#24cc

There were just two windows and one door that could be done in City Living and honestly, Peacemaker did a much better job than I could have done. They also included a couple other variations to be sure to check out Peacemaker’s City Living Addons. That all being said, there was one door to be done. The Two Curves Double Door. Resized for shorties, download below.

Stuck Inside

-by Kate Donohue

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[A formal letter typed on letterhead: "Superconductor — Powering the World"  The dynamic logo in the header looks like a spiral of orange flame, or possibly a phoenix.]

Dear Miss Casey,

I was quite pleased to receive your letter. Miss Kadish has been one of my most diligent students since we were assigned to work together in the Enhanced Abilities mentor/mentee program, and she knows of what she speaks.

I also wouldn’t worry about your powers not being advanced enough to join the Union in future. Membership is decided based on whether or not you choose to be mentored, not on the relative strength of your power. When I founded the Union at the age of sixteen, I made sure to build in provisions so that any person, no matter their level of talent, can become a member. (How else would Chriss Angel ever have been able to become one of our most well-known spokespersons?)

 Even at sixteen, I had already had to fight legislation requiring me to supply the entirety of the United States with electrical power, though generating that power solely from my own body would have left me a mental and physical wreck. Human beings will always try to get you to give them anything special for free, no matter the personal cost to you, so I would recommend you join as soon as possible to guarantee that you will be paid a living wage for any “mental heavy lifting” you do in the future, as opposed to being paid in the “gratitude of humanity”.

Do not hesitate to contact me in the future if you have any questions about the Union—or even if you just want some help with penmanship!

Yours,

Erica Stratton

[A screenshot of an email sent in Gmail's standard web interface, with email addresses redacted. The name in the header is accompanied by an icon photo of a white cloud against a blue sky.]

Subject: !!!

From: Emily Kadish

To: Casey

  Casey, my DEAR --

Got your letter today, and I'm SERIOUSLY impressed. Forget timing -- it's hard to use a ballpoint pen with your hand, let alone your brain. When I suggested we write letters, I figured you'd use one of the kids' markers, or a Sharpie maybe, but using the right amount of pressure to write clearly with a ballpoint pen is like graduate-level shit. You're better at this than you think.

Basically, keep practicing. And if you get bored or frustrated, try focusing on a different skill. Remember: you can totally specialize. This kid I went to high school with could never lift anything heavier than a soda can. He's unbelievably nimble, though, and he's doing a brain-surgery residency at Hopkins now. (I'm actually not sure how that's going to work with his union membership? I know appallingly little about the union, it's actually really embarrassing. Don't tell your mom, OK?) (Do you think I could meet your mom when I'm out there next? I bet she's got stories...) (I hope that was okay to ask...?)

I promise I will send you a real letter next time -- I just can't deal right now and I figured you'd understand. Claw got out this morning, and I had to circle around for hours looking for her. There's a whole family of tuxedos that live in the neighborhood, so I kept dropping down to grab her and then realizing it was the wrong cat. It sucked, and I went through like a gallon of OJ, and I think I have a sunburn, but she's fine and I'm fine, just whiny and exhausted. Also now that Claw is safe I might murder her.

More good things! Erica's in town and we're meeting up. Is it okay if I show her your letter? She may have some ideas for you, but I don't want to share something you're not okay with, esp. since this is so new to you...?

love,

E

[A letter hand-written in blue ball-point pen on graph paper. The signature is written in larger, wobbly letters, with less pressure from pen to paper.]

EMILY!!!!

     Okay, so I think I'm getting stronger — I've been working with my mom like you suggested (and she hasn't even been too "I told you so" about it, so that's nice.) Maybe stronger is the wrong word, but more dexterous? I can now move small objects down mazes without touching the edges! 'Small' meaning light and thin, mostly pens because I've got so many lying around, but remember last month when I was still struggling with even bobby pins? I still feel totally futile about the prospect of ever joining you guys with an actual union card, but at least I feel like I'm making progress?

     I haven't pulled anything out at school yet, but that's still going well. The little ones barrell running straight into me at full speed to give me hugs — and you can't really ask for more than that, right? (I mean, obviously I can … I really want to join you guys, and you'd THINK with my family background I'd be a shoo-in … but, I know, we've been over this. That's why I'm telling you about the hugs! Being happy with where I am! The situation as it is! (I told you I'm listening!)

     Okay, whatever. Ready for something cool?

          love,

          CASEY

I refuse to apologize for wearing my yoga pants to the job interview

and for getting all this sauce on my abdomen. Just this morning my body told me it would henceforth refuse to participate in societal beauty standards

and I cannot say I blame it. It is exhausting, this continuous battle to sculpt my fiery mane into some kind of sensical landscape, to contain the unholy mess

that is always escaping my borders. For example, the fitful seam in my stomach— the place where the problems come bubbling out if I press too hard.

I cannot be expected to contain myself. What I can do is keep one eye fixed on the inside, and the other eye on the unrest that simmers at my feet.

I  am the only sustenance. I am all that I need.

-Jenny Williamson

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