Lindsay wanted nothing more than for her family to be together at Christmas. In the five years since she moved out of her parents’ house, it seemed like something came up every year to keep them apart. — Lindsay wanted nothing more than for her family to be together at Christmas. In the five years since she moved out of her parents’ house, it seemed like something came up every year to keep them apart.

Good thing come to those who… Wait, how did it go? — “Hey, Bill. Did you finish that project on time?” “Uh oh.” “What’s wrong?” “I thought the project was supposed to be about a new marketing strategy.” More Conversations: Coffee Pot Conversations: Have We Met? You look familiar…medium.com Coffee Pot Conversations: Proposal I think there’s been some confusion…medium.com Coffee Pot Conversations: Qualified Everything seems to be in ordermedium.com

What’s on the menu? —

The presence of his father still made him feel uneasy. The man he’d known when he was five wasn’t sitting across from him. No. His father loved to laugh and talk at the table. This man hadn’t spoken a word since arriving home. — Jacob waited at the window. Today was the day. His father, Captain Michael Marshall, would be returning home from his time in space. The mission, as far as Jacob knew, was to travel to a distant planet and survey the environment in hopes it could one day sustain human life.

Haiku —

Samantha creaked down the steps. She knew her boyfriend Mark had already made his way downstairs. It wasn’t often that she woke up after him. For him to wake up so early on Christmas morning meant… — Samantha creaked down the steps. She knew her boyfriend Mark had already made his way downstairs. It wasn't often that she woke up after him. For him to wake up so early on Christmas morning meant only one thing... He was up to something. She entered the living room and her eyes…

“We’ve received some feedback regarding your recent accomplishments,” said his manager. — When they arrived back to the dealership, Mark rubbed his eyes. There were gold balloons above his cubicle. What was going on? He followed Sherry to his desk. “I’m not sure what’s happening,” he said. “There seems to be some sort of celebration going on,” said Sherry. As they grew…

As he ate, he noticed Sherry composing an email between bites of her fries. Was she working? He didn’t want to pry, but caught glimpse of the context. “Goes above and beyond” read one of the lines. She must be writing a performance review for a colleague. — Mark opened the door for Sherry and followed her into the diner. The inside of the diner bustled with activity. Families and couples filled the tables.

“I mean, it wouldn’t hurt. My picture is up there so many times it’s starting to look like wallpaper. Do you think I should sell my face as wallpaper to the customers?” — Mark sat at his desk, watching the clock. It was nearly noon and the part needed to fix Sherry’s car hadn’t arrived. He took a sip from the hot chocolate at his desk and brushed his hand through his hair. “What’s on your mind, Mark the shark?”