Joe was excited, but nervous, as his Uber drove through the wooded neighborhood on the edge of town. Rain was pelting down, and the blustery wind mirrored his anxious thoughts. Marina had said she would pick him up, but he had insisted on her not driving. It had been six months since they’d been together - another few minutes wouldn’t make a difference. They’d been high school almost-sweethearts, crushing on each other bu...

Nick took a generous sip from his drink and surveyed the scene, a typical late summer dancer party: well-groomed and attractive backyard with a pool, a sumptuous spread of meats, cheeses, veggies, fruits, etc., and a swarm of young, lean dancers laying waste to the buffet table. The board members and well-off donors always seemed a bit taken aback by the dancers’ ravenous appetites…I thought they didn’t eat? No matter…the...