The Field

They wanted to build condominiums there, but when the construction crew arrived, Rufus scared them away.

A cluster of songbirds burst from the long grass every time Rufus barked. The neighborhood knew that he commanded the abandoned field, not the city council, not the eager developers. The pitbull had fought off Animal Control and the Humane Society enough times to have earned his dominion in perpetuity.

Rufus wasn't a stray. He belonged to the field, ever since his former owner passed and left him to fend for himself.

Rufus would die before he allowed anyone to take away his field.

The Science Of Engineering

No one knew what was causing the rumble in subway line Q6, but it had people scared. City council called in the engineers and scientists to determine the source before they had an accident.

The engineers took a survey to measure what environmental factors might be affecting the tunnel and quickly reached a conclusion. Groundwater was leaking into the structure and had compromised the integrity of the entire network. They ordered an immediate closure to the line and made plans for repairs.

The scientists meanwhile blamed the whole thing on climate change. No wonder the Republicans hate science so much.

Broken Solace

The town of Broken Solace, located at the end of Route 140, owned a single vehicle, a Buick LeSabre, which was shared amongst the residents according to a very detailed schedule that attempted to account for everyone's needs evenly.

The mayor of Broken Solace did not think much of this arrangement. He believed as mayor he should have his own vehicle and proposed purchasing a Mercedes for his personal use.

The city council approved the purchase. However, the Mercedes became the new community vehicle and the mayor was stuck driving the Buick LeSabre. Not everyone was happy with the new arrangement.