QUAINTUPLETS: The Horn of Mr. Horner

     Mr. Horner owned a long, black car, which he loved.  He washed it four times a week, and he polished the hood ornament and the chrome every day.  Twice a month he took it to a mechanic named Harvey, who made sure the engine worked perfectly.      Because there was nothing Mr. Horner likedContinue reading “QUAINTUPLETS: The Horn of Mr. Horner”

QUAINTUPLETS: Yvonne and the Princess

     Once upon a time, there was a cow in a fairy tale.      “What am I doing here?” she complained.  “I don’t wear glass slippers, and I don’t have a basket of goodies for Grandma.  I don’t believe I even have a Grandma.  I can hardly trade myself for magic beans.  If I could,Continue reading “QUAINTUPLETS: Yvonne and the Princess”

QUAINTUPLETS: Strange Bread

     Years gone, when folks ate fresh bread every day, despite a lack of electric bread machines and the Baker Do-Maker, the baking of that bread was vital to the community.  Recipes and techniques were handed down from grandparents to grandchildren, and handed down again when those grandchildren had grandchildren of their own.  Many ofContinue reading “QUAINTUPLETS: Strange Bread”

Quaintuplets: Soapsuds, pt. 2

     “Well, um, I, er, don’t dance very much.”  Soapsuds waved a hand back toward the ballroom without looking.  “One of those other ladies would probably make a much better partner.”      “I’ve danced with most of them already.  I have to dance with all the ladies, you see.”      Soapsuds thought this was interesting,Continue reading “Quaintuplets: Soapsuds, pt. 2”

QUAINTUPLETS: Soapsuds, Pt. 1

    In Slingtown, there lived a young woman named Slaughnir, but nobody called her that because nobody could pronounce it.  Even her mother, who had found the name in a book, didn’t know what it sounded like.  So for the first few years of her life, everyone called Slaughnir “Baby”.      Slaughnir’s mother died whenContinue reading “QUAINTUPLETS: Soapsuds, Pt. 1”

QUAINTUPLETS: Mirror, Mirror, Burning Bright

     All mirrors are magic, of course.  Some are more magic than others, that’s all, so we call them magic mirrors.  This distinguishes them from the mirrors we look at so often that we forget about their magic.      Several mirrors were made which would show any scene requested, or answer questions about things farContinue reading “QUAINTUPLETS: Mirror, Mirror, Burning Bright”

QUAINTUPLETS: Lyall Whistle-Lips

     In the damp northern land of Tarrefol, a young man named Lyall worked as a shepherd.  Every day, he took his village’s sheep to the hills north of town where they could feed on the green grass.      His job was to see that at least as many sheep came home at night asContinue reading “QUAINTUPLETS: Lyall Whistle-Lips”

QUAINTUPLETS: Egbert’s Soul, Pt. 2

     “I’ve broken my soul!” wailed Egbert, looking left and right for a door in the wall.  “I know it.  I’ve broken my soul and I shall never be happy again!”      The egg had not, as a matter of fact, broken.  On the other side of the wall was the garden of the King. Continue reading “QUAINTUPLETS: Egbert’s Soul, Pt. 2”

QUAINTUPLETS: Egbert’s Soul, Part 1

     A power of years ago, but not so far from Fairview, there lived a fool named Egbert.  Egbert was a good, honest fellow, understand: a man who grew vegetables on his little farm, went to services of a Sunday, and never fought with his neighbors.  He was just not so very clever.  Everybody knewContinue reading “QUAINTUPLETS: Egbert’s Soul, Part 1”

THE SOUND AND THE FURRY: Kerrin and the Thorn Tree

     Kerrin lived in the city of Sartain, and she liked it.  She would write letters to her relatives who lived in the country, asking why they didn’t move to a nicer place.      “Everything in the city is clean and modern,” she wrote.  “We have nice, solid rick buildings with none of your thatchedContinue reading “THE SOUND AND THE FURRY: Kerrin and the Thorn Tree”