Free Dark Friends by Mark Butler

mountains.
                  At forty-four, Steven McCrees could still run a half-marathon in under three hours and keep up with high-schoolers at the local gym's basketball court. He was a well-regarded psychologist whose paper “False Transmissions from the Id to the Ego” had made him a regional celebrity. He never smoked, drank or did drugs, and he figured it was because his wife, Catina, made his life interesting enough.
                  “Do a few Warrior poses, loosen up your hips.” Catina said.
                  Catina McCrees, formerly Bethel, was Steven's wife and endless source of entertainment. She taught Yoga and ballet to privileged children and her only regret in life was that she could not bear her own child. Her lithe figure and long, strawberry blond hair attracted men's stares everywhere she went, though she only had eyes for her husband.
                  “I'll do a few Warrior poses if you'll run ten laps around this lot, then drop and give me fifty.”
                  “Let's just compromise, then.” Catina said, circling the vehicle and wrapping her arms around Steven's shoulders. The two embraced for a moment, one of their last moments as a childless couple, before they got back on the road towards Lisson.
                  “This list sucks.” Catina said, eyeballing the forms that the agency had sent them, “They are just names! What about the kids ages, their appearances, their histories!”
                  “They'll have that stuff at the orphanage, don't worry.” Steven said for the umpteenth time during the drive. He knew that Catina was just anxious about their decision and that she would calm down once they could see what they were dealing with. If he were completely honest with himself, Steven was disappointed with the agency's efficiency, as well. Even getting the list of kids' names had felt like pulling his eyeballs out with tweezers. The whole experience had felt like they had to take all the initiative, do all the legwork, to adopt a child. Before the process had begun, Steven imagined dealing with professional government workers who would be more than eager to liberate themselves from a burden on the system, instead, he had been met with resistance and procrastination.
                  “Let's talk about the names, then. After all, if we want a teenager, we can't change her name.” Steven said, trying to think more positively.
                  “I like “A” names.” Catina replied.
                  “Not this again. I can't think of any good “A” names that go with “McCrees”
                  “Abigail, Arlene, Alida, Alma...” Catina began.
                  “Don't sound right with McCrees. We need an “M” or “S” name”
                  “Let's just decide when we see the girls. I mean, will we really disqualify the perfect girl because her name?”
                  “I guess not” Steven conceded. He loved having trivial little arguments with Catina. In reality, he would give her whatever she wanted, not because he feared her, but because he loved her that much. They had already decided to get an older child, at least twelve to fifteen, because they were too old for an infant. They wanted to make an impact on their adoptive child during their most critical years. If all went well, they would adopt another child after the first one moved out. They wanted a girl because Steven's older brother had four boys. His younger brother had two. The family didn't need more boys.
                  “It's getting late.” Catina said, eyeballing her watch.
                  “It's not even three”
                  “We'll spend a few hours there, at least. Then we have to drive back.”
                  “We'll be fine.” Steven answered, “As long as I have my