A Week Before the Gatherings

Collette dreamt of strange things that night. Of a young woman in a white gown being lowered into the heart of a planet of ice and rose quartz, by a villain, for no good reason.
It was cold. Puck played part of the day over at the house in his play pen set on its side and covered with a blanket to serve as his own little tent.
And Carrie’s hair was looking very nice those days. Mahogany and honey, laced with the vivid colors of her rain forest dreads.
That night, OLeif was off busy again — hearing Izzy sing at the voice recital, taking family photographs for a co-worker, finishing up more work in his new position as art director, letting Rusty Wallace and his crew into the parking lot in preparation for the big party the next day at work, etc.