I guess life is full of maybes.

We heard her come halfway up the stairs, where she must have seen the bedroom light on. Again, the normal parent reaction would have been to say something like, "You had better come out this moment or I am releasing the tiger!" But Debbie was not a normal parent, so we heard her gigle and creep away, saying, "Shhh! Rachel! Come with Mommy! Stuart is busy!

Just then, my phone started ringing. The ring must have been damaged by the water as well, so now it had a high, keening note - kind of the sound I imagine a mermaid might make if you punched her in the face.

What tinfoil?" he asked.

Why Paris? Paris needs no reason. Paris is its own reason.

And if we get caught, I will claim I made you go. At gunpoint. I am American. People will assume I'm armed.

Writing is one of the few careers for which you essentially train yourself, the other two major ones being juggling and pickpocketing.