Off-Island

by Marlene Hauser

  Krista turned the shell over. She angled the steel awl and knocked a perfectly formed hole through the ridged whiteness as Ilsa had taught her. Into the sun. She recalled Justine’s voice as she picked up the gold thread, folded it in half and slipped it through the hole. Pulling the double ends of the thread through the loop, she let the shell dangle as they did on Ilsa’s Christmas tree. It spiraled beneath her fingers and she handed it to Michael.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “You’re welcome,” she answered. “Keep it safe until we get home.”

  About the Author

  Marlene Hauser is a professional writer based in Oxford, UK, where she lives with her husband and teenage son. She served as editor of the Writer’s New York City Source Book and originated the television film Under the Influence, going on to serve as Associate Producer and Technical Consultant. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.