Status Updates From The Gift

c1- Stella notices that the old lady that had been sitting in the coffee shop for over an hour now was not waited by either of them, and as she closes in on her, she notices she’s lifeless.

c1- Grinch /grintf/
I. noun
(N. Amer.) ‹ informal› a spoilsport or killjoy.
• it's hard not to feel like a bit of a Grinch criticizing the importance of 'zine culture.

c1- about Stella: Waitressing is my second job, the first being at a preschool, which allows me to utilize my early childhood education degree, all at minimum wage. Four years of college, tons of debt, and I need two jobs just to pay the bills. I should have majored in Not Being Poor.

c1- straggle /'strag(a)l/
I. verb — [no obj., usu. with adverbial of direction]
1. (of an irregular group of people) move along slowly so as to remain some distance behind the person or people in front
• the children straggled behind them
• (as adj. straggling) the straggling crowd of refugees.
2. grow, spread, or be laid out in an irregular, untidy way
• her hair was straggling over her eyes.