1. No matter what I say, my in-laws are under the firm belief that cold air causes instantaneous illness. So when I asked Gokhan how his interview went today, and he answered his throat was swollen from the cold air - I pictured him traveling on the bus and Metro in his thin jacket, no hat, no scarf, hands in pockets - and I just nodded.
2. Hakan could only get four days off, my husband told me. So, he's going to Germany. Then he'll come visit us. Then he'll go to Arvin to sort out some family land ownership details that could result in all of making a lot of money. And this is why its hard to believe anyone around here.
3. It wasn't just my ears that were ringing, my whole body was vibrating as if sound still filled the room. But it was just me, 29 empty desks, and a mouse.
4. Sandra Gomez stared at the women across the table. Is this my moment? She asked herself. Should I make this my time? But her thoughts were much braver than her words. Instead, she asked,
"Has there been any changes to the contract?"
"Everybody gets the same deal."
"Is there any incentive?"
"What do you mean?"
And there in lay the problem. The head of human resources didn't know, or refused to acknowledge, the meaning of incentive. They were the power, their contracts a "gift", and their workers diminished to head bowing servants, grateful for the scraps from the table.
5. Kari stopped the car on the private driveway, just able to look through the trees and get a glimpse of their old house. It looked smaller. The house, the yard, the hill out front, the roof she would climb on to retrieve the basketball from behind the backboard, or just to sit and think. It all looked a whole lot smaller.
Reflections: I still have a huge problem coming up with made-up names. I tend to write stories based on real events - creative nonfiction. I heard once its better to write in third person, but I can't remember why - something about it has to be a really good story to right in first.
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