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Stories
123
Chapters
6,871
Words
19.7 M
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Reading
68 d, 13 h
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The chapter "Serenity" delves into the narrator's struggles as a psychic who has lost the ability to communicate with spirits. She recounts a past session where she failed to connect with a deceased basketball coach, only to later learn from his wife that he had committed suicide after a scandal involving an affair and blackmail. The wife's bitter rejection at his funeral seemingly prevented him from communicating during the reading, a revelation that underscores the idea that spirit communication requires…
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2 • Ongoing
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The chapter explores the intricate mating rituals of elephants, emphasizing how communication combines vocalizations and physical gestures. For instance, a matriarch’s “let’s go” rumble is paired with body positioning to guide the herd. During mating, males produce deep, guttural musth rumbles, which vary between individuals and are accompanied by ear movements and urine dribbling. These sounds serve multiple purposes, from asserting dominance to attracting mates, showcasing the complexity of…
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2 • Ongoing
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The chapter focuses on Maura, a pregnant African elephant with a violent past, now residing in a sanctuary. Elephant pregnancies last 22 months, requiring immense physical investment, and maternal instincts are fiercely protective—interfering with a calf can be deadly. Maura was previously a circus elephant who attacked a male companion and a zookeeper, earning her a "killer" reputation. Her pregnancy went unnoticed until late stages due to lack of routine testing, prompting quarantine to manage risks,…
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2 • Ongoing
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Jenna, the teenage protagonist, recounts how she exploits the invisibility of children to stow away on a Greyhound bus without a ticket. She blends in with a distracted family to board undetected, then hides in the bathroom until departure. Her destination is Tennessee, where she hopes to find Gideon, a former employee connected to her missing mother. Jenna reflects on her grandmother's likely anger and her own realization that this journey—sparked by her father's unusual reaction to a pebble…
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2 • Ongoing
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The chapter opens with Virgil reflecting on a pivotal moment when Thomas Metcalf's violent reaction to a pebble necklace revealed a rare clarity in his otherwise unstable demeanor. Virgil, now in his office, grapples with physical discomfort—initially dismissed as heartburn but possibly linked to a growing intuition about the case. His workspace is cluttered with meticulously arranged evidence from old police files, suggesting his renewed dedication to uncovering the truth behind Nevvie Ruehl's death,…
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2 • Ongoing
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The chapter follows Alice, an elephant researcher, as she observes Kagiso, a pregnant elephant whose impending birth becomes a focal point in her life. Alice reflects on her own unnoticed pregnancy, drawing parallels between her emotional state and the elephants she studies. Her work, once energizing, now feels routine, and she finds herself constantly thinking of Thomas, a colleague who left for another continent. Their connection, though distant, persists through scholarly exchanges, with unspoken…
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2 • Ongoing
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The chapter "Serenity" explores themes of protective instinct and hidden violence through a tense confrontation. The narrator reflects on hysterical strength—extraordinary acts of power triggered by adrenaline in life-threatening situations—citing examples like a mother lifting a car to save her child. This concept becomes reality when Thomas Metcalf strikes his daughter Jenna, prompting the narrator to instinctively shield her. The moment reveals a maternal protectiveness the narrator didn’t know…
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2 • Ongoing
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The chapter "Alice" from *Leaving Time* explores the profound maternal instincts and communal care systems of elephants, drawing parallels to human parenting. The narrator reflects that elephants might be the best mothers in nature, attributing their patience and devotion to the extended two-year pregnancy period. Elephant calves are cherished and indulged, allowed to behave mischievously without reprimand, highlighting the unconditional love and protection they receive. The bond between mother and calf is…
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2 • Ongoing
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Jenna is walking along a state highway when Serenity pulls up in her car, offering her a ride home. Jenna hesitates, reluctant to engage in a conversation about Virgil, whose presence or opinions she clearly resents. Their interaction is interrupted by a police officer, leading to a tense but brief exchange. Jenna eventually gets into Serenity’s cluttered car, where she folds a dollar bill into an elephant—a skill her mother taught her. This act sparks a reflection on her complicated feelings about her…
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2 • Ongoing
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Jenna visits her father, Thomas Metcalf, at a mental health institution with purple walls, accompanied by Serenity and Virgil. Upon arrival, they encounter an unfamiliar nurse and hear Thomas shouting in distress. Jenna rushes to his room, where he is being restrained by orderlies for aggressively protecting an empty cereal box he believes contains vital research. Jenna calms him by validating his delusion, and the orderlies release him once he complies. The chaotic scene reveals Thomas’s unstable mental…
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2 • Ongoing
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