She went about her preparations calmly while her aunts berated and pleaded in turns. “You can’t go to the beach alone; it’s improper!” Book tucked in the corner of her bag. “Who will prepare our tea?” Sunglasses slipped between the folds of the towel. “There are strange and forward men there that you aren’t […]
At first it seemed like a dream. Through some strange magic, Grey Squirrel had driven out the flesh-eaters. It was paradise. Then the deer disappeared, and Grey Squirrel would only say, “It was necessary.” Next came the rules, “necessary rules,” about who could gather from which trees and where and when you could be […]
I’ll admit it: Mom usually knows what she’s talking about. Put a little money in savings each paycheck. Great advice. Don’t put anything in writing you wouldn’t want read by everyone. That saved my bacon and my job more than once. Someone who will gossip to you will gossip about you. So true, Mom. So […]
These moments are too precious, too rare to waste. I have to drink them in. Every day changes our relationship: how we look at each other, how we talk to each other. Sometimes the change happens so quickly, I don’t recognize the new person in front of me. I know I can’t take this […]
The darkness is everywhere, invasive. It reaches out into nothingness. Coldly, silently, it consumes everything it touches. There is no edge, no boundary, no end. Only spreading night. People flee the darkness, hoping to outrun it. They hide and scurry. But still the darkness follows. They barricade themselves against the pursuing night, but it […]
Professor Jones was so excited about his discovery, he almost bounced out of his bow tie. His life’s work had finally been vindicated. He had long suspected – no, not suspected. Known. He’d long known that the there was a direct link between the ancient tribal peoples of the Northwest and the cultures of […]
Ten years alone on this island. Ten years of struggling to survive. His ungrateful crew had gone out of their way to maroon him on the most remote habitable rock they could find. His anger fueled his efforts to live and to return home. After countless failures, he had finally concocted a signal strong […]
“He seemed pleasant.” “If you think a man who manages to be a groveling idiot and a pompous fool simultaneously is pleasant.” “Mother is determined to get you married, Anna. I think we’ll have to endure these visits until you comply.” “Or until I make my escape; nursing training begins in a month. How […]
“What a lovely road. Let’s explore it!” Alice lead the hesitant Tom off the main avenue. He had been in a dream all evening. The beautiful girl had chosen him from all the boys at the dance and asked for an escort home. Envious eyes followed them as they walked off into the night. […]
Pinocchio got it all wrong; that little brat Carlo mixed up everything. He was always hanging around, prying into our secrets. Isabella was sweet on him, so we didn’t chase him off, but I knew he was up to no good. I was a young man myself, then, and too busy with my own […]