*
      He didn’t particularly care for the taste of pepper, but he enjoyed its speckled contrast atop clam cowder. *

 |
 |
V

*
      A field of grey particians stretched out in a low grid of black-screened computer terminals. *

*
      Ann thought back on all of the trouble that her doppelganger had recently caused.  "That bitch," she said to herself. *

*
      Vicki dipped a stainless steel teaspoon into a jar of white powder.  "I know MSG is bad for you, but it just tastes so good."  She held the salty spoonful in her mouth for a long moment, slid the empty utensil from between her upwardly curved lips, and swallowed with relish. *

*
      Somewhere, Omar knew that he’d miss this some day; but on this day, he mostly felt relief. *

*
      Her breasts firmly duct-taped in place, Carla was ready to face the world. *

*
      Ben’s life felt like the blackness between scenes. *

*
      "I love everything about women.  I love their hair.  I love the way they dress, everything.  But I’m just so gay!" *

*
      Nick pulled his date to the dance floor and tried to look rhythmic. *

*
      The girls had a high quality friendship.  For example, each friend had the ability to buy gifts for the other that she would never like until owning. *

*
      The bottoms of arches fown.
      The tops of circus tents smile. *

*
      Eliza lay on her back and stretched her toes past the end of the sheets.  Her lotioned fingers pushed the wooden headboard flush against the wall and then went limp.  The cotton sheets settled about Eliza’s body.  She stared at the window shadows on the ceiling. *