My Cardboard Balcony

Melted Pumpkin by Belinda Roddie The goblet was crispy cold in her right hand as she drank the autumn brew, collective sighs rumbling from all corners of her belly as she swilled the pumpkin stew, hot and spicy and very, very comfortable for a night without heat to be had in her little house, so that the leaves picked up just right through the open window with a breeze that added a little chill to her afternoon dessert.

"You ever been scuba diving before?" I shook my head. Outside, the waves were making loud clapping noises on the sand, like Poseidon was applauding our idle chit-chat. My date - bearded, stocky, and bespectacled - swirled cream into his coffee and smiled. "Neither have I," he said, "but I've been snorkeling. The coastline is beautiful, but underwater with the sun hitting the top of the water just right is fantastic."