Timing Is A Sensitive Thing.

Where Do You Get Your Ideas? People Ask. Sometimes They’re At The Bottoms Of Cups Of Tea. Sometimes They’re Lurking In My Shower. Sometimes They’re Waiting Patiently In Glass Cases In Museums.

It's Not A Real Name," She Says. "not One That He's Carried With Him Always. It's One He Wears Like His Hat. So He Can Take It Off If He Wants.

Even The Air Feels Different On Halloween, Autumn-crisp And Bright.

Her Father Picks Different Names For Her As They Change Locales, But He Uses Miranda Often, Presumably Because He Knows How Much It Annoys Her.

If I Have Not Been Completely Honest With You, It Is Only Because I Know A Great Deal Of Things That You Do Not Want To Know. I Am Going To Ask That You Trust Me When I Tell You I Am Trying To Make Things Better. It Is An Extremely Delicate Balance And There Are A Great Many Factors Involved. The Best We Can Do Right Now Is Take Everything As It Comes, And Not To Worry Ourselves Over Things That Have Happened, Or Things That Are To Come.