A New Boss   Pipes. She tapped the eraser of her pencil on her notepad as she stared at the small trophy perched on the corner of her desk. She’d received it the night before at the Ali Exports yearly awards night. Formed to look like one of the company’s double jointed pipes, the award had an attached plaque which said, “Nilima Mehta—In appreciation for outstanding service in Human Resources.” Attached had been a short note signed by the President. Since she’d been commissioned to write all the notes, she had the message memorized.   “Employees are the joint that …

Miracle Girl   “So you think she’s the one?” He set down the file he’d been studying. “I believe she is,” he said confidently, then hesitated, “I hope she is, Nilima. For their sakes.” Nilima sat back in the comfortable leather seat and sipped her tea. In just five years she’d gone from a boring desk job, to being the personal assistant of one of the most reclusive and powerful men in the world, to becoming the literal face of Rajaram Industries.  She had control of more wealth and corporate influence than she ever dreamed existed and it was all …

All-Hallows-Even   I thumped my head hard against the wooden side of the horse-drawn wagon as the right wheel dipped into a large pot hole.  Annoyed, I rolled onto my stomach and my nose was instantly assailed with the stench of rotting meat coming from the dish in the corner of the cage.  My keeper hadn’t bothered to clean the dish since we left New York and though my belly protested, I just couldn’t muster up the enthusiasm to pick at yesterdays leavings. After a languorous stretch, I did amble over to my water dish and scraped my tongue around …