"Christ Air"
Happy Halloween: A mother retrieves her son’s birthday gift from diabolical hands. Plus: Pepper's Ghost Second Edition update.
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Pepper’s Ghost Second Edition
We have the cover, proof, synopsis, and release date—all of which will be revealed in November’s newsletter. Stay tuned.
And now for this month’s story. Happy Halloween.
“Christ Air”
William Auten
Copyright William Auten
The woman at the lectern loses her place, and I wonder if this is what I prayed for while she took us through the same speech I heard last year in the same room. She fumbles around her laptop, and her slide stalls on another plan for “more administrators and strategic management in key areas.” I brush crumbs off my skirt and finish my coffee. Dear God, You don’t need to do any more. I rescind my request for You to give her pain somewhere until she has to leave. Her breast-cancer pin on her jacket flashed when she flustered and apologized. I can’t ask anything more from You after seeing that.
I check my husband’s text: <I’m off. Sarah said she and Toby will head to the pool after camp. Ice cream and pizza in our fridge after that.>
<I hope your trip goes better than mine.>
<Same ol’ same ol’ with you?>
As the screen reloads behind the woman, she speaks into the mic about another initiative she’s spearheading for something I tune out. Half the crowd yawns, rolls their eyes, surfs their phones.
<Yes. I would trade you this conference for your heating and cooling problems in a heartbeat. On any roof you have today.>
<Not on a day like this. It’s 95 plus 92% humidity. Did you find anything for Toby yet?>
<I’m on that after here.>
<Got 2 go. Luv u.>
<U2>
10:22 says my phone. The woman settles in at the lectern and picks back up on “facilitating and acknowledging experts” of this and that. Everyone in here will follow everyone else and go to the next meeting. Like last year. I’m scheduled to go. My team plans on me going. Like last year. I could stay for the rest of the day then head to the airport for my flight home. As scheduled. But my son turns twelve once.