"The nest is a very deep place and the warmth is all around me. There is a faraway sound of water bouncing on the leaves -- it is raining. There is something special about rain ... Oh yes—there will be snails tomorrow"

A Quadrant short story: 'It’s all super simple, you shouldn’t have any trouble,' said Bunty Trotter, 'assuming compliance of course. And as you know it’s not actually compulsory -- only if you’d like the baby to get medical attention, or go to school, or travel'

There had been a tragic earthquake in Sandsville, a hundred […]