Kal mulled over his coffee, tracing his fingers lazily around the rim of his mug. He found comfort among the company of strangers but it was a surprise that the small diner had managed to keep its doors on the hinges. The news anchors chatting on the television set spoke about the recent incident with Orse as Kal listened half-distracted by the cook making his breakfast. “I find it hard to believe aliens are, in part, to blame for these unfortunate circumstances,” he said to the other sitting next to him by the counter. “Next they’ll say mermaids are responsible for the hole in the ozone layer.”











