FICTION FRIDAY: The Christmas Clown

     Beth swept snow from the top of the last box and threw herself onto a chair.  She was immediately sorry she’d done this: her soaking wet gloves and sodden stocking cap were right under her.  It didn’t really matter.  The last of the snow was disappearing into her coat, turned into ice water toContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: The Christmas Clown”

FICTION FRIDAY: No Cellar Door

     “Welcome, oh seeker of knowledge, to the serene sanctuary of Madame Silsallabeth, whose eye sees all and whose mind…oh wow!”      “Yeah, I’m back.”      “Is that Patty?”      “The last time I was here I was Lucid Student Patricia.”      “The last time you were here you had two ears.”      “And tenContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: No Cellar Door”

FICTION FRIDAY: Knit Wit

     “Who goes there?”      “A friend.  Winky sent me.”      “What’s the password?”      “More is more.”      “Enter, friend.  But remember, no telling people….”      “Oh, jingles!  Owwwww!”      “Winky should’ve warned you to put these dark glasses on.”      “The colors!  The….  Thank you, that’s better.”      “Yes, we wear ‘em allContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Knit Wit”

FICTION FRIDAY: Grading on the Curve

“We’re glad to see you again.  What have you learned?” “Well, it isn’t just folklore: your Dead Man’s Curve has indeed been the site of a strange series of fatalities.” “That’s what we assumed.” “In 1915, a Mercer Raceabout was the first car to crash, killing its driver.  But the car was salvaged and, twoContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Grading on the Curve”

WEDNESDAY FICTION: In the Details

     “So I get three wishes?  Say yes or I’ll stick you back in the bottle.”      “Yes, my mistress, you are to receive, to the best of my ability, three wishes.”      “Good.  I had to slaughter the entire Psiclysmian royal family, AND their horses and dogs, for access to the chest where theyContinue reading “WEDNESDAY FICTION: In the Details”

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”

FICTION FRIDAY: Link to the Past

     Negotiating with an evil spirit is no joke.  Not from the human side, anyway.  The spirit stopped even attempting to hide its snickers as I went through the arduous and occasionally embarrassing ritual to make my request.      But at last I had it: one hour in my hometown fifty years to the momentContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Link to the Past”

MIDWEEK FICTION: Get-Together

     “How are we doing?  Turkey’s started, cranberries cooling….”      “ Ma!  Uncle Burt says he’s coming after all.”      “Okay, we’ll get one more blueberry pie out of the freezer, then.”      “That’s easy.  Oh, for….  He’ll have Aunt Alyxxa with him, won’t he?”      “I suppose so.  Just remember, when she asks youContinue reading “MIDWEEK FICTION: Get-Together”

THE SOUND AND THE FURRY: Creston and the Crown, Pt. 2

    Stug’s eyes went all round, and nearly rolled down his pale cheeks at the sight of Creston putting the big jeweled hat on.  It just sat on top of Creston’s head, being the type of crown that wasn’t designed to come down over the ears.      “Hmmmm,” said Creston, “I guess I’ll have toContinue reading “THE SOUND AND THE FURRY: Creston and the Crown, Pt. 2”

THE SOUND AND THE FURRY: Creston and the Crown, Pt. 1

    There once lived a king named Nestofar.  Like most of the kings who ever lived, he died.      Nestofar had known for some time that he was dying.  He had, however, passed no kingly wisdom on to the person who would succeed him, partly because Nestofar never had much kingly wisdom in the firstContinue reading “THE SOUND AND THE FURRY: Creston and the Crown, Pt. 1”