There is a story and a play in this issue.

The first, "The Button Burial" by Christine Stoddard, is a wonderful story about a woman coming to grips with a small problem. Here's a bit from it:

It was Black Friday, the day of shopping madness, that American invention where soccer moms and plumbers alike wrestle over toys and electronics. That day where “sale,” “clearance,” “savings,” and “mark down” flash with the fervency of neon lights planted in the heart of a red light district. Greta Wegmüeller, age seventeen, saw those words and lunged, although armed with different motives than the typical insurance salesman or nurse.

The play, Origin of Consciousness by Robert Castle, is historically funny. Read a bit:

DEAD KING’S VOICE
The dog will be on the left side.

(AGNABI quickly looks at the DEAD KING, no more than a
split second.)

DEAD KING’S VOICE
Did you dare gaze upon my visage? DID YOU DARE GAZE UPON ME?

AGNABI
What? Who? Me?

DEAD KING’S VOICE
(slightly hysterical)
Did you dare speak to the son of the Sun?

AGNABI
(takes a peek again)
Are you talking to me?

DEAD KING’S VOICE
I saw you. DON’T EVER AGAIN DO THAT. And shut up.

AGNABI
(softly, again as if to himself)
No one ever said anything about a dog.

(Meanwhile, HANNUBI enters. He carries several scrolls of papyrus. He has heard the DEAD KING’s VOICE and AGNABI. HANNUBI gets a terrified look as he approaches ‐ at the same time, he avoids looking at the DEAD KING.)

DEAD KING’S VOICE
Put the scrolls on the shelf.