Doctor Steven Sweet

Dr Steven Sweet never thought anything was as important as dentistry. When he got the invitation to his sister Susan's wedding, he almost didn't go. What would his patients do while he was stuck on a ship for three weeks?
But he loved his sister, and so Steven went on the cruise.
The wedding was an unusual ceremony, what with the groom being some famous actor Steven had never heard of (since he was more interested in studying tooth decay than watching action films).
But as those weeks passed, Steven found himself drawn in by life on a cruise ship.
The salty sea, the motion of the ship.
He loved it. Almost as much as he loved a complicated root canal.
So by the end of those three weeks, Steven came to a decision.

He would figure out some way to either practice dentistry on a cruise ship, or find some other job that would let him sail the seas to his heart's content.

For cleaning

1. Because it gives you something to work on.
2. So that it will be easier to find things.
3. It gives you a chance to sort through your stuff.
4. Because afterwards you'll have more space for books.
5. It can be a creative way to exercise.
6. You'll be able to redecorate while you clean.
7. Because you might be happier after everything is cleaned.
8. While cleaning, you could finally figure out the answer to a problem you're working on.
9. You could find something that you lost.
10. Because sometimes cleaning can be relaxing.

A Strange New Parking Lot

The little piece of gravel was once part of a road. The road was worn by many years of cars driving on it, and a piece of gravel broke free. It sat atop the road it was once a part of, until a car caught it in its wheel. Then the piece of gravel went for a ride. Around, and around, and around. Up and down, being wedged deeper and deeper into the wheel. It clicked against the road, greeting its fellows who still maintained their purpose as part of the road. The car eventually stopped, and the driver pulled out a pick. The pick caught the piece of gravel and sent it flying away, to land on the ground of a strange new parking lot.

How to entertain a child

1. Watch a movie. This seems tobwork best if you let the child pick what movie to watch.
2. Play with toys. Be they dolls, dinosaurs, cars, or another type of toy, the child will have fun if you get on the floor and play with them.
3. Bring out the pets. Most children love animals, and so will be greatly entertain by whatever kind of pet you might have. Just be sure that your pet will accept having a child close to it first.
4. Cook something. Lots of children enjoy getting in the kitchen, even if they do tend to make more of a mess than a batch of cookies.
5. Read together. Books are great entertainment for both you and a child. You can both even take turns making up voices for each character.
6. Let them play outside. Children and the outdoors often make a good match, so why not let them run off some of that endless energy?
7. Work on a craft. Be it painting a rock or tying knots in some yarn, there are plenty of crafts that a child can do.
8. Go on a scavenger hunt. Just make them a list of some goodies you've hidden, and watch them tear up the house in their search.
9. Play a game. It doesn't really matter what the game is, so long as both you and the child have fun.
10. Ask what they want to do. After all, why try and figure out ways to entertain a child when they can just tell you what works?

Keys in the Sand

The keys, oh, where were the keys? The bride slipped on the sand, her heels not made for such a loose surface. She was supposed to be getting married today. Married on the beach, to the greatest guy she'd ever met.

But she'd shown up on the wrong beach. And now she'd lost her keys.

Bending down, she tried her best to dig through the sand without getting her dress too dirty. She shifted her weight, and that treacherous sand slid underneath her heel.

Down she fell. Sand itched against her arms, in her hair. Everywhere.

Who's idea was it to get married on the beach?

And on a beach whose name was so similar to another beach, thirteen miles away!

She had to find those keys. Find the keys, get in the car, and drive to the right beach.

Oh, she hoped her groom wouldn't think she'd gotten cold feet.

It would shatter her to break his heart.

There! A glint of metal.

The car keys!

She scooped them up, scrambling to her feet. Sand fell, while other grains stubbornly clung to her.

She grinned wildly, holding up the keys.

Her grin faltered.

Lowering her hand, she stared at the keys.

“These aren't mine!”

Party foods

1. Chicken drumsticks.
2. Baked potatoes.
3. Cake.
4. Popcorn.
5. Ice cream.
6. Chips.
7. Soda.
8. Cookies.
9. Watermelon.
10. Candy.

Red Wax, Yellow Beauty

Leaning. Forever leaning and twisting with the air's movement. Red wax puddles beneath, weakened by the heat of the flame's desire. Higher, ever higher it reaches, straining against the wick that is both a source of life and a reminder of its imprisonment. All around, reflections of a vibrant, yellow beauty flicker on the circular glass. The wax spreads ever further, releasing a scent of cinnamon that mocks the flame's efforts as it drifts upwards to freedom. If the fire were to burn long enough, then the wax would vanish, the wick be consumed, and the glass crack under the its might. But it will not be long before I replace the lid, and that wondrous little flame will dim, turn smaller and smaller, then let out one last puff of smoke as it dies.