On Dia de los Muertos / All Saints' Day, may you all rise to love and peace and good fortune.

Every year, he stands there …

"If it's all the same, I'll take the side streets …”

"Easiest gig in the universe …”

"We will ensure you forget this … “

Their smiles hesitated, fell, and then resumed …

They had loved her …

"You lot all right? …”

Walking over, she told them to stop …

"There are remedies for loneliness …"

(Here, the meme came first; the words are not mine and the source of the quote is unknown ... but I was so touched by it that I wanted to use it as the foundation of a microfiction …)

"I know it's you," Darby whispered …

She put the kettle on …

"Fix me," he commanded …”

The pitiable poet is at it again …

Every now and again, you'd see the old ways in someone new …

"I'm sure it's a good class," Chama replied …

The old ways hid in plain sight …

"This is Devon," Will announced, "who opened the envelope and is now here …”

The child simply stared at her mother …