As a feline, he was superior to canines and humans. Hence, unlike them, he had had no compunction about swallowing the capsule whole. He figured that the insects within it would be just as tasty in their casing as they would if eaten by without it. No one saw Howard levitate into the heavens. **** After their full moon meeting, the villagers sold their coffee acreage and bought toilets. Subsequently, there were abundant weddings—nearby communities wanted their scions to marry into Arjun’s “advanced” settlement. Sadly, Arjun did not attend most of those festivities. It was not the women’s makeshift weapons or the menfolk’s unmistakable anger had killed him. Rather, Arjun had died when the cheaply constructed privy seat, upon which he had been perched, had broken in half; he had fallen to his death. **** When I knocked, a small human, who looks a lot like my son, answered. “Oh, it’s only Grandma.” My son came to the door. He called forth no others of my grandchild. My daughter-in-law continued her phone call; I could hear her laughter but not her words. **** The dragon smiled and exhaled. Until now, no one had ever worshipped him. Unlike Rufus, he had sired no descendants. Stealing humans’ hearts had proved to be much easier than stealing their livestock. Later, few of Rufus’ enslaved sons and daughters had shed tears when their tattered father limped home. Any sorrow was short-lived because their dragon had proposed a party to celebrate the newest hamlet he had razed. **** When their little Belinda was safely in high school and Rodger was not only married, but also a dad, Doris returned to chemistry. She taught part-time at a local community college and contributed, every few years, to academic journals. Catrina married a proctologist. Buchanan became a playwright. As for Kiplinger, he remained both unemployed and promiscuous. **** Natalie picked up the wrapp