she had already refused to take three rides, her caution approaching paranoia. But looks could be deceiving. 'If only I had a dog to hitchhike with me, I'd feel better about this.' she thought to herself, deciding to open the door. "I should probably just check into an animal shelter at the next stop," she said out loud, her eyes perusing the back seat. Then, she looked into the mirrored sunglasses of the driver continuing to assess the advisability of taking the ride.

"What did you say?" the woman asked, laughing. "I'm sure there will be shelters for humans in the next town if that's where you're headed," the woman added, momentarily doubting her choice to stop.

 

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