My Cardboard Balcony

Cosmic Captain by Belinda Roddie You know, I used to ride a sailboat across the oceans of Mars, until that finicky climate change ruined my maritime career. It ain't the same on Earth, where the salt gets in your lungs, and the sailors are too human, and the destination too grim.

"Witchcraft!" screamed the old woman, pointing a trembling finger at the young girl. "Witchcraft! God have mercy on you, dear girl!" The girl stared at her. "Madam," she politely intoned, "I'm just reading one of my books." "Don't you lie to me, heathen wench!" the old woman scoffed. "I see the title. Pentagrams and Satan?! " "Madam," the girl sighed, enunciating as if she were talking to a five year, "the book is titled Pentagons and Scalenes. "